28-year old lefty swinging RF Shin Soo-Choo and 25-year old switch-hitting C Carlos Santana are slumping big time for the Indians so far this year. In 2009 and 2010, Choo played in 300 games in which he was 340 for 1,133 (.300 avg) with 168 runs scored, 42 homers, 176 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. Choo blames his DUI for his struggles at the plate and that’s a bunch of hog wash. He has played in 65 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 58 for 245 (.237 avg, .670 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 5 homers, 24 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Choo’s struggles have hurt the Indians some as he has batted third most of the year.

Carlos Santana has batted cleanup most of this year and he has hurt the Indians with his bat. He played in 46 games for the Indians last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 39 for 150 (.260 avg, .868 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 22 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. This year though, he has had a rough time. Santana has played in 63 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 47 for 218 (.216 avg, .712 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 7 homers, 26 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

Think of what the Indians record would be right now if Choo and Santana have been playing up to their ability all year long?

The Indians were hoping that 31-year old lefty swinging 3B would be a new version of Casey Blake for them. All things look good in April as Hannahan hit well while also playing good defense. But, in May, Hannahan’s been ice cold with a bat in his hands. Hannahan has played in 21 games so far in May for the Indians and he is 12 for 69 (.174 avg, .463 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 0 homers and 3 RBIs. He has now played in 43 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 33 for 146 (.226 avg, .656 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 4 homers, 17 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Hannahan better start hitting soon as the Indians’ top prospect (Lonnie Chisenhall) in playing pretty well in AAA this year.

When the Indians re-signed 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Austin Kearns I thought they did it to deal him at the trade deadline again in 2011. He played in 84 games for the Indians last year before being dealt to the Yankees and he was 82 for 301 (.272 avg, .773 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 8 homers, 42 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Indians got back 23-year old righty starting pitcher Zach McAllister from the Yankees for Kearns and he’s off to a 6-0 start in AAA-ball this year. But this season, Kearns has been awful with the bat. Kearns has played in 14 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 7 for 44 (.159 avg, .465 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 15 whiffs. The Indians need Kearns to start hitting because with the way they are playing right now, they will be adding at the trade deadline instead of having a fire sale.

Righty swinging Austin Kearns and lefty swinging Travis Buck have not been adding much to the Cleveland Indians’ lineup right now. Kearns has played in 7 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 3 for 21 (.143 avg, .546 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. He has walked 5 times already this year, which is good, but he has also whiffed 7 times this year. Travis Buck has played in 7 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 3 for 22 (.136 avg, .401 OPS) with 3 runs scored. Buck has been very impatient at the plate so far this year for the Indians as he has whiffed 6 times without walking. When Grady Sizemore returns to action (it could be this weekend), Michael Brantley is going to shift to LF putting Kearns and Buck on the bench.

The Indians have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Luis Valbuena to replace Jhonny Peralta on the active roster. Valbuena played in 25 games in AAA-ball after his demotion and he was 30 of 96 (.313 avg, 1.032 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 20 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. But, he has not hit well at all for the Tribe this year. Valbuena has played in 50 games for the Indians this year and he is 25 of 152 (.164 avg, .510 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. Don’t look for the Indians to give Valbuena much playing time until he earns it as Jason Donald is ahead of him at 2B.