"What next for Trevor Hoffman?

Brewers manager Ken Macha knew the question was coming. That didn't mean he had an answer, however.

After Hoffman's latest setback Tuesday night, the only sure thing was that his next outing would not signal a return to the closer's role.

"Do you want me to get tarred and feathered?" Macha said.

In his fourth outing since being removed from the closer's role, Hoffman surrendered three seventh-inning runs that allowed Florida to snap a 3-3 tie and go on to a 6-4 victory. Hoffman's previous three non-save appearances were scoreless, so Macha hoped he was on a progression to closing again.

"(Tuesday) was out of necessity," said Macha, whose options in that inning were limited by injuries and the unavailability of other relievers.

As for what situation in which he might use Hoffman next, Macha said, "That's a hypothetical. I don't know what the surrounding circumstances would be."

Macha was handcuffed in his bullpen use because Todd Coffey has been unavailable with an ailing thumb. Coffey was better Wednesday but still not ready to return to action.

"It's better, but when I try to grip the ball, it's telling me it's not ready," said Coffey. "As much as I'd love to be out there, I'd be doing the team a disservice.""