Thanks for Nothing, Pronk

Bothered by a weak right shoulder, Travis Hafner has been abandoned by the Cleveland Indians.

The once-monster of a hitter was left down in the minors during September call-ups Tuesday after batting .318 with four RBIs over seven games during a rehab stint with the AAA Buffalo Bisons. He hit just .217 with four longballs and 22 RBIs in 46 games with the Indians this season, so that probably played a role as well.

Out of Commission

Sometimes there are so many injuries at once that we have to roll them all up into one big post and call it Out of Commission. So here we go.

Let's start with everyone's favorite, fun-loving guy, Gary Sheffield. The Detroit Tigers designated hitter was placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday due to perpetual orneriness and an oblique strain on his left side.

Sheff hurt himself running out a grounder to short in the third inning of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, making it just halfway down the line before grabbing his side and being replaced by a younger, more cheerful pinch-hitter in the sixth.

In other Motor City news, Carlos Guillen has hemorrhoids and Jim Leyland would like to tell the world.

[Mack Avenue Tigers] | [The Detroit Tiger Weblog]

Moving right along, Eric Byrnes has landed on the disabled list for the first time in his 8-year career. The Arizona Diamondbacks left-fielder has lost some of his trademark hustle after experiencing relentless soreness in his hamstrings.

Prior to the move on Tuesday, Byrnes was batting just .219 with six homers and 23 RBIs, but decided to be a man and not blame his poor performance at the plate on his rusty legs.

While running drills with center fielder Chris Young a few days before Spring Training, Byrnes felt a tweak in his hammy. After over-compensating with his other leg, that one eventually began to hurt, and the rest is history.

[Down the Left Field Line] | [AZ Snakepit]

The Cleveland Indians may place designated hitter and all-around monster Travis Hafner on the DL after he rode the bench for the second straight game Tuesday night with a sore right shoulder.

This will surely cover up what appears to be a season-long slump for Pronk. He's batting .217 with four homers and 22 RBIs over the first 46 games, and is currently enduring a 10-for-42 slide in his last 15 games. Hey, injuries are always a great way to save face!

[Indians Confidential]

Travis Hafner is a Monster, Tribe Wins Again

After beating Johan Santana for the fifth time this season on Monday, Travis Hafner and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins for the 13th time (out of 17 games) to pad their AL Central lead to 7 games over the Detroit Tigers and 11.5 ahead of the Twins.

Aaron Laffey lasted just four innings for Cleveland, allowing five runs and six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Four relievers combined for five scoreless innings after him, including Rafael Betancourt for the win and Joe Borowski with the save.

Kevin Slowey pitched five innings for the Twins, giving up 2 runs -- 1 earned -- on five hits with three strikeouts. Six different relievers followed him, with Joe Nathan getting the blown save and Julio DePaula earning the loss.

Hafner nailed a solo shot in the first inning and Kenny Lofton scored on a fielding error in the second, but Jason Kubel got one back in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double for Minnesota. Justin Morneau nailed a three-run two-bagger in the third to give the Twins a 4-2 lead before Luis Rodriguez drove in the fifth run on a single to center the following inning.

Hafner Gets Four More In Cleveland

Hard-hitting Travis Hafner and the Cleveland Indians have agreed on a four-year, $57 million contract extension, making him part of the Tribe through the 2012 season with a team option for 2013.

The new deal includes a team option for 2013.

Hafner, a 30-year-old designated hitter, is batting .262 with 14 longballs and 57 RBIs this season on a 52-36 Cleveland ballclub that finds themselves one game behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, midway through the season.

[FOX Sports]

Indians Manhandle Twins

The Cleveland Indians managed to put together two separate six-run innings behind Paul Byrd last night for a 15-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins. They improved to 12-3 at home, the majors' best.

Byrd (3-1, 3.49 ERA) won for the first time in three May starts and allowed five runs on seven hits over seven innings to improve to 7-3 in 13 career starts against Minnesota while striking out seven and walking three.