Trevor Hoffman Agrees to Deal With Brewers

While it's good news the Brewers have apparently signed all-time MLB saves leader Trevor Hoffman, don't go planning your World Series tailgate parties just yet. No longer the hard thrower he once was, Hoffman now relies on a nasty changeup to get the job done. He should help, but there is a lot more work needed before the Brewers become real contenders.

According to ESPN, Hoffman has signed a one-year deal rumored to be for $6 million, with an option for the second year. Hoffman, who saved 30 games last year for San Diego and has accumulated a record 554 saves is no longer considered an elite closer, probably not even top ten. However, his addition should provide some comfort to fans and players. Last year, even with the arrival of Salomon Torres in the closer role, the ninth inning often resulted in bleeding fingertips as leads disappeared faster than $6 beers. The failed $10 million Eric Gagne experiment (a shame because Gagne was a class act) nearly contributed to the Brewers missing the playoffs, so the money ponied up for Hoffman looks like a deal.

But let's look at the numbers to gauge whether this is a good pickup, or a panicky grab.

It is troubling that Hoffman only pitched 45 inings last year. As relievers have become more specialized in their roles, the number of innings that the designated closer pitched has decreased. But not that much. Forty-five innings means that maybe Hoffman is reliable every other day. He'll need to pitch more innings. Plus he's 41-years old and relies almost entirely on guile to succeed. One has to wonder if the league doesn't eventually catch on -- lefties did beat Hoffman up a bit in 2008. They hit .291 and slugged at a .532 clip.

Hoffman also suffered a serious injury as recently as 2007 so it's not a stretch to question his stamina and ability to pitch more than every other game. Given the sorry state of the Brewers' bullpen – come on, they've only signed Jorge Julio – Hoffman may be needed a lot.

People often look at a pitcher's earned run average (ERA) to determine how the pitcher fared. Hoffman's ERA in 2008 was a career-high 3.77. Not good – however, I did some checking and found if you took away one unfortunate outing April 2, his ERA dropped to a more respectable 3.02. I point this out to show that ERA is not really a reliable number for determining effectiveness because there is a lot still impressive about Hoffman's numbers.

What is impressive about Hoffman? Well, he allowed only one baserunner per inning (1.04) and he only walked 9 batters all year while striking out 46 in 45 innings. Contrast this with Torres who allowed 1.35 baserunners per inning, walked 33 and struck out only 51 in 80 innings of work. This is not a slander of Torres, he helped save the Brewers' season, but it does just how much more efficient Hoffman was.

Interestingly enough, Hoffman yielded seven of his eight homeruns at San Diego's Petco Park, one of the stingiest places to hit a ball out of the park. It's probably a statistical anomaly.

It appears the Brewers are willing to go with a starting rotation of Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan (ouch) and the Unknown Comic. Actually, they'll probably go with Seth McClung or Carlos Villanueva in the fourth or fifth spot. Using either one of them however, will weaken an already suspect bullpen. Hoffman only pitches the ninth. The Brewers will have to find reliable setup relievers to protect the lead until then.

Hoffman is a nice, inexpensive pickup and if he performs at last year's numbers with a few innings added and a better performance against lefties, the Brewers will have done well. Don't discount the added effect of having the all-time saves leader as your closer. Last year there was palpable fear on the field and in the stands when the ninth rolled around with any sort of lead. Here's hoping that hearing AC/DC's Hells Bells when Hoffman jogs in to finish games is good for indigestion, relieves nail-biting and helps send the Brewers to another playoff match. Don't count on it if acquiring Hoffman is all the Brewers accomplish.

Cross-posted at Wigderson Library & Pub

Gagne Purchases 5,000 Tickets

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Gagne today purchased 5,000 tickets to be given away to Brewers fans for tonight’s game. The idea for the plan originated with Gagne, who approached Brewers officials late last night to discuss the logistics.

"Tonight we'll be playing one of the most important games in franchise history, and I can think of no better way to thank the fans than giving families an opportunity to pack Miller Park,” Gagne said. “No matter what happens over these next four games, I want everyone to know that I think the world of Brewers fans. Three million times they have walked through the gates this year and none of us on the field takes their support for granted. We're going to have some fun out here, and I know that the atmosphere will be electric."

Starting at 3:30, fans can go to Brewers.com to request up to four tickets. Simply click on the “Gagne Giveaway” graphic to go to the ticket request page and enter Gagne as the password when prompted. Fans requesting the complimentary tickets will be subject to a one-time $2.00 fee for printing their ticket order at home, or a $4.00 per order fee for picking at Miller Park will call.

The tickets are first come, first served, and the inventory of 5,000 available is expected to be exhausted quickly.

Gagne has also put in a special request for fans to support this weekend’s Drive for Charity along with Northwestern Mutual. Participating fans will have the opportunity to receive a J.J. Hardy collectible Brewers pin with the donation of new or gently used winter coats.. Donations will be accepted throughout the Chicago series from the gate opening through the second inning at the Left Field, Right Field, and Home Plate Gate entrances.

Fantasy Baseball Gathering a Success

On a gorgeous summer day, seven members of the BRASS League got together at the Rock residence in Brookfield to enjoy conversation, refreshment, sustenance, and whiffleball (Above shown [l-r] Tony Cieszynski, Abby Rock and Bob Gale). And then after all was done, the happy owners drove to Miller Park and watched the Milwaukee Brewers come from behind to defeat the Houston Astros 6-4 and claim a share of first place in the National League Central division.














A fine conclusion to a glorious day, and the only victory on a lost home stand. I think the Brewers should consider having BRASS League members attend all home games in the future. Heck, put us out on the road, too. The Breweres will win their division by 30 games. Above photo: [l-r] Vaughn Nuest, Mark Lentz, Daniel Valois, Tony Cieszynski and Bob Gale.














Anyway, here are a few action pictures of the good-looking guys who got together. There is talk of doing this next year in Milwaukee and on a regular basis thereafter. More news on that front later.

Above photo: BRASS members raiding the Rock refrigerator.














Vaughn Nuest shows off the batting style that won three batting titles in tee-ball.














Tony Cieszynski reacts to a brushback pitch. Juust a bit inside.














At the game. In the back row: [l-r] Kevin Kolb (who joined us late at the game) Mark Lentz, Tim Rock, Bob Gale. Front row: Tony Cieszynski, Daniel Valois, Vaughn Nuest.

Is it Braun or Mineo at the Plate?

I was not privy to the entire conversation Sunday, at the big birthday party, but apparently there was a discussion as to whether Milwaukee Brewer's left fielder Ryan Braun and the late actor, Sal Mineo, look similar. You be the judge.

Box Score Line of the Week

From ESPN, this is the box score line for Thai pitcher, Chanati Thongbai, from the recently completed World Cup baseball tournament. For those of you who are not baseball fans, these numbers are not good.

6 IP, 22 H, 24 R, 19 ER, 9 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 4 HR.

In English, these stats mean that Mr. Thongbai pitched six innings (he managed to get 18 outs somehow), he gave up 22 hits, the other team scored 24 runs of which only 19 were earned (Mr. Thongbai's fielders did him no favors), he did not help his own cause by walking nine batters and embarrassingly enough for one batter, Mr. Thongpai actually struck someone out. Mr. Thongpai threw one wild pitch (got past the catcher) and gave up four home runs.

I'm guessing Thailand lost this game.

A Sad Day for Baseball

I am not going to waste time heaping vituperation on Barry Bonds. The lesser lights on the right will do that for me. However, I will say this: What a sad day for baseball.

Here are two links to articles at ESPN, one by Gene Wojciechowski, who manages to express his disdain for Bonds without the use of vulgar language or coded racial epitaphs. The other is an investigative report that goes far in illuminating the evidence that Bonds did perjure himself.

Red Sox v. Rockies

Who would of thought it ... Dustin Pedroia just smoked a 3-run double to put the Sox up 9-2. Coupled with his 2-run homer earlier, five RBIs for the rook. Quite a game.

I'm a National League guy, but I think the Sox will put down the red hot Rockies in six.

There is a God

For you Yankee haters, last night's game against the Cleveland Indians was a classic. Here is a link to a humorous article by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick titled "Joba, Yankees can't avoid the plague."

I prefer to think of it along the lines of Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter's comment:

"Just when you think you've seen it all, you see something new,'' New York shortstop Derek Jeter said. "I guess that's the home-field advantage for them -- just let the bugs out in the eighth inning. It worked.''

Good move, Cleveland.

Random Thoughts on a Saturday

It's been a while since I blogged about anything in particular. Today will be no different as I blog at random for my two readers, elliot and capper.

The other day I decided to do something special for my lovely wife. I knew she likes Qdoba and Mexican food, so I began surfing the Internet for a tasty recipe. Anyway, I found this recipe for enchiladas, for which I have provided a link for those curious (there are other recipes).

I have made a couple small changes to the recipe. It is provided below along with commentary. It was fun to make and the taste elicited a smile from the wife, which was what the entire exercise was about. You will need:

20 Corn Tortillas (apparently they only come in packs of 20,000)
4 pound whole chicken (approximately)
Monterrey Jack cheese (shredded)
Sour cream
Buttermilk
Chicken broth (this will come from boiling the chicken)
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Cumin
Flour
Corn Oil
Jalapeño peppers (store bought in jar variety)
Green chiles (my add)
Onion

You will also need:

Slow cooker
Large skillet or frying pan
Sauce pan
Paper towels
Prongs
Measuring items

COOK AND SEASON THE CHICKEN
Place the unfortunate and unfrozen chicken in a slow cooker filled with water. Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Cook the chicken on high for 4 hours, or until the meat falls off the bones.

Separate the meat from the bones and place it in a large bowl. Shred the meat and allow to cool. Retain the chicken broth.

Slice open 4 or 5 green chilis. Remove the seeds, rinse the chilis and then finely dice. After the meat has cooled somewhat, mix it with the following ingredients:

½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
green chilis

Cover the bowl with foil and place in the refrigerator.

FRY THE TORTILLAS
Into a large skillet or frying pan, pour about ¼ inch of corn oil and heat on medium high.

Using a prongs (yes, I feel the need to emphasize this) place a tortilla in the oil for 5 seconds. Remove the tortilla, turn it over, and place it in the oil for another 5 seconds.

Remove the tortilla and place it on a plate covered with a paper towel. Use another paper towel to blot the oil from the tortilla. Place the tortilla on another plate. Repeat the frying as many times as you wish. I would stop, eventually.

MAKE THE ENCHILADA SAUCE
Pour 4 tablespoons of corn oil into a sauce pan and turn the heat to medium low. After the oil has heated, gradually (and carefully) add the following ingredients:

5 tablespoons of flour
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin powder
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of chili powder.

Mix until thick, then slowly begin adding 3 cups of chicken broth (again carefully). Keep stirring!

After the chicken broth has been added, slowly add 1 cup of buttermilk. Raise the heat to medium and keep stirring until the sauce thickens, then set the heat on low.

PREPARE THE ENCHILADAS FOR CONSUMPTION (that means eat, for those commenters at the influential Badger Blogger)

Using a prongs, dip a tortilla into the enchilada sauce. Place the tortilla on a plate and sprinkle shredded cheese, chicken, onion on top. Pour a little sauce on top and repeat the process a second time.

Place a third dipped tortilla on top of the stack. Add a dollop of sour cream and a couple jalapeño slices.

EAT AND ENJOY


Ned Yost and the Brewers
Just a couple of other things. Those calling for the head of Ned Yost are out of their minds. The team is a young one and prone to highs and lows. That this team continues to contend after the swoon they experienced in August is a testament to Yost's ability to manage this team. They continue to play hard and are proving to be remarkably resilient. I look for this team to be an exciting one for the next four to five years. If they fail to contend next year, then Yost's status should be revisited. But until then, Mr. And Mrs. Naysayer, relax. The team is doing just fine.

Most Influential
And lastly, this comment about the influential blog, Badger Blogger. Other than Patrick, the owner of the site, this fellow, whose moniker is mickey, comments there at a rate second to none. He is the only individual banned from Boots and Sabers (this takes a lot considering some of the commenting there). Mickey truly symbolizes the level of competency amongst the herd at Badger Blogger. Influential, indeed.

Anyway, this comment was an add-on to a post by Patrick about the hapless woman who thought it an artistic statement to walk into an airport with a fake bomb strapped to her chest. All right, I agree. She's missing a few marbles. But this comment is priceless.

ART!! I’m working on some ART, to wear at an Obama rally!!!My ART, will have
a BURQA!! Yes, and my ART will have OTHER “ARTISTIC” items of “clothing”. There
will be no problem, because I have RIGHTS!!! If someone questions my clothing,
I’ll proclaim my RIGHT to wear a Swastika, or a JEWISH TATTOO from the third
reich, or I’ll proclaim my RIGHT to “FREE SPEECH”, when I deny the holocaust.
Columbia University , will not silence me, because my words are part of the free
exercise of ideas!!!! My “idea’s” will be part of an open discourse!!Iran’s
Ahmedinijiad, will be given the same open forum that his country would
allow.Would David Duke be given the same forum??Does Columbia, have no sense of
right vs wrong and Ahmedinijiads position in history????Would Karl Rove be given
the same forum??If so. WHY?

Elitist?
I guess I'm elitist for commenting so about poor, misunderstod mickey and the Badger Blogger denizens in general. Curious, what does that make those who comment about us in such crude and barbaric ways?

Baseball is Berry Berry Good to Me

I have been playing Strat-0-Matic baseball for over twenty years now. My first entry into this hobby was as the Pittsburgh Pirates in a keeper league called the American Baseball League. Along with 23 other individuals from around the country (coast to coast) I competed in a 160 game season to see who would have the honor of making the playoffs and fighting for the ABL championship. In twelve years, my Pirates won five division titles and were the wild card participant two other times … once making it to the World Series where my team was defeated 4-2.

These type of leagues are nothing like the rotisserie leagues that are all the rage. We don’t acquire players who then accumulate points for things such as stolen bases, strikeouts, wins, losses, etc. Strat-0-Matic actually number crunches the production of a player from the previous year … batting, on base average, slugging, outfield arm and accuracy, hold ability by pitchers, defense and defensive range, and much, much more are examined, eventually resulting in a very realistic replaying ability. Albert Pujols is going to be very Albert Pujols-like in Strat-0-Matic.

Anyway, about seven years ago, I joined a new, more advanced league called BRASS League (Bloomington Rotisserie and Strat-0-Matic Society). The role of general manager was further enhanced in this game with salary structures and free agency added. Now, I had to not only field a team and play against others, I had to pay my players, as well.

Two nights ago, my current team, the Cream City Pirates, culminated its most successful BRASS season by defeating the Montreal Sunsets to advance to the World Series. In seven years, my teams have won three division titles, but never advanced this far. The game itself was played face-to-face … over the Internet. Strat has come a long way, baby. Below is the recap of what was truly a remarkable game. Enjoy.

Derek Jeter Refused to Lose
Derek Jeter simply refused to allow Cream City to lose game six of its prize fight with the Montreal Sunsets. Because of his heroics, the Cream City Pirates await the winner of the Gold League playoffs after winning the Silver League championship series four games to two.

Cream City had lost the previous game to Johann Santana 8-0 … a game in which the slumbering Montreal bats finally game to life. For four games, Cream City’s pitching staff, especially its bullpen, had shut down the vaunted Sunsets attack. Now, trailing 3-2 in the series, Daniel Valois’ crew needed only to win game six to force a deciding game … one which would feature Roger Clemens and his supernatural card on the mound.

The game started out like game five. A one-out single by Mark Ellis was followed by a titanic shot by Chipper Jones to put the Sunsets up 2-0. Still reeling from that shot, starter John Patterson fed Travis Hafner a gopher that Hafner deposited into the seats in deep, deep right center field. Now trailing 3-0, the Pirates fans were stunned and silent (as was their stricken manager).

But not for long.

Kenny Lofton led off with a sharp single to right. Lofton was unable to get a good lead, but his antics at first were enough to distract Montreal starter, Carlos Zambrano, into issuing a free pass to Derek Jeter. After a fly out by Brian Roberts, Larry Walker strode to the plate and first ball hitting, lashed a double into the right field corner. By the time Bobby Abreu could retrieve the ball two runs had crossed the plate. Richie Sexson followed with a double off the wall in left center, just eluding the glove of Jonny Gomes and the score was tied.

Patterson and Zambrano settled down until the top of the fifth. David DeJesus led off with a double. After a ground out by Greg Zaun, Bobby Abreu was intentionally walked to face Mark Ellis. Hopes for a double play ball were foiled when Ellis dropped a blooper just beyond second basemen Brian Robert’s reach into right field and Montreal regained the lead 4-3.

Chipper Jones followed with a walk to load the bases. Sensing trouble, Cream City manager, Tim Rock, brought in Justin Speier to face Travis Hafner. Speier’s specialty is facing lefties with his reverse card and true to form, he struck Hafner out. Rock then brought on Bronson Arroyo, the Pirate’s long relief man for the series. The strategy backfired though when Gomes laced a single to left scoring two. Once again the Cream City faithful were silent (the Pirate’s manager cutting off an expletive deleted just in time).

In the bottom of the sixth, Richie Sexson gave the crowd something to cheer for with a solo shot to deep left field off Zambrano. Still, the Pirates trailed 6-4 after six complete.

In the bottom of the seventh, Derek Jeter decided to take matters into his own hands. Still trailing by two, Lofton got on with another of his patented singles to right. Once again, though unable to get a lead, he was able to distract Zambrano into throwing a wild pitch. With Lofton dancing at second, Zambrano turned to face Jeter and threw him a fat one right down the middle. Jeter took him deep to left center. The crowd roared its approval … the game was tied … there was hope yet in Sudsville.

Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Jonny Gomes this was supposed to be Cream City’s day because he promptly led off the top of the eighth with a shot to left that just skipped over Hideki Matsui’s outstretched glove. Suddenly, the Pirates trailed again and time was running out.

The Pirates were retired meekly in the eighth inning, a two-out Ichiro Suzuki single wasted. The Sunsets were eliminated in the ninth.

Derek Jeter strode to the plate in the bottom of the ninth to lead off, facing Jason Isringhausen, who had come on with two-outs in the bottom of the seventh. Jeter wasted no time. On a 2-1 pitch, Jeter reached out and poked a ball to left that just kept going and going and going as though it were destined for greatness… dropping into the fourth row in left center field for a game tying home run. The crowd went berserk celebrating Jeter’s second home run of the game (the Pirates’ manager almost fell out of his chair). The Pirates failed to push anything else across and so the game continued to the tenth inning.

J. D. Drew led off the inning with a double to center off Neal Cotts. However, Cotts was up to the task and induced easy outs from the next three batters.

The stage was set.

Brandon Inge led off with a double to center off Hector Carrasco. Humberto Cota grounded out to second, allowing Inge to move to third. Montreal decided to pitch to Suzuki with the infield in and that strategy worked when Suzuki lined out to Ellis for the second out.

Now, Sunsets manager Daniel Valois faced a choice. Running out of pitchers, he decided to walk the red-hot lefty, Lofton, to pitch to Derek Jeter … a much more favorable match-up for the right-handed Carrasco.

Junior Spivey came on to pinch run for Inge and the Pirates decided to try some trickery. Lofton took off, hoping that the ball would come to second, giving Spivey a chance to steal home. But the Sunset foiled that by holding the ball. It was up to Jeter.

In hindsight, who could have known this was Derek Jeter’s day. The percentages favored the moves Valois made. It didn’t matter. Jeter took the pitch from Carrasco and sent it deep into the left field seats for a walk-off three-run home run, his third of the game. Bedlam ensued (imaginary and real).

The Pirates were going to the World Series.