You Travis Hafner Naysayers missed his coming of age at bat!

**Alex** · August 14th, 2003, 06:52 PM

Travis Hafner battled the Twins reliever in the ninth inning of a tie game the other night. What impressed me was how Travis battled pitch after pitch, going from a 1-2 to 3-2 pitch count. The whole at bat must have lasted at least 12 pitches.
The night before, Danys Baez was involved in a 15 pitch at bat with A.J. Perzynski. My point was that Travis's ninth inning at bat the following night was just as frustrating to the Twins fans as A.J's at bat had been to the Indians fans the night before.

Even though Travis Hafner struck out in the ninth inning of a scoreless tie that we would eventually win in 14 innings, I felt Travis had had such a quality at bat that he had actually matured in that specific at bat. As you may or may not know, the next day Travis hit for they cycle. Here is what I posted the night before Travis's cycle.

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1. These are the at bats...where a ballplayer like Hafner will benefit from tremendously. Fouling pitch after pitch off. by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:06 ET

2. LOL. by satribe, 8/13/03 23:08 ET

3. I'm serious, Hafner battled for at least 12 pitches. He probably whittled down his weakness on that one at bat, the high pitch, he still has it, but it's less than it used to be. by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:11 ET

4. Do you think he learned not to swing at a fastball in his eyes?
by satribe, 8/13/03 23:17 ET

5. Hey!!! That was one of his most prolific at bats ever. Last night, Baez drove us crazy against the hitter that went 15 pitches against him. Well, Hafner just did the same thing. He will use that at bat to grow on. You actually watched a maturation at bat from Hafner tonight. It was like a shooting star, a once in a baseball season moment. by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:22 ET

6. Alex, sometimes I think you got hit in the head by a shooting star. by satribe, 8/13/03 23:24 ET

7. Really! Haftner swung at a ball over his head. It was ball 4, nothing good about that. by TRIBEFAN431, 8/13/03 23:25 ET

8. Au contraire...it came after a 10-12 pitch at bat. Hafner battled from 1-2 and kept fouling off pitches. He will be an improved man from now on. That was his growing up at bat.
by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:28 ET

[ August 16, 2003 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]

**Alex** · August 14th, 2003, 06:53 PM

#36682.

1. Yup, Thelma learned a lot. How to K four times. by satribe, 8/13/03 23:49 ET

2. Who taught him, Louise?
by TribeMike, 8/13/03 23:50 ET

2A. 36682.2. The darn ump, Travis had a 2-0 count, and the ump robbed him on the third pitch. Travis crumbled after that. by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:52 ET

3. Is this Shapiro, you sure are spinnig an ugly AB. by TRIBEFAN431, 8/13/03 23:53 ET

4. It started good and went bad real quick. by Alexyz, 8/14/03 0:10 ET

[ August 16, 2003 07:33 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]

**Alex** · August 14th, 2003, 06:54 PM

36667. NEWS FLASH...

1. Indian just rose to 4th best ERA in the league. The bad news is that they have given up over 70 unearned runs this year. The rest of league has average around 35-45 unearned runs.
by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:25 ET

2. Another flash
Hafner just swung at the highest ball this year
by TRIBEFAN431, 8/13/03 23:26 ET

3. You mean the shooting star?
by satribe, 8/13/03 23:30 ET

4. Hey dipstick...last night, a twins battled Baez for 15 pitches...Tonight Hafner battled almost as long against the Twins reliever. Pay attention, you witnessed the growth of Travis Hafner.
by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:30 ET

5. HEY, be nice, I just messing with you.
by TRIBEFAN431, 8/13/03 23:31 ET

5A. His IQ is still in single digits.
by satribe, 8/13/03 23:31 ET

6. Well, I hope Hafner hits one out, that'll show you! by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:33 ET

7. I hope so, I like him, I was just giving you grief. by TRIBEFAN431, 8/13/03 23:36 ET

[ August 16, 2003 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]

**Alex** · August 14th, 2003, 06:59 PM

36675.

1. Ludwick would fit in nice with the Brewers and...the other windmills there! by dizzydean1, 8/13/03 23:37 ET

2. Alex would say it's a learning experience.
by satribe, 8/13/03 23:40 ET

3. Naw...Hafner's at bat was a breakthrough for Hafner, you should savor it. by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:46 ET

4. I savor Black Angus strip steaks medium rare, not Thelma's ABs. by satribe, 8/13/03 23:48 ET

5. I didn't savor that at bat by Hafner.
by Alexyz, 8/13/03 23:50 ET

[ August 16, 2003 07:26 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]