Travis Hafner - 2nd half

[Amazinz]

I think there's a good chance he turns into a perennial 30 HR guy. Just look how much he's improved in the past year, you don't think he can turn all those doubles (third in the majors) into HR's in a coupel years/next year?

Mike Lowell went from being a 20 HR guy with a ton of doubles at age 28 to one of the best HR hitters in baseball at age 29/30. I wouldn't say the amount is infantesimal, especially for players in their first full big-league season.

I think he can turn those doubles into HRs. I have never taken into account experience when looking at the numbers but the numbers really are infinitesimal. Late-bloomers are normally exceptions to the rule but if you want to play the numbers I will pass next year.

[thehat]

Hafner is no longer trying to pull everything out of the park and has become a much better hitter in the process. He's even starting to hit lefties. He'll never be in the elite category, but I can see Hafner as a steady .280 plus type with decent sock.

[stevelabny]

1 week later...

hes got 4 hrs and 10 rbi in his last 2 games.

pretty sure that power surge you were looking for is here.

[HolyCow101]

LOL

Thank god I picked up Travis Hafner. 4 HR's in the last 2 games.!

Did I mention V-MART just homered too?

17HR, 74 RBI for Mr. Martinez

[DaQ]

1 week later...

hes got 4 hrs and 10 rbi in his last 2 games.

pretty sure that power surge you were looking for is here.

W/ him and Pujols, my team is rollin'! And to think he was just a throw in in an early May trade - I got Renteria, Herges (traded for Urbina) and Hafner for Teix, Felix Rodriguez and Dye)!

[HolyCow101]

3RD HOMERUN OF THE GAME FOR HAFNER!!!!!!11

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[DaQ]

3RD HOMERUN OF THE GAME FOR HAFNER!!!!!!11

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

OH YEAH!! If it wasn't for Greinke's stupid bombing, I would really be going somewhere (him and Pujols!!)

[great gretzky]

unfortuantely piniero and washburn ruined this day for me.

I have pujols and hafner, not to mentioned teixera and blalock.

It is making my head shake.

[trippinonreality]

Hafner I won't even mention the others that I have all I can say is that over the last few weeks I'm averaging almost twice as many homers as anyone else in my league.

[CubsFan7724]

I didn't know he had that many doubles, wow. He has the same amount of extra base hits as Scott Rolen! Looks to be a bigger power threat in the future.... I can see him getting 30-35 HR per season in a few years.

Do you think he is going to find his power stroke after the age of 27? Isn't this the season that he should be hitting the ball out of the park?

He may be one of the exceptions to the rule but statistically no. The percentage of batters who increase HR power substantially after age 27 between 1900-2003 is infinitesimal. So I wouldn't bank on it.

Barry Bonds is one of them, no? Hafner I think has a future as a solid 1B. But he won't be better then Big Tex next year.