tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post834163984334357861..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: The Elephant in the RoomPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-22383025158308864042008-09-12T08:54:00.000-04:002008-09-12T08:54:00.000-04:00I think that the moment that a lot of people refer...I think that the moment that a lot of people reference for Hafner is when CJ Wilson hit him in the hand at the end of 2006.<BR/><BR/>I can't find anything from Olney with a quick search, but I seem to recall something as well.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-80997512245077030772008-09-11T21:01:00.000-04:002008-09-11T21:01:00.000-04:00I'm interested in the steroid question too. Slapn...I'm interested in the steroid question too. Slapnicka, just because the guy was hitting homers in high school and college doesn't mean his performance in the show was guaranteed--which is to say that it's totally possible he hit the juice when he went pro.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, they don't call it the Steroid Era because it was just those three players.<BR/><BR/>Also, I'm interested if anybody has a link to the Olney story from (I think) the beginning of this season about the possibility that Hafner being hit in the head last year was a turning point in his plate presence.<BR/><BR/>Anybody got a link/know what I'm talking about?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10044418777791552651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-54708297624939200992008-09-11T20:37:00.000-04:002008-09-11T20:37:00.000-04:00hafner = juice baghafner = juice bagAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04910200366605977929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-44738945803391921112008-09-10T12:31:00.000-04:002008-09-10T12:31:00.000-04:00to be honest, the silence surrounding hafner's inj...to be honest, the silence surrounding hafner's injury makes it suspicious. but i don't understand why that automatically makes him a juice head? i mean, the guy has been mashing the ball since juco...and maybe even prior. i don't have the time to look up changes to his build and weight, but would be happy to hear any insight on that.<BR/><BR/>could he have been juicing since high school and college? sure, but that leads us down a dangerous path where anyone larger than 6' and 185lbs is juicing.<BR/><BR/>i'm not saying he was clean, but just b/c a guy screws up his shoulder, doesn't mean its due to needles and pills. i've seen nothing linking him to juice.Cy Slapnickahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10109399114263980881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-74911978501881434142008-09-10T09:01:00.000-04:002008-09-10T09:01:00.000-04:00I have to admit, his years in the Texas organizati...I have to admit, his years in the Texas organization would give one pause ... the incredible shrinking Pudge, Vita-E/Palmero, Juan-Gone and everyone's favorite Jose Canseco all were involved juicers in some respect. That said, guilt by association is only that.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, the point is moot, because juice or not, the Tribe is still on the hook for nearly 50 million bucks and Hafner WILL be on this team going forward if his balky shoulder allows for nothing more than making coffee in the clubhouse.<BR/><BR/>So, where do they go from here?<BR/><BR/>The Indians need to plan on having Hafner as their DH, which limits their flexibility in other positions even more than it limits their spending. The big slow guys like Ryan Garko -- known as hitters who need to play somewhere -- will have their days numbered in this organization. Garko may as well pack it up, especially since he can't hit very well and his adequate glove is taking up space at first base. If he hits like that, Michael Aubrey is a better solution until Beau Mills arrives. At least Aubrey will hit for a decent average and play good defense while hitting for no power. Victor can play first as well if Kelly Shoppach is still around, but Shoppach should be moved while his value is high. Victor can handle the catching duties until uber-Victor Jr. (Carlos Santana) arrives.<BR/><BR/>Back to Hafner -- he will never again be Pronk. Something from the chest up has broken seemingly beyond repair, let's call it a dandruff disorder (head & shoulders), and he's never going to be the same again. OK. But he should get a little better and back in the swing of things. Hafner has gone through quite a bit over the last two years. He became a star, got married, got injured twice (three times counting the shoulder), became financially rich and lost his father to a long illness. Hopefully, he straightens things out a bit and can come back to 25 HR and 90 RBI while hitting .275. Those respectable numbers will help the Indians, but they can no longer build around Hafner, who has become a complementary player. <BR/><BR/>The challenge will be to build that offense without his star production, while dancing around his star salary, and who knows, if he happens to find his old self, the Indians will be looking at a championship.Halifaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712626480683595819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-31884408948471001632008-09-09T22:44:00.000-04:002008-09-09T22:44:00.000-04:00Now that you started the discourse, how about expl...Now that you started the discourse, how about explaining the “obvious” conclusion to all of us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-29456805092007943332008-09-09T22:08:00.000-04:002008-09-09T22:08:00.000-04:00Why is everyone overlooking the obvious here - Haf...Why is everyone overlooking the obvious here - Hafner is/was a steroids/PED player. How much more obvious does it need to be? Why can't there be an honest discourse on this very likely possibility? The media (and fans) just act like it not possible...Tyler Wallickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03605141573942983641noreply@blogger.com