Hafner drops back to try and gain ground

Posted by Paul Hoynes May 01, 2008 20:58PM

Scott Shaw/The Plain DealerTravis Hafner responded with two doubles after being moved down to sixth in the lineup.There's a whole lot of hammering and drilling coming from under Travis Hafner's hood. Manager Eric Wedge is confident they'll get the Tribe's designated hitter refitted with new shocks and plugs. If they don't, the cobwebs will continue to grow in Pronkville.
One of the first steps came Thursday when Wedge dropped Hafner from third to sixth in the batting lineup. It's the first time Hafner has started a game hitting sixth since 2004.
What do the rest of the steps entail to snap the man called Pronk out of slump that is now a calendar year in length (May 1, 2007, to May 1, 2008)?

"I'm not going to get into that," Wedge said.
Said Hafner, with a smile, "It's top secret."
Then he added: "We're working on specific things. You always want to play your best. I know what I mean to this offense. I hope it's something that will work out for me and the team and get me back on track."

Hafner is hitting .242 (147-for-608) since May 1 of last year. Those numbers include Hafner's 8-for-43 showing in the postseason last fall.

"I feel like this young man is going to get back to where he needs to get to," Wedge said. "It's going to take a little bit of time and a lot of work. [Hitting coach] Derek Shelton and I have spent a lot of time together, and Derek has spent a lot of time with Travis talking about this. We're going to get him there and he's going to get himself there. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when."

Wedge said Hafner will hit sixth for a while.

"I don't think it's the right thing to do to leave him in the No. 3 hole while he's making these adjustments," Wedge said. "We'll give him a little bit of break -- get him going and get him back up there where he likes to be and where we need him to be."

Hafner entered Thursday's game hitting .210 (21-for-100) with three homers and 16 RBI. The 16 RBI lead the team.

He does not think last year's slump has anything to do with this year.
"Every year is different," Hafner said.

Hafner felt getting dropped in the order "was the right thing to do for me and the team. A different perspective can help at times."

In his first at-bat Thursday, Hafner hit a long fly ball to the warning track in center field, which was caught by Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Hafner received a round of applause from the crowd as he went back to the dugout.

"I have so much confidence in his ability to get this taken care of," Wedge said. "There's probably nothing more important for us right now."