Sun, Jul 20 2008
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Published May 10, 2008 02:32 am - CLEVELAND — Eric Wedge is standing by his man. Brighter days are on the horizon for Travis Hafner, the Cleveland manager attests. Tribe Notebook: Wedge sticks with Pronk Tribe manager won’t give up on struggling DH JOSH WEIR Canton Repository CLEVELAND — Eric Wedge is standing by his man.
Brighter days are on the horizon for Travis Hafner, the Cleveland manager attests. “He’s a guy, obviously, that we’re going to stick with. He’s a guy who’s going to come out of this,” Wedge said Friday before the Indians started a four-game set vs. Toronto at Progressive Field. Hafner was back in the lineup Friday, batting sixth, after not starting the last two games. He didn’t play Thursday. He pinch hit Wednesday against New York with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, failing to get a dribbler to the infield grass. It’s just another side note in what’s been a miserable season for Hafner. He is 10-for-65 (.154) with a home run and seven RBI in his last 18 games and 4-for-28 (.143) in his last nine games. Wedge, who believes Hafner is healthy, is keeping the faith. Hafner, batting .209 with three home runs entering Friday, hit 33 and 42 home runs in 2006 and 2007, respectively. “I don’t think he’s going to come out of this. I really know he’s going to come out of this,” Wedge said. “The only question is the timing of it.” Wedge was asked if he thinks Hafner is days, weeks or months away from finding it. “I’m not looking at that last scenario,” he said. “When it does come, it’s going to come. ... When you have a great hitter like that who has struggled for an extended period of time, it’s about getting him back to that feel that he needs to have and approach that locks him back in.” n HOME FOR VICTOR — Wedge was happy to have Victor Martinez back behind the plate Friday night. Martinez hadn’t caught in three games because of a stiff neck. “Those necks are tricky things, kind of like backs,” Wedge said. “It affects your entire body when it comes to moving around and playing.” Martinez served as DH during Wednesday’s 3-0 win in New York. n PUT ME IN, COACH — 3B Andy Marte was left out of the lineup for the second straight game after starting the first two games in New York. Wedge believes Marte has done a nice job handling the inconsistent playing time. “Andy does a great job with that. He’s been a great teammate. He shows up, he does his work, he does a good job working with Luis Rivera (and) Derek Shelton in regards to offense and defense. He’s handled himself very appropriately up here. Then when he’s asked to get in there, he’s ready to go.” 
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