The Indians had a scheduled off day Thursday, after a disappointing 2-4 homestand against Texas and Chicago. Cleveland begins an important 11-game trip to Kansas City, Texas, and Detroit on Friday night with the start of a three-game series against the Royals.
The biggest question surrounding that series will be how much, if any, Travis Hafner will play. Hafner has not played the last three games due to irritation in his right shoulder. There was speculation that Hafner could be headed for the disabled list. But after having a cortisone shot Tuesday, Hafner said he was optimistic he could be back in the lineup Friday night.
The Indians need Hafner's bat in the lineup, but only if it's the Hafner bat they saw from 2004-2006. For the past two years, Hafner has struggled at the plate.
This year he is hitting just .217 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. Those are a far cry from the numbers Hafner put up during his three peak years. But he's been mired in a prolonged slump since then.
Hafner says the shoulder irritation is not the reason he has been in a slump this year. But until he starts hitting again, questions about the health of his shoulder will persist.
