Morning Update: Hafner Back in Town, Swings Bat

Speak softly and carry a large stick. That’s always been Travis Hafner. Now, he’s back in Cleveland after the death of his father, Terry, and Eric Wedge said he swung the big stick a few times.

“He feels well enough to where he has swung the bat a couple of times,” said Wedge. “That’s the first step.” (Plain Dealer)

Eric was optimistic about him playing this season. We’ll see where it goes, we should know A LOT more when the team returns from a 9 game road trip and Lonnie Soloff can take a look.

Victor Martinez hit soft toss the other day and is with the team on the road trip. He should be as close as you can to going on rehab when the team gets back in my estimation.

Juan Rincon is feeling strange. The Metrodome was his home for a long time and now he is in the visitors bullpen rather than the home bullpen. Pretty soon, he will be in neither bullpen. Ouch, sorry.

You know who is a big hypocrite?

“A lot of the young players we’re looking at are inexperienced, but I want us to keep playing as hard as we are playing. … I want to see the execution,” Wedge said. “What I saw the last couple of days was unacceptable.” (Indians.com)

Yeah.. ERIC WEDGE.. That’s who… Yes he said that, but last night he still pinch hit for Andy Marte in a clutch situation.

I really don’t get on Eric Wedge much, but he’s saying one thing and doing another. It just isn’t making sense and I have a feeling he’s doing everything in his power to get Andy Marte to fail.

He’s also setting up Shin-Soo Choo to be ridiculous.

”It’s just because he was batting fifth, so he moved up one,” Wedge said. ”He played three days in a row, and we’re still taking care of his arm.” (Akron-Beacon Journal)

Ugh.. I hate this.

Paul Byrd won’t stand in the way of a trade even though he has a limited no-trade clause.

“The Rockies are on the list, but I would have waived the no-trade,” said Byrd. “I would have waived it for any of them. I just had that for protection early on [for when Byrd first signed with the Indians].” (Plain Dealer)