Results tagged ‘ Pronk ’

Game 7: 10. Run. 4th.

Man, it’s always fun to watch an offensive explosion like that.  The Tribe bats were unstoppable in the 4th inning of last nights game Vs. the Seattle Mariners as they sent 14 men to the plate.  Hit after hit after hit after hit.  And just when you think they’re done, Travis Hafner blasts the most convincing home run of his I’ve seen in quite sometime.  A 3-run blast at that.


Simply put, the Tribe were mashing at the plate.  

But not all the positivity came from the offensive end, as Carlos Carasco pitched very well, only giving up 1 earned through 6 innings.  You get pitching, you get hitting, you get a win.  The Cleveland Indians won their fifth straight.

It was odd seeing the Tribe’s old skipper Eric Wedge at the reigns of another team, not to mention Aaron Laffey take the bump for the Mariners as well.  I always like Laffey when he was with the Indians and felt they never really handled him the proper way.  I was sad to see him go, and he actually pitched pretty well tonight for the M’s, to no surprise of mine.

Tribe hope to stretch their win streak to 6 tomorrow evening at 9:05PM ET, from Safeco Field in Seattle.  

Game 2: White Sox oust Indians 8-3

Well, if one thing can be said about the first two games of the season – it’s that our starting pitching has left something to be desired.  

But that’s the thing about being this early in the year, what can really be said?  I can sit here and break down this that and the next thing all day long, it’s just far too early.   That’s why, it’s best to look at the positives and there are a few.
Offensively I like what I’ve seen so far.  I really think Santana is going to have a monster year, and it was great seeing Pronk get his first home run of the year out of the way so soon.  Honestly, when I look at this lineup and I add a healthy Grady Sizemore to it, I see some serious offensive potential.
But we all know what wins games.  Let’s say it all together now: PITCHING.  So far, not so good from our starters.   But tomorrow is another day.
Tribe look to salvage a game this series tomorrow after noon at 1:05PM.  GO TRIBE.

The Power In Pronk

travis-hafner.jpg

What I saw Travis Hafner accomplish in 2006 was simply incredible.  It was such an amazing display of power.  He truly was a force at the plate.  His 6-Grand Slams that year tied the all-time record in a season with Don Mattingly.

2006 Stats:

  • 42 HR
  • .308 AVG
  • 117 RBI

Pronkville was officially born in the right field mezzanine at Progressive Field, then, The Jake.

We all know what happened next.  Pronk suffered a severe power outage in 2007, hitting only 24 home runs.  He still, however, was able to drive in 100.  The Tribe managed to fall just one game short of the World Series, despite Hafner’s substandard offensive numbers.  2008 would prove to be even worse for Hafner, who found himself on the DL the majority of the season as he watched his Indians have a disappointing .500 season.

In the upcoming ’09 season, one thing is certain:  The Tribe needs the Travis Hafner of old.  He needs that confidence and swagger he had in ’06.  He walked up to the dish and you could see it in his eyes.  He was going to crush it, and he knew it.  In ’07, it was clear that he was really pressing… thinking far too much, and just didn’t look at all comfortable (which was probably partially do to the shoulder problem he would go on to endure in ’08).

But now, all looks and sounds to be on the up and up.  Reports are that Pronk is feeling great, and looking fit.  The shoulder surgery was a success, and Hafner is eager to prove he can be the Tribe’s everyday clean-up hitter. 

Pronk, make us proud.

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