Let trevor time go

[wishicouldhit]

Even though Hoffman has been one of the few upsides of the brewers this season and it would be awesome for a brewer to be the first 600 save closer. In 2010 and the future it makes logical sense for the brewers to offer him arb and hope he doesn't take it. In return the brewers would receive a sandwich pick and a first round pick (or second). We dont want a repeat of 2009 when we have an above average closer with one of the wosrt pitching staffs , the money needs to be spent on 2 starting pitchers. In addition i think Coffee has done more than enough to solidify the closer role. As for set up man..... well thats a problem.

[wishicouldhit]

Even though Hoffman has been one of the few upsides of the brewers this season and it would be awesome for a brewer to be the first 600 save closer. In 2010 and the future it makes logical sense for the brewers to offer him arb and hope he doesn't take it. In return the brewers would receive a sandwich pick and a first round pick (or second). We dont want a repeat of 2009 when we have an above average closer with one of the wosrt pitching staffs , the money needs to be spent on 2 starting pitchers. In addition i think Coffee has done more than enough to solidify the closer role. As for set up man..... well thats a problem.

[RockCoCougars]

I disagree. Hoffman has been great this year. Money for starting pitching can come from other sources (Cameron, Kendall, Looper, Hardy, Weathers).

[RockCoCougars]

I disagree. Hoffman has been great this year. Money for starting pitching can come from other sources (Cameron, Kendall, Looper, Hardy, Weathers).

[piccione88]

I highly doubt that Melvin passed up a viable starting pitcher in order to get Hoffman. As for next year, signing Hoffman, does not prevent us from picking up a starter. If the Brewers can pick up two starters through trades of our infield depth, we could afford to bring back both Hoffman, and Cameron without raising payroll.

[piccione88]

I highly doubt that Melvin passed up a viable starting pitcher in order to get Hoffman. As for next year, signing Hoffman, does not prevent us from picking up a starter. If the Brewers can pick up two starters through trades of our infield depth, we could afford to bring back both Hoffman, and Cameron without raising payroll.

[Invader3K]

It's amazing that Hoffman is close to 40 saves, with as bad as the team has been. He needs to come back next year. Even if he slips just slightly, he'll still be worth it. If you don't sign him, they'll just have to overpay to bring in someone else, or go with some crummy internal option that they'll have to scramble to replace mid-season if they're in contention.

 

Hoffman is worth it, for his performance. It's also nice for the franchise that he puts butts in seats and moves merchandise, too.

[Invader3K]

It's amazing that Hoffman is close to 40 saves, with as bad as the team has been. He needs to come back next year. Even if he slips just slightly, he'll still be worth it. If you don't sign him, they'll just have to overpay to bring in someone else, or go with some crummy internal option that they'll have to scramble to replace mid-season if they're in contention.

 

Hoffman is worth it, for his performance. It's also nice for the franchise that he puts butts in seats and moves merchandise, too.

[brewmann04]

Hoffman needs to be resigned at least for the 2010 season.

[brewmann04]

Hoffman needs to be resigned at least for the 2010 season.

[yoshii8]

If he wants to come back, you have to sign him. It doesn't make sense to not have a good closer just because we don't have enough starters. It would just cause more problems w/ our pitching staff.

[yoshii8]

If he wants to come back, you have to sign him. It doesn't make sense to not have a good closer just because we don't have enough starters. It would just cause more problems w/ our pitching staff.

[dadofandrew]

Hoffman won't need much more to return, and he's been outstanding. Could he falter? Absolutely, any P can, and Trevor is older than me. But, he's been as good as any closer, and he'll only make a bit over 50-60% of the highest paid.

[dadofandrew]

Hoffman won't need much more to return, and he's been outstanding. Could he falter? Absolutely, any P can, and Trevor is older than me. But, he's been as good as any closer, and he'll only make a bit over 50-60% of the highest paid.

[patrickgpe]

i think you are underestimating how important it is to have a good closer. For whatever reason its just harder to finish the 9th than the 8th, which is why we have seen many good setup men fail in the closers role. Coffey was pretty bad as a closer for the Reds. I'd rather let him continue in his current role.

[patrickgpe]

i think you are underestimating how important it is to have a good closer. For whatever reason its just harder to finish the 9th than the 8th, which is why we have seen many good setup men fail in the closers role. Coffey was pretty bad as a closer for the Reds. I'd rather let him continue in his current role.

[TheCrew07]

Sure you can pay a closer, but to what end? A good closer will pick up 35-40 saves regardless how bad the team is, the closer doesn't make or break the bullpen or the pitching staff.

 

I'm still of the opinion large sums of money spent on the bullpen are misspent, there's simply not the opportunity to have the same impact as a starting pitcher. I'm not into paying starter type money to any reliever let alone a closer to pitch 1/4 to 1/3 the innings of our best starting pitcher. Villy has the most IP out of the pen so far at 89, Hoffman has only pitched 51... it's just not good value to pay starting pitcher money to a closer.

 

I'm equally against paying a FA SP fair market value. However, I just don't have much faith in Melvin's ability to swing a deal for pitching, so if he were to use some combination of Cameron's, Looper's, and Hoffman's salary to sign Lackey for example I'd probably swallow my pride and grudgingly accept that deal. I still believe a FA is the least best way to plug a hole in the rotation for a team like Milwaukee but at this point something is better than nothing. Hoffman is good, but is he money well spent on a .500 team with glaring holes elsewhere?

 

I'm really not concerned about the pen, we have Wooten and Fiers in the system as middle relief, plus Axford, Aguilar, and Braddock have the stuff to close. We also have a plethora of young SP on the way and some of those players will end up in the bullpen like Villy did... guys like Cody, Dillard and so on. Many scouts also like some of our high ceiling starting pitching prospects such as Jeffress and Peralta to be relievers down the road. We literally have a ton of options for the bullpen on the horizon, but we desperately need guys like Butler, Rivas, and Rogers to remain healthy and effective as starting pitchers, and we could definitely use a player like Periard who's results have never caught up to his stuff to have a break out season as well.

[TheCrew07]

Sure you can pay a closer, but to what end? A good closer will pick up 35-40 saves regardless how bad the team is, the closer doesn't make or break the bullpen or the pitching staff.

 

I'm still of the opinion large sums of money spent on the bullpen are misspent, there's simply not the opportunity to have the same impact as a starting pitcher. I'm not into paying starter type money to any reliever let alone a closer to pitch 1/4 to 1/3 the innings of our best starting pitcher. Villy has the most IP out of the pen so far at 89, Hoffman has only pitched 51... it's just not good value to pay starting pitcher money to a closer.

 

I'm equally against paying a FA SP fair market value. However, I just don't have much faith in Melvin's ability to swing a deal for pitching, so if he were to use some combination of Cameron's, Looper's, and Hoffman's salary to sign Lackey for example I'd probably swallow my pride and grudgingly accept that deal. I still believe a FA is the least best way to plug a hole in the rotation for a team like Milwaukee but at this point something is better than nothing. Hoffman is good, but is he money well spent on a .500 team with glaring holes elsewhere?

 

I'm really not concerned about the pen, we have Wooten and Fiers in the system as middle relief, plus Axford, Aguilar, and Braddock have the stuff to close. We also have a plethora of young SP on the way and some of those players will end up in the bullpen like Villy did... guys like Cody, Dillard and so on. Many scouts also like some of our high ceiling starting pitching prospects such as Jeffress and Peralta to be relievers down the road. We literally have a ton of options for the bullpen on the horizon, but we desperately need guys like Butler, Rivas, and Rogers to remain healthy and effective as starting pitchers, and we could definitely use a player like Periard who's results have never caught up to his stuff to have a break out season as well.

[ILuvDaBush]

Is having Trevor for 2010 really that terrible an idea? I understand if he declines arbitration and goes to another team, it's a consolation that we get two picks (especially after Bruce Seid proved to be quite an adept drafter/signatory) but Trevor would still hold a great deal of value next year if we decided to trade him. And honestly, having the ninth nailed down is a luxury, not only for the starters knowing that it's only an eight inning game (of the good kind) but also from the bullpen itself. Does no one remember how our bullpen was in shambles until Trevor Time erupted? Then the entire bullpen became one of the best in baseball (DiFelice/Stetter/Son of...giving way to Coffey...giving way to the previously shaken Carlito). Going into next season, if we still have the Coffey/CV/Stetter set-up squad for Trevor (all of which is costing us less than what the 'stache was willing to pay Coco mind you), how can you not be pleased and content? He's the chess-master of closers. And I don't want to imagine him doing his jedi-mind tricks on my Brews (Prince would undoubtedly hurt himself swinging for the scoreboard and coming up air).

[ILuvDaBush]

Is having Trevor for 2010 really that terrible an idea? I understand if he declines arbitration and goes to another team, it's a consolation that we get two picks (especially after Bruce Seid proved to be quite an adept drafter/signatory) but Trevor would still hold a great deal of value next year if we decided to trade him. And honestly, having the ninth nailed down is a luxury, not only for the starters knowing that it's only an eight inning game (of the good kind) but also from the bullpen itself. Does no one remember how our bullpen was in shambles until Trevor Time erupted? Then the entire bullpen became one of the best in baseball (DiFelice/Stetter/Son of...giving way to Coffey...giving way to the previously shaken Carlito). Going into next season, if we still have the Coffey/CV/Stetter set-up squad for Trevor (all of which is costing us less than what the 'stache was willing to pay Coco mind you), how can you not be pleased and content? He's the chess-master of closers. And I don't want to imagine him doing his jedi-mind tricks on my Brews (Prince would undoubtedly hurt himself swinging for the scoreboard and coming up air).

[JohnBriggs12]

Count me in the group that thinks Hoffman isn't a priority. I think he'll still be solid next year but I don't expect a 92% save percentage, nor do they necessarily need that as a team to win (see the Phillies). They will need to pony up to get the kind of starter that would actually make a difference. Now if they can save enough through non-tendering Bush, letting Cameron and Kendall go, and not picking up Looper's option to add a quality starter (none of which they are guaranteed to do) and keep Hoffman that's fine. But in that scenario, they'd also need to consider adding an OF bat or keeping Lopez too. I still don't understand the thinking that being 5th in runs scored is good enough. Is the goal to have the 5th best team or the best team? Sure 5th in runs scored is fine if your 1-2 in pitching but that's not happening.

 

I also don't think Coffey would necessarily be the replacement. Vargas has looked very, very good in late inning situations (so much so that's he's earned some money too and should be retained) and there will be other less expensive relievers on the market. Chris Smith has emerged as dependable too so they have some depth in that pen to choose from. I'm not counting on Weathers either because he's near the end and not all that reliable.

 

I also don't think Hoffman puts one fan in the seats. People don't buy tickets based on seeing a closer. Yeah, it's a neat show when he comes in which does add to the experience at a game but there's no guarantee you will see it so why would you make a ticket purchase decision based on maybe seeing the closer?

[JohnBriggs12]

Count me in the group that thinks Hoffman isn't a priority. I think he'll still be solid next year but I don't expect a 92% save percentage, nor do they necessarily need that as a team to win (see the Phillies). They will need to pony up to get the kind of starter that would actually make a difference. Now if they can save enough through non-tendering Bush, letting Cameron and Kendall go, and not picking up Looper's option to add a quality starter (none of which they are guaranteed to do) and keep Hoffman that's fine. But in that scenario, they'd also need to consider adding an OF bat or keeping Lopez too. I still don't understand the thinking that being 5th in runs scored is good enough. Is the goal to have the 5th best team or the best team? Sure 5th in runs scored is fine if your 1-2 in pitching but that's not happening.

 

I also don't think Coffey would necessarily be the replacement. Vargas has looked very, very good in late inning situations (so much so that's he's earned some money too and should be retained) and there will be other less expensive relievers on the market. Chris Smith has emerged as dependable too so they have some depth in that pen to choose from. I'm not counting on Weathers either because he's near the end and not all that reliable.

 

I also don't think Hoffman puts one fan in the seats. People don't buy tickets based on seeing a closer. Yeah, it's a neat show when he comes in which does add to the experience at a game but there's no guarantee you will see it so why would you make a ticket purchase decision based on maybe seeing the closer?

[CheezWizHed]

I also don't think Hoffman puts one fan in the seats.

 

Not directly he won't. But people see how the team is put together. Signing Hoffman in the offseason was the big ticket signing. It shows that the Brewers are committed to winning. So signing Hoffman/Looper (yes, Looper didn't work out) shows the fans that we are trying to get back to the playoffs. Remember the '90s where we would sign a bunch of AAAA scrubs and pray someone looked good in ST?

 

Personally, I say offer arby and let Hoffman make the decision. I'm fine if he stays or goes.

[CheezWizHed]

I also don't think Hoffman puts one fan in the seats.

 

Not directly he won't. But people see how the team is put together. Signing Hoffman in the offseason was the big ticket signing. It shows that the Brewers are committed to winning. So signing Hoffman/Looper (yes, Looper didn't work out) shows the fans that we are trying to get back to the playoffs. Remember the '90s where we would sign a bunch of AAAA scrubs and pray someone looked good in ST?

 

Personally, I say offer arby and let Hoffman make the decision. I'm fine if he stays or goes.

[Never Outhustled]

The Brewers have way more money than people are figuring, if Hardy is dealt, which seems likely. If the Brewers decline options on Looper and Weathers, and non-tender Bush, they have enough money to keep Cameron, Hoffman, and add a $12 million pitcher. We have alot of flexibility.