Evidently he was hurt in Monday's game at Cleveland, perhaps flailing helplessly at a Cliff Lee offering.

Yahoo's Jeff Passan, in the above link, discusses why none of the other AL Cy Young Award contenders are really contenders.

Paul Cousineau a/k/a the DiaTriber also revels in Clifton's statistical dominance, including an interesting review of his five no-decisions.

Brief rundowns on Santana and Meloan by MLB.com's Kevin T. Czerwinski.

The era of The Close draws to a close. Also! Bauer gone, Lewis and Slocum promoted.

It was good while it lasted, trade-wise.

"Kazmir posted a 5-1 record with a 1.22 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 37.0 innings of work in May, allowing five earned runs on 22 hits and 13 walks.

Others receiving votes were Toronto Blue Jays teammates Roy Halladay (4-1, 2.52 ERA, 40 SO, 39.1 IP, 1 CG) and Jesse Litsch (4-0, 2.08 ERA, 17 SO, 39.0 IP, 1 SHO), Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks (8 Saves in 11 games, 0.84 ERA, 8 SO, 10.2 IP) and Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-0, 2.54 ERA, 23 SO, 28.1 IP)."

Ohbytheway, Aaron Laffey's May numbers: 5 GS, 34 IP, 3 W, 2 L, 0.79 ERA, 28 H (24 singles and 4 doubles), 7 BB, 19 K, 3 ER (and 3 UER), 5 GDPs, .513 OPS against, and 0 votes for Pitcher of the Month.

Bullpen moves not learned on Facebook — Jensen Lewis sent down, Ed Mujica and Scott Elarton brought up, and Julio left alone. Carmona was officially placed on the DL. A busy Saturday.

Elarton was added to the 40-man, bringing that total to 40. I confess I'd lost track of this; I thought Whoa Nelly Perez was #40, but the list prior to these moves only shows 39. (Perez did take the 40th spot at the time, but the team freed up a spot when Breslow was DFA'ed yesterday. —Jay)

Perez will be added to the 40-man and sent to Buffalo. He hasn't made his MLB debut, and I'll leave it to the MiLB and stat experts to size him up. Here's his stats. He'll turn 25 shortly after reporting at Dunn Tire Park.

EDIT: here's a link to Castrovince's story on the official website. I'm adding it only to satisfy completists, as it sheds no new light.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports digs inches below the surface to explain the struggles of the Good Guys (they can't hit) and the Bad Guys (they can't hit or pitch.)

"Neshek, the Twins' eighth-inning setup specialist, will miss the rest of the 2008 season while he rehabilitates from a partial tear in an elbow ligament."

He will not have surgery and anticipates being ready for the full 2009 season.