January 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader who spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, announced his retirement Tuesday. An official announcement will come Wednesday in San Diego. Hoffman finished his 18-year career with 601 saves, 42 more than New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who is still active. Hoffman, 43, told MLB.com that he will take a front-office job with the San Diego Padres, where he spent 16 seasons before signing with the Brewers. "It's time to retire. It's time to move on," Hoffman told MLB.com. "This is more of a self-evaluation. I expect to pitch at a certain level and I had to be honest with myself that I wasn't certain I could maintain that"
November 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Anyone who knows Trevor Hoffman is happy to tell you that he is a class act. So, it was no great surprise that he left a classy parting gift Tuesday for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers made what appeared to be a stunning move by offering salary arbitration to Hoffman, a Type B free agent. But, in a gentleman's agreement, the 43-year-old veteran agreed not to accept, leaving the club with a high draft pick next year should he sign elsewhere. Without that accommodation, the Brewers never would have offered arbitration to Hoffman because he could accept and return at a salary near the $7.5 million he made in 2010. Now, if the all-time saves leader signs with another club, the Brewers will"
November 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
I just spoke with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and he said he couldn't say on the record that he reached an agreement with Trevor Hoffman not to accept salary arbitration. "That has to come from the agent," said Melvin. I have a call in to Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman, but it's safe to say that Hoffman won't accept arbitration from the Brewers. You could tell a deal had been worked out by talking to Melvin. So, because Hoffman is a Type B free agent, the Brewers kept intact their right to receive a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2011 should he sign with another club. If the 43-year-old Hoffman doesn't sign with another club and retires, it's no harm, no foul."
November 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
As expected, the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday declined 2011 options on reliever Trevor Hoffman, left-hander Doug Davis and catcher Gregg Zaun, making each a free agent. The Brewers had a mutual option on Hoffman for $7.5 million with a $750,000 buyout, a mutual option on Davis for $6.5 million with a $1 million buyout and a $2.25 million club option on Zaun with a $225,000 buyout. Hoffman pitched his way out of the closer's role in May and though he later regrouped and made it to 601 career saves, the Brewers weren't going to pay him $7.5 million to be a setup man to new closer John Axford. Hoffman, 43, went 2-7 with a 5.89 ERA and 10 saves in 50 appearances. Davis, 35, missed most of the"
October 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Trevor Hoffman has enjoyed his two years with the Brewers but he knows he won't be back in Milwaukee in 2011. "That's not going to happen," said baseball's all-time saves leader. "Why would they pay $7 million for me to pitch in this role?" Hoffman, 42, referred to what was a $7 million option on his contract for 2011. That option increased to $7.5 million with a $750,000 buyout recently when he reached 35 games finished for the season. Having the Brewers decline that option is fine with Hoffman, because he wouldn't want to come back in a lesser role after being replaced as closer by rookie John Axford. "No disrespect," Hoffman said Friday before the Brewers took on the Cincinnati Reds. "I"
September 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Doug Melvin wished he had a recording device with him. Along with everyone wearing a Milwaukee Brewers uniform, Melvin stood in the home clubhouse late Tuesday night, mesmerized by the words coming out of Trevor Hoffman's mouth. "I'm big into Westerns," said the Brewers' general manager. "I felt like John Wayne was in the locker room." Hoffman had just recorded the landmark 600th save of his major-league career, a glorious moment that led to being mobbed by teammates and eventually carried off the field on the shoulders of Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Todd Coffey. Before thanking his teammates for their support and camaraderie, Hoffman did a stunning thing, something that caught many by"
September 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It was a moment that Trevor Hoffman wasn't certain would happen in 2010, if ever. "I was a player who was questioning if I had enough to get things done," he admitted. All questions were erased in a glorious scene Tuesday night that made a cool September evening electric for a disappointing team that never climbed into the pennant race. When Hoffman recorded his 600th career save to nail down the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-2 victory over St. Louis at Miller Park, the outpouring of respect, gratitude and sheer joy, from teammates as well as the 33,149 in the stands, was something to behold. "If you love the game, it's going to love you back," said Hoffman, the game's all-time saves leader. It had"
August 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It had been three months since "Hells Bells" had played at Miller Park. Three months since anyone even thought about turning that countdown banner beyond the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen. So much time had passed, in fact, that Trevor Hoffman was jolted as he came through the bullpen door to the roar of the 34,480 on hand Saturday night. "It's hard to describe," Hoffman said when asked how it felt. That banner did finally turn, to No. 597, as Hoffman recorded the final three outs of a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros that rewarded lefty Randy Wolf with his first home victory since May. "I had goose bumps," said reliever Todd Coffey, one of the many Hoffman disciples in the bullpen."
August 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Tom Haudricourt
"
Because Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has accommodated veteran players in the past by sending them to a place with a better opportunity, I asked if he considered trading Trevor Hoffman to a club that might allow the future Hall of Famer a chance to reach 600 saves. "I think he's going to get them here," replied Melvin. Really? Don't you have to be the closer to register saves? Since May 7, when Hoffman recorded his last save, a huge banner beyond the Brewers' bullpen at Miller Park has been stuck on No. 596. It virtually has taunted Hoffman, reminding him how close he is to 600 yet also how far. Hoffman didn't like the banner from the start. It's surprising he hasn't"
June 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Brewers manager Ken Macha said Tuesday afternoon he can envision the day when Trevor Hoffman will be the team's closer again. Macha just wasn't prepared to say when that might be. "I think he's done real well," said Macha. "That's all going to work itself out. I'm not worried about it." For a moment, it appeared Hoffman's return to the closer's role would happen that evening in the series opener against Minnesota. With the Brewers ahead, 5-3, in the seventh inning, John Axford started getting loose. Macha admitted after the game to thinking about going with Axford in the seventh/eighth and Hoffman in the ninth. But, when the Brewers padded the lead to 7-3, Macha opted to go to Todd Coffey"
June 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
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"
June 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
After a memorable first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Trevor Hoffman's second year is one he'd like to forget. Having already lost his once-secure job as closer by blowing too many save chances, Hoffman found a different way to lose a game Tuesday night. And it was of small consolation that buzzard's luck played a role. "It's just kind of the way things have been rolling," said Hoffman. Victimized by two opposite-field doubles that barely stayed in play, Hoffman surrendered three runs in the seventh inning as Florida snapped a 3-3 tie and went on to a 6-4 victory at Sun Life Stadium. It was the third consecutive loss for the Brewers, who have lost any momentum generated on their last"
May 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It's not certain when Trevor Hoffman will get his next save opportunity, although Brewers manager Ken Macha is certain it will happen. The Brewers veteran and major leagues' all-time saves leader is temporarily stuck on 596 saves while 27-year-old John Axford has taken the closer's role for now. Hoffman did enter the game Sunday in the Brewers' 10-4 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday, and he pitched effectively while retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth inning. "Hoffman had a nice inning," Macha said, "and it looked like his command was pretty good today. That was a positive." The 42-year-old Hoffman pitched in a non-save situation for the third straight game and recorded his"
May 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Brewers manager Ken Macha made no decision Wednesday to remove Trevor Hoffman as his closer. Macha did decide to send Hoffman to the repair shop for a few days, however. Delaying a decision on the struggling all-time saves leader, Macha said Hoffman would spend a couple of days working with pitching coach Rick Peterson on his mechanics. During that period, Macha said, Hoffman would not pitch in games at all, much less the ninth inning. "We'll see how things go," said Macha, who met for several minutes in his office with Peterson and Hoffman to discuss the situation. "We'll re-evaluate on Friday." Considering Hoffman's immense dedication to his craft and detailed preparation to pitching, it"
May 19
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Ken Macha undoubtedly has decided he must try somebody else to protect leads in the ninth inning. But it wouldn't hurt if Trevor Hoffman walked into the office of the Milwaukee Brewers manager Wednesday and volunteered to fall on his sword. With Hall of Fame-caliber players who appear to be at the end of the line - think Brett Favre blowing game after game with slews of interceptions - it always helps when all parties agree a change must be made. Otherwise, it gets messy for the man in charge. Hoffman just might have run out of chances Tuesday with the most horrific meltdown of what has been a nightmarish season for him. Failing to retire any of the five hitters he faced, the all-time"
April 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Earlier in the day, manager Ken Macha asked aloud the question many in Brewer Nation were posing Wednesday regarding closer Trevor Hoffman. "How much rope is he going to get?" Macha said to reporters, rhetorically for the most part. Asked to answer his own question, Macha replied, "I don't know the answer to that." Questions swirled about Hoffman after he blew his third save in six chances Tuesday night against Pittsburgh, allowing five runs on two homers to squander a 3-2 lead. Concern grew greater when he blew another save in the series finale, frittering away a 4-3 advantage on yet another home run. All Macha would commit to in terms of closing games was that he'd probably give Hoffman"
April 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It didn't matter that Trevor Hoffman put the pitch exactly where he wanted it. When you're a closer, all that matters is the outcome. When you're a struggling closer, it matters more than ever. Hoffman's nightmarish April continued Wednesday when he blew his second ninth-inning lead in two days, on yet another home run. The final result didn't come until five innings later but that didn't make the 6-5, 14-inning defeat to Pittsburgh at Miller Park any easier to swallow. "I definitely don't like meeting with you guys this frequently," said the somber Hoffman, a stand-up guy who faces the music after blowing leads but often can't be found with a search warrant after converting saves. It was"
April 28
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Something is wrong. Terribly wrong. Trevor Hoffman has been a great closer most of his career and surely will go into the Hall of Fame as baseball's all-time saves leader. But the Milwaukee Brewers reliever has abandoned the pitch that made him so successful and given the opposition fits for years. Where is the changeup? Hoffman blew his third save this season in grand fashion Tuesday night, allowing light-hitting shortstop Ronny Cedeno to smoke a game-tying solo shot to start the ninth inning and then giving up a four-run shot to Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit. The outing snapped the Brewers' 22-game home winning streak against the Pirates, whose 7-3 victory was their first at"
April 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Trevor Hoffman hasn't pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers for an entire year quite yet, but his teammates admit they get spoiled at times by the future Hall of Fame closer. "Sometimes he appears to be Superman," said third baseman Casey McGehee. "'Hoffy's' human, too." All too human lately against the St. Louis Cardinals. Hoffman blew his second save opportunity in three games Sunday night at Miller Park in stunning fashion before McGehee got him off the hook with a home run in the bottom of the ninth that gave the Brewers an 8-7 victory to avoid a sweep. Given a three-run lead - what some folks call a "room service" save opportunity - Hoffman surrendered a two-run home run to Albert Pujols"
February 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It has been dubbed "The Hoffman Influence." The label is all-encompassing, and just about anything positive you've ever heard about Trevor Hoffman falls under the category. One could talk about how the majority of the Milwaukee Brewers relief pitchers eat together whether at home or on the road or how, in the dugout or bullpen, each reliever leans over the railing or fence to show support for the next pitcher taking the ball. Or even the way relievers playfully interact with each other in the clubhouse. All of that is The Hoffman Influence. "The bullpen is a family unto itself," last season's set-up man, Todd Coffey, said. "There are seven of us away from everybody. We're in our little"
October 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The Milwaukee Brewers know they must dramatically improve their starting rotation to return to contender status in 2010. In the meantime, they figured it couldn't hurt to address the final inning of games. The Brewers reached agreement Monday with all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman on a one-year deal for a base salary of $8 million with a mutual option for 2011. Assistant general manager Gord Ash said the Brewers would have no comment on the agreement. The club apparently is waiting for an already scheduled end-of-season news conference Wednesday to make that announcement. Josh Goldberg, a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Sports Council, which represents Hoffman, said agent Rick"
October 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Trevor Hoffman was unable to convert his final save opportunity of the year Sunday for the Brewers, but it looks as if he'll be getting plenty more chances in the future. After the Brewers topped St. Louis, 9-7, in 10 innings, Hoffman revealed he is in the final stages of negotiating a deal to return to the club in 2010. "I think we're pretty close," said Hoffman, who suffered only his fourth blown save of the season by allowing a run to the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth. "We're in discussions. The fact that we're discussing things is good." Assistant general manager Gord Ash confirmed that the club is in talks with Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman of the Beverly Hills Sports Council."
September 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin already has heard that closer Trevor Hoffman would like to return to Milwaukee next season. Melvin confirmed Saturday that the feeling is mutual. "That always means something when you hear a player say that," said Melvin. "We like having him here, too." Hoffman, who can be a free agent after the season, has lived up to his status as the game's all-time saves leader. He has converted 34 of 37 save opportunities while compiling a 1.88 earned run average over 49 appearances. Because Hoffman pitched this season at age 41, there was some skepticism that he'd be able to stay among the elite closers. Melvin had no such qualms, signing Hoffman to a one-year, $6"
September 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
They nearly made it through. Seven pitchers used and the lead in hand. But the eighth, and the most reliable, gave it up. After the often-used Milwaukee Brewers bullpen handed over a one-run lead to closer Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, St. Louis Cardinals cleanup man Matt Holliday spanked a low slider for a two-run home run over the center-field fence to win the game, 4-3, Tuesday night at Miller Park. It was the Brewers 72nd loss of the season, tying their mark for all of last season. And it was just the second homer against Hoffman all season. He walked Albert Pujols, who homered in the seventh inning, ahead of Holliday to set up the game-winner. "I threw a better (slider) right"
July 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The National League all-star team traded the closer in Miller Park's third-base dugout for the closer in the first-base dugout. Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman, the game's all-time saves leader, was named to the team Sunday morning after it was announced that Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton, who pitched in the first game of this series, won't play because of an irritated nerve in his right toe. That makes way for Hoffman's seventh all-star appearance and his first in a uniform other than the San Diego Padres', the team with which Hoffman built his Hall-of-Fame career. "Big surprise," Hoffman said. "It's nice to come in and get that kind of news dropped on you. "It's a really big"
June 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
"
Even now, years later, something comes back to Trevor Hoffman when he surveys the empty stadium. He's the trivia answer, of course. He's the last of the Opening Day Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now!, that expansion mix of hopefuls and helpless in 1993, though being told he's the final one playing surprises him. "What about Stormy?" he says. That's Dave Weathers, who's playing in Cincinnati. Weathers. Stormy. Get it? It was that kind of team. Benito Santiago arrived in a limo each game. Luis Aquino bathed in a magic liquid brewed by his father, a Santeria priest. Alex Arias rubbed the orange hair of a troll doll for good luck, which made his neighbor, Gus Polidor, ask to move lockers."
May 16
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
We'll never know whom Brewers manager Ken Macha was going to use as his closer Friday night. All Macha would say before game time was that he had no intention of using closer Trevor Hoffman for a fourth consecutive day as the Brewers prepared for their series opener against St. Louis at Busch Stadium. That matter became moot when a major rainstorm postponed the game in the bottom of the second inning. The game was rescheduled for 7:15 p.m. Monday. Because Hoffman missed most of spring training as well as the first 18 games of the season with a strained right oblique, Macha drew the line after three appearances without a day off. Hoffman saved all three games of the Brewers' sweep of"
April 27
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Less than 24 hours after saying his bullpen was well-rested, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha found himself asking the newest addition to his bullpen, closer Trevor Hoffman, how long he could go. "I did ask Hoffman if he has three or four innings in him," Macha said before the game Sunday. "He just started laughing at me." It's nice to even have Hoffman to call on, even if just for the ninth inning. Hoffman, who suffered a right oblique strain in spring training, was reinstated from the disabled list Sunday after two rehabilitation appearances with Class AAA Nashville, the club Hoffman played for while coming up in the Cincinnati Reds' system 17 years ago. Now, Hoffman had his opening"
April 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
If all goes well, Trevor Hoffman could be closing games for the Milwaukee Brewers before this three-city, nine-game trip is over. Hoffman, sidelined since mid-March with an oblique strain, will throw his second bullpen session Saturday before the Brewers take on the New York Mets at Citi Field. If all goes well, he will join Class AAA Nashville on Tuesday in Memphis and pitch an inning that night and Friday. Barring a setback in those assignments, Hoffman will rejoin the Brewers and be activated next weekend in Houston. "My last bullpen (session) went well," Hoffman said. "They want to put me in a game situation. A simulated situation would be lacking in game speed and intensity." Hoffman"
April 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Trevor Hoffman didn't hesitate when asked the question. What's the key to a good changeup? "Fastball command," said Hoffman. "You can't be throwing a lot of changeups when you're behind in the count. Hitters are going to take it." If anyone knows how effective a changeup can be, it's Hoffman. The Milwaukee Brewers' new closer punched his ticket to Cooperstown as the all-time saves leader (554 entering 2009) by throwing an endless stream of changeups to hitters. The hitter knows it's coming. The opposing bench knows it's coming. Heck, the peanut vendor knows it's coming. Yet, far more often than not, the pitch works for Hoffman, not to mention other changeup specialists such as"