Yankees April 2011 MVP: Russell Martin

He did it all this month, even stealing bases!

The Yankees won 16 games and are in first place in the American League East, home runs are flying out of the park at record rates and the pitching is holding up. With April over, it's time to announce this months MVP, a new feature to NYY Stars and Pinstripes (after each month a Yankee will be named month MVP).

The candidates:

• AJ Burnett won 4 games and has kept the Yankees in all of them.
• CC Sabathia has the best ERA and most strikeouts
• Bartolo Colon is partying like its 2005, and has been a huge key for the bombers
• Robinson Cano leads the Yankees in batting average, home runs and runs batted in.
• Curtis Granderson was rumored to possibly miss time when the season began, but hit 8 homers.
• Alex Rodriguez was off to a hot start before suffering an oblique injury.

And of course Russell Martin, who wins the award for April. The Canadian catcher was coming off terrible season with the Dodgers and rumors in the off season were that he would have to beat out Jesus Montero for the job. But Martin came to spring training healthy and went on a tear in April hitting .293 with six long balls and 19 runs batted in. But Martin also was behind the dish for ever game except two, and it was great to see a catcher who could finally throw a runner out. An instant crowd favorite for his quick start and hustle, Martin has exceeded expectation. All Yankee fans would love to see Jesus Montero be the catcher of the future, but with the way Martin has played this season they can enjoy the wait.