Pump Your Fist, Tribe Fans; Pronk Could Be Back to Form

There aren't many bright things to say about the Cleveland Indians season so far.

Cliff Lee is 0-2.

Carl Pavano may be a bust.

Grady Sizemore already has 10 strikeouts.

Trevor Crowe has anger issues!!!

Of course, there is one thing that the Indians players, coaches, and fans should be excited about. His name is Travis Hafner.

Despite his poor average and lack of power, Hafner has done better than some may think the past few seasons.

Pronk has had 100 RBI in each season from 2004 through 2007. Hafner might have reached that mark last season if it wasn't for his season ending injury/surgery.

With this in mind, where does Hafner stand at this point in the 2009 season?

In six games, Hafner has posted a .600 batting average with one double, three home runs, six RBI, four runs, four base-on-balls and seven strikeouts.

The strikeouts could be lower but it would be ridiculous to expect more from Pronk.

He is hitting for average as well as power.

He is driving in runs and getting extra base hits.

Basically, he is getting the job done.

I personally attended the Indians vs. Blue Jays series finale today sitting just a few rows back of the third base dugout.

From my view, every swing Hafner took looked beautiful. He might not have always been on the ball, but he looked good.

There was one swing that looked very sloppy. It reminded me of Pedro Serrano from "Major League" trying to hit a curveball. Other than that, though, Hafner's swing was very fluent.

When he hit the home run, I couldn't help but smile.

It may be too early to make an honest opinion as to whether or not Pronk is back, but so far so good. If he bats .280 and hits 30-plus home runs and over 100 RBI, Cleveland fans should be perfectly fine with Hafner.

Now if only Sizemore could be moved to the three-hole and Victor could be put in the five-hole (not for a while, sadly).

This is random but I thought I would throw it out there. Crowe!!! You're a rookie. You have no reason to be breaking your bat over your knee, especially not this early in the year.

AND........

Especially because your only on the roster since David Dellucci is on the DL. I mean dang, I heard the bat break from where I was sitting!!! But props on hitting the two RBI double your nest at-bat.

GO TRIBE!!!