Proud teacher, star pupil

David S. Glasier
DGlasier@News-Herald.com
It's great talking baseball with Lee May Jr.
May just finished his fourth year as a coach or manager in the Indians' minor-league organization. This season, he was hitting coach for the Class AA Akron Aeros.
In 2006, the 39-year-old son of former major-league standout Lee May managed the Lake County Captains, the full-season Class A team I've been covering as beat reporter for five years.
The younger May is a baseball guy by choice and by birth. He was the first-round draft choice of the New York Mets in 1986 out of high school in his native Cincinnati.
Although he never made it to the big leagues as a player, May now is helping some of the most talented prospects in the Tribe's farm system hone their skills.
One of those prospects, 21-year-old middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, started the 2007 season at Akron. May worked with Cabrera on driving the ball more consistently.
Cabrera was promoted to Class AAA Buffalo on July 30 and to the Indians on Aug. 7. Tribe manager Eric Wedge quickly made Cabrera his starting second baseman and No. 2 hitter.
May was in town this week along with many other Tribe minor-league managers and coaches to watch Games 3 and 4 against Boston in the AL Championship Series.
I ran into May both nights at post-game receptions at Jacobs Field. He is pumped about the way the Indians have played in beating the Yankees in AL Division Series and staking themselves to a 3-1 lead over Boston in the best-of-seven ALCS.
"The Indians are doing so many things well right now,'' May said. "They're getting contributions from everybody in the batting order. The pitching and defense have been great, too.''
May is proud of the way Cabrera emerged as a key contributor in the Indians' exciting run to the brink of the franchise's first World Series appearance since 1997.
"As a coach or manager in the minor leagues, there's nothing more satisfying then seeing guys you worked with get to the big leagues and make an impact,'' May said.
If at all possible, May said he'll be back Thursday to take in Game 5 at Jacobs Field.
"I'd love to see these guys finish the job against Boston at home and get to the World Series,'' May said.
So would Tribe fans everywhere.