October 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 ..."
March 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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As expected, the Milwaukee Brewers placed closer Trevor Hoffman on the disabled list with a strained right oblique retroactive to March 27. He is scheduled to come back April 11 against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park. Hoffman, the game's all-time career saves leader and probable future Hall of Famer who signed a one-year, $6 million deal in the off-season, will remain with the team and under the watch of head trainer Roger Caplinger until he leaves for rehabilitation assignments that could start April 9. "It's frustrating knowing where we're at, a week away from starting things up," Hoffman said. "But looking at not having been off the mound in two weeks, it's pretty silly to rush it at ..."
March 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Carlos Villanueva once again is a leading candidate to fill in for injured Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman. So decreed manager Ken Macha on Saturday. When Villanueva struggled in the early stages of exhibition play, Macha had concerns about his effectiveness in any relief role. But Villanueva has rebounded of late with a pair of strong outings, and if Hoffman opens the season on the disabled list as expected with an oblique strain, that role could go to "Villa." "That was kind of the plan until he wasn't getting anybody out," said Macha. "Now, that's back-to-back good outings for him." Macha didn't mention Seth McClung's name in the discussion but has said in the past that McClung ..."
March 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers have another casualty to the chic oblique strain. Trevor Hoffman. The closer, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract this offseason, first felt tightness in his right oblique Saturday, the morning after he last pitched against the Kansas City Royals. Hoffman was supposed to pitch again sometime during the three games after that, but he was scratched. Manager Ken Macha and pitching coach Billy Castro couldn't recall which day he was expected to pitch and reporters didn't catch wind of his absence because Hoffman is on his own throwing program and he determines when his outings are, not the coaches. Trainers weren't overly concerned, Macha and assistant general ..."
January 11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Tom Haudricourt
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The assumption by many in Brewer Nation is that general manager Doug Melvin will follow the signing of closer Trevor Hoffman by landing one of the higher profile starting pitchers remaining on the free-agent market. Don't count on it. First, forget the rumors that the Brewers are in the hunt for Derek Lowe. He doesn't fit into the team's budget for next season and beyond, and Melvin isn't going to forfeit a first-round draft pick in June by signing a Class A free agent. "I haven't even talked to Scott Boras," said Melvin, referring to Lowe's agent. Melvin wouldn't reveal his exact budget for 2009, but including projections of the team's six looming arbitration cases, the signing of Hoffman ..."
January 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Every player likes being wanted, even baseball's all-time saves leader, a sure-fire Hall of Famer. In what amounted to an intense full-court press over the past few days, the Milwaukee Brewers let Trevor Hoffman know just how much they wanted him. "They were very aggressive in their pursuit of Trevor," agent Rick Thurman confirmed in a telephone interview. That's what it took to overcome the geographical disadvantage the Brewers had in going head-to-head with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the services of the 41-year-old changeup specialist. The Brewers sealed the deal Thursday morning with a one-year offer for $6 million with an additional $1.5 million in incentives based on games finished. ..."
January 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin knew there was a chance that his club was being used to drive up the price for free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman in Los Angeles. But, after another discussion with agent Rick Thurman on Wednesday, Melvin did not get that impression. "There's always that possibility, but I've dealt with Rick before," said Melvin. "I still think we have a chance. We're just not there yet." Melvin's optimism could be well-founded. Hoffman is expected to announce his decision today and one Internet report late Wednesday night suggested the Brewers had emerged as the favorite to land baseball's all-time saves leader. Melvin was well aware of the home-field advantage ..."