MLB Report: Hafner not with team in Chicago; having knee examined

Obviously there was too much excitement surrounding the Indians. Just as soon as the nation (much less Cleveland) starting paying attention to the Indians, Travis Hafner had to stay behind for examinations to his swollen knee-

“Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Hafner complained of right knee soreness Wednesday while being treated for a bruised right shin after fouling a ball off the shin during 4-2 victory over Detroit.”

If you watched the game, you probably noticed Hafner hobbling around second base, prompting Rick Manning to remark and me to tweet the following–

“Anyone else think we’re headed for a Hafner shutdown soon?”

Hafner received a cortisone shot in the knee on Thursday.

“We’re hopeful that the medication (shot) and rest is sufficient for full resolution of the symptoms,” said Soloff. Soloff said Hafner irritated the medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee. The meniscus acts as a “shock absorber’ in the knee.

Hafner told Soloff that his right knee was sore when he went to Progressive Field before Wednesday’s game, but he didn’t think it was serious. Asked about the possibility of surgery, Soloff said, “In the event that the medication and rest isn’t sufficient, that introduces a different scenario and we’d provide an update on that early next week if it went that route.”

Yep.

This makes me mad. Not that Hafner is hurt, but more that once again I got sucked into the “if Hafner stays healthy” trap.

Kudos to Paul Hoynes for being the first I saw with the story.

[Related: Scott’s excellent bio of Tribe hurler Justin Masterson]