After two straight disappointing seasons with less then 70 wins, the Cleveland Indians have gotten off to an excellent start this year. Cleveland is currently 7-2 and has won seven straight.
A huge reason why the Tribe had two straight seasons with less than 70 wins was of lack of power in the middle of the line-up. From 2009-2010 Cleveland had only two players that hit more then 20 home runs in a season.
DH Travis Hafner’s absence from the line-up was the major reason for the lack of power. From 2004-2006, (Hafner’s prime) he played in 406 games, hit 103 home runs, and had .303 batting average. Over the last three years he had only played 269 games, hit 34 home runs, and batted .259.
Hafner, just like the Indians is having a tremendous start.
After three injury-plagued seasons Hafner seems to have his groove back. Pronk is hitting .370, he has a on-base percentage of .433, and he has crushed two home runs – including a bomb vs. Seattle on Friday night.
Unfortu...
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