Hoffman signs with the Brewers for $6m with $1.5 in incentives

by jbox on Jan 8, 2009 10:03 AM PST Comment 47 comments

End of an era: Hoffman signs deal with Brewers

Trevor Hoffman has agreed to terms with the Milwaukee Brewers on a one-year contract for $6 million with $1.5 million in performance bonuses, officially ending the all-time save leader's tenure with the Padres.

via images.townnews.com

A few weeks ago it hit me. I realized how much I was going to miss Trevor Hoffman, until then it didn't seem real, there was always an outside chance that some how the Padres and Hoffman would find some common ground.

I was doing a google image search for a particular Hoffman picture and I noticed two things. It's really hard to find a picture of Hoffman without a huge genuine grin on his face was the first thing. The second, I couldn't believe how many photos of Hoffman with kids stricken with cancer.

You always hear about baseball players being "great guys" off the field but at some point I stopped believing that because you later find out that they involved in steroids, crime, abuse or infidelity. I don't want to put Hoffman up on a pedestal but the things he's done for the people of San Diego have restored my faith. I believe he's not only a great athlete but a great person and Milwaukee is going to be fortunate to borrow him for a short time. Only until his playing career ends and returns to San Diego and takes his place among the immortals.

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Best of Luck

I think Trevor deserves to see how much he has left in the tank. He is a great Padre, but I think we were at a point where the team and him needed to part.

From a pure baseball perspective, I don’t think Trevor is worth 6.5Million a year, as he was on smoke and mirrors the last few years. For a team that has a lot to spend, its not a bad signing.

Now that Trevor is gone, I can actually state how much I think closers are overvalued. Trevor had a remarkable career and is one of the best closers since the stat was kept, but overall the position is overrated in baseball.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Jan 8, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I will miss Trevor

and I hope the change in ownership will open the door for him to return to the organization once he retires.

by Steve (Grey Suit) on Jan 8, 2009 10:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

this is how i feel seeing this headline... same way i felt when we lost Uncle Milty

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 10:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sad Panda

The same? A 16 year club veteran and a guy who was here just a few months.

by jbox on Jan 8, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

not the same degree of sadness

but the same general feeling of crap.

Trevor has been a part of my life for a long time.

Milton found his way in to my heart by making the Padres exciting for the first time in years. he added a spark to the team that was missing. the man was so bat shit insane that he literally wouldnt let the team lose.

i miss the fire.

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 11:03 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

i feel i should clarify.

i am in no way comparing Trevor to Milton. they arent even in the same galaxy. i was just demonstrating the Padres alarming tendency to take something i love and get rid of it.

i guess thats just baseball. in the era of free agency players rarely stay on with small-mid market teams for their whole careers like they used to. with the exception of TG, i can’t really think of anyone who stayed with their team until the end unless they are getting paid disturbing amounts of money (jeter, ichiro)

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"take something you love and get rid of it"

You’ve said you come to love these players and so when they leave it is a big deal, which for you means Sad Panda. You represent that this is the Padres fault by calling it an “alarming tendency.”

However, I think you’re viewing these things skewed. I can be almost certain you weren’t jumping with joy when Trevor and Milton were acquired (who was injured and was a controversial figure). The Padres should be credited with acquiring players you come to love, not just dumped on when they have to leave someday. But because you didn’t love them at the time of acquisition all things are not equal.

by 'Eaters on Jan 8, 2009 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

blaming is a strong word. i'm just recognizing something that happens

perhaps “alarming tendency” was incorrect. perhaps “depressing tendency” would have been better.

i will absolutely agree that i am viewing things skewed. thats what i do. however i dont know if i’d necessarily credit the Padres for acquiring the players i love. i think i would credit my obsessive fandom for falling in love with whoever they acquire (ex Milton Bradley).

unless its Michael Barrett or Glendon Rusch. Those guys are both turd sandwiches and i hate their shifty eyes and up-to-no-good faces.

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I miss the Trevor that was

The Trevor of late didn’t impress me much. Nonetheless, I still think it sucks to see him go elsewhere, especially with how it all went down. I don’t see him being incredibly effective anymore, but only time will tell.

by sacpadre on Jan 8, 2009 10:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well said

Good luck to Trevor. I will be in the stands Friday, July 31st to give him a well deserved standing O upon his return to San Diego.

Padres till the bitter end

by sdgaucho on Jan 8, 2009 10:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

I’ll be there to greet him warmly when he returns to Petco this year, and I hope to see him during Spring Training as well. I wish him the best, but I am awful sad to see him go.

Could be worse... could be the offseason.

by EllieK on Jan 8, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Trevor deserves the warmest ovations when he is in town, and I’ll be there too. Right now I can’t bear to imagine him in another uniform. He is still The Man.

by alohabing on Jan 8, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's what I will do on July 31st 2009

I’m going to dress like Sandy and tie a 4 million dollar contract on a fishing pole. Then I’ll go over to the visiting bullpen and keep yanking it from Trevor while shouting NOT ON MY WATCH!!!!

by SDPads_1 on Jan 8, 2009 3:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

do we have an ignore feature?

The ink isn’t even dry on the contract yet, and this guy can’t wait to get his kicks in. It kind of bugs me actually, so don’t take it personally. I can’t read any Hoffman story on the interwebs, with out tearing up a little, and yet here is this quote unquote fan, kicking Trevor Hoffman any chance he can get.

No stresses of course, nothing a simple ignore feature wouldn’t solve. does anybody know where it is?

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I've already looked for it

If I have to read your posts you have to read mine.

by SDPads_1 on Jan 9, 2009 8:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like how

you call me a quote unquote fan too when you are the one with an upside down Padre logo as your icon. Nice.

by SDPads_1 on Jan 9, 2009 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell's Bells suddenly go quiet

What an epic shame. This is just terrible. I wish him the best. Ugh.

We need to sell out the game where he comes back to PetCo. I don’t care what happens in the game, that man gets a standing O when he’s mentioned, and if he’s closing against us in the 9th, I’ll be cheering for him!

In protest of adulthood

by Bradicus on Jan 8, 2009 10:53 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

rec

why not go for the whole series.

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Greetings

Hello all – I’m a National Baseball Examiner in Washington, D.C., hoping to get a feel for how Padres fans feel about this move. This is probably the best blog I’ve seen in terms of fans who really know the Padres, so I’d like to give you all something to react to.

From a pure production standpoint, I think Hoffman’s falling off a bit. He snuck by in 2008 with a .256 BAbip, which is unusually low – seems as if some of those batted balls were going to drop in eventually.

Now, I’d like to ask an observational question – how in the world did Hoffman succeed with an 85mph fastball? I know his changeup is great, but as a hitter, couldn’t you sit changeup and still be able to catch up to an 85mph heater?!

Let’s hear some Hoffman stories!

by AlexBrown on Jan 8, 2009 11:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

his fastball has only been that slow for the last two years or so

he had some velocity before that. low to mid nineties early on in his career i believe.

you really have to see the changeup to appreciate it though. he can bury it in the sand and leave hitters looking foolish.

unless the hitter is benji molina, of course.

oh and welcome, thanks for stopping by.

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

sitting changeup...

That’s the thing, it’s hard to sit changeup, because the changeup usually ends up too low to swing at. But he was so good at masking it, even a pitch that looks 75 mph and turns out to be 85 mph is hard to catch up with by the time you determine what speed it’s actually moving.

The last few years, Trevor seemed to get increasingly hurt by two things: Good hitters who could make the determination earlier, and all hitters when he left the changeup up in the zone.

by pjbno4 on Jan 8, 2009 11:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I won't forget That Reds Game last year...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200807210.shtml

Trevor Hoffman struck out Jay Bruce, and I believe he Tripled up on the Change… nuff said.
(I also believe that was the only time all year we won when trailing after the 8th inning…)

There’s also something to say for the mental aspect, especially vetran players who never had sucess against him before. When they stepped in that batters box, even if the fastball was coming slower, they still saw #51. Then, you had the occasional random rookie who didn’t have any history against him, that would take him out of PETCO.

by TJB on Jan 8, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

to get the true answer to that question you probably need to ask a MLB hitter but from a fan perspective:

Trevor’s fastball was the key to if he was going to have a successful outing or not. If he could locate it knee high on the corners, (and get the call), you knew right away if it was going to be uneventful appearance. If not, he had to throw the change up for a strike, and we know it was most effective when it dropped off the table into the dirt as hitters swung right over it.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Jan 8, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hit a different ball park every year with 7 or 8 friends from across the county...

A couple of years ago, they all flew into SD, tore up the Gaslamp and went to 2 games. I think it was the next to last game of the year and Trevor came out in the 9th to close. Hells Bells was blaring and the flames were lit up. These guys had never really seen him or heard much of Trev, but they all turned to me and said that this was one of the coolest things they had ever seen at a game. He closed out the side and they were all cheering like crazy. They still talk about seeing the all time record closer and how it was one of the highlight of all the games they’ve ever seen.

"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana"
Groucho Marx

by planetjeffy on Jan 8, 2009 11:13 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

another REC.

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Off Speed Kills!

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

two years with Milwaukee and then?

I think with a change of scenery the dredgery of failing the clutch could leave him, and if he stays healthy, it’s not unrealistic to think he could have 615-625 saves after the 2010 season. Say he’s still healthy and the market is back up, he could pitch here in 2011. He’ll always be a San Diego Padre, go ahead and put his number on the batters eye.

Go get ‘em in Milwaukee, Hell’s Bells at Miller Park. I hope he saves 40 and they put the Cubs in 2nd place and out of the playoffs.

by pastorn on Jan 8, 2009 12:49 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

that would be sweet

i just never ever want Mo Rivera to catch him.

ever.

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 8, 2009 12:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

#51

is available on the current Brewers roster

by pastorn on Jan 8, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rivera didn't become a closer

until age 27, and I don’t think he is the type to hang on just to pad his save numbers.
Plus I read somewhere that he could care less about his saves stats. Its his overall numbers that he takes pride in.
I could see him retiring in another two years.

by strummer on Jan 8, 2009 4:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't hate the game, hate the nerds!

by thenerdhater on Jan 8, 2009 2:05 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jan 8, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

one of my favorite scenes is from this episode

when he flops down in the middle of the floor.

Rec city.

by 'Eaters on Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't wait

for him to blow saves against the Cardinals!

Don't hate the game, hate the nerds!

by thenerdhater on Jan 8, 2009 2:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Uh. I hope he doesn't blow any saves

but he probably will. Hope he does well.

Life always goes on...even if you don't want it to

by TheVinylCrocodile on Jan 8, 2009 4:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Have a good time in Milwaukee

I hope the extra 2.5 Million was worth it.

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by sdsuaztec4 on Jan 8, 2009 9:11 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

people just don't get it.

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I miss ya all ready Trevor.

The San Diego Padres will never be the same.

Thanks, for everything Trev.

552.

Baseballs new unbreakable record!

552

by wrveres on Jan 8, 2009 11:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sad loss for San Diego

All great things must come to an end, and the heroic and historic Padre career of Trevor Hoffman is no exception. We all new there would be a final playing of Hells Bells welcoming in to the 9th inning the most consistent, dependable,and durable closer in MLB history. But personally I also hoped that Trevor Time would end as it had begun – in a Padres uniform. I hope that the Brewers fans get to enjoy him as much as I did, and that Padre fans remember and appreciate everything he did for the past 16 years to bring class, integrity, victories, and humility in the midst of greatness to the Padres organization and the city of San Diego. Thank you, Trevor, and good luck during the remainder of your journey to the Hall of Fame!

Scan

by Scanman on Jan 9, 2009 12:04 AM PST reply actions 6 recs

well said scan man

well said indeed.

pooping not

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 9, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agree with scanman

but honestly i think we all have very romanticized views of Trevors time as a padre. I hope in the years to come i can remember him as the guy who saved 500 plus games and was robbed from a Cy Young award and forget the guy who often didn’t show up at the big games and rarely threw more than one inning. I hope only the best for trevor and would love to see him buffer his all time saves lead this year.

by 1998 on Jan 9, 2009 12:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's nice to have those romanticized views

I’m glad we can now just live off those because some of the comments directed at Trevor have been pretty harsh (and I’m talking about comments directed at his play on the field, not the contract situation). There doesn’t have to be the token Trevor defense when starts blowing a game. No more cursing at him when he gives up the lead. No more strings of posts in the OTs about how we are going to lose whenever he throws a couple of balls to start the ninth. Just great memories with AC/DC in the background.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Jan 9, 2009 8:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And maybe, just maybe

some people will finally appreciate how good he was.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jan 9, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 4 recs

Believe you me

I appreciated what he did on the field, in fact when he was blowing games for us I was defending him and I never once booed him, in fact I even said I would like to have him back at the beginning of the off-season because I thought he had 1 maybe 2 decent years left in him. But at this point in time I say good riddance. The off field stuff got to me to much this off-season and I know most of you are blinded by both your hatred for the front office and your love for Trevor to see otherwise.

by SDPads_1 on Jan 9, 2009 9:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That wasn't directed at any of the comments here

unless you’re one of the people who had been packing his bags for the past three years every time he blew a save. Then yes, it’s for you.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jan 9, 2009 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

I never packed the bags until this off-season. And this off-season I packed them, bought the plane tickets, did a housing search, checked out the schools for the kids and even found some prime real estate so his wife could continue her business.

by SDPads_1 on Jan 9, 2009 9:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs