We talk about it all the time in sports. When is it over? It's been seen recently in terms of Ken Griffey Jr. and Shaquille O'Neal, constantly in Brett Favre, and even a more positive side in Niklas Lidstrom. Every season we see Hall of Fame careers coming to a close and we watch as the players decide if it's worth one more shot. Trevor Hoffman is probably rethinking his 2010 decision right now. No one really can blame him for thinking he had another year in him. In 2009, his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hoffman was 37 for 41 in save chances, touting a 1.83 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. Opponents hit a paltry .183 and he was striking out 8 per 9 innings. It wasn't as though he was facing all new hitters. Hoffman has been in the National League since he first threw a pitch with Florida in 1993. 596 saves later, he's looking for answers, and coming up short.
"I'm not getting things done. I'm not getting outs. There's not a whole lot to analyze about it. If there was an answer at this point in time, I think we would have found it." (a quote from Hoffman pulled from Buster Olney's blog)
If Hoffman himself sounds that defeated, how can the Brewers be asked to see anything more positive. As it stands now, Hoffman is a measly 5 of 10 in save chances, scarred with a 13.15 ERA, at a point where we're are a little too deep into the season to excuse double-digit ERAs. NL batters have touched him for a .356 average, helping him build a 2.15 WHIP, and he's only striking out 5 1/2 per 9. One could look at a 42 year old reliever and assume he just doesn't have the mustard that he used to get batters out with, but Hoffman hasn't been throwing hard for years, and really never threw that hard to begin with. Hoffman gets buy on changing speeds, making an 86 mph fastball tough to find after a 77 mph change up. Unpredictability and command are what got Hoffman to 596, so everyone is having trouble figuring out why it can't take him smoothly past 600.
I don't have the answer, and if Hoffman and the Brewers' array of analysts don't either, than I doubt I'm supposed to. All I know is, the Brewers are having enough trouble assembling starting pitching performances that give them a chance to save games, that they can't afford much leash for Hoffman. I'm sure they're looking everywhere for options. Todd Coffey and Charlie Villanueva have seen save opportunities in the past, but neither are breathing down Hoffman's neck. I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the Brewers minor league system, especially since they traded Matt LaPorta and brought up Alcedes Escobar. Perhaps there is an answer down there. Hoffman and his coaches will continue to tinker, but if they can't come up with something soon, we are going to see a very sorry end to a storybook career.
- What do we think of "Hansome" Hanley Ramirez sassing up his coach after getting pulled from a game for lack of hustle. Well there are a couple things to think about the situation. All I know is someone is dead wrong. In all likelihood it's Hanley. He claims that he was running as hard as he was able, after fouling a ball off his shin earlier. However, looking at how hard Hanley was running to make the play in the first place, his argument seems to be, well, shit. But, let's just give Hansome the benefit of this minute piece of doubt. In that case, either Hanley or the Marlins' trainers should be harshly reprimanded for allowing him to play in that condition. If that's as hard as he can run after that ball, then he is a detriment to the team and should be on the bench, regardless of pride or dedication or whatever else. But back to the realistic option, I don't know what Hanley could have been thinking. Runs were scoring as he loafed out to the ball, and then he has the audacity to sass up after being benched. There is selfishness, and it is something that I don't condone, but of which I understand the line of thinking. However, this is just utter disregard for the existence of other people. Selfishness, at least, inherently recognizes the opinions and feelings of others in its diminution of them. However, in this case, Hanley attacks his coach for not understanding what it's like to play in the majors, when it certainly seems like Hanley is the one that doesn't know what being on a Major League Baseball TEAM consists of. His actions are inexcusable, but regardless, it seems that this issue is now behind the Marlins. That being said, if the Red Sox (or anyone else) is considering going after that bat they need, this is definitely the time to package together a "Hansome" offer.
- Fredi Gonzalez sure has had a rough time in Florida. Gonzalez, since his debut in 2007, has a record right around .500 with a team that is in constant rebuilding, including two second place finishes. Rumors were flying around about his being fired in the past, and I'm sure you'll hear a few of them around if the Marlins plan on keeping Hanley. Evan Roberts of WFAN-New York made a great connection, that have to strongly agree will end up being the case, when he said "Fredi Gonzalez will be the next manager of the Atlanta Braves". Bobby Cox has already announced his end-of-the-year retirement, and Gonzalez came up through the Braves' ranks before taking the Florida job.
- Brandon Webb is changing his arm slot as he continues to try to come back from surgery. We have to ask, at this point, if we are ever going to see Webb the way we left him. I can't help but think this is just an unfortunately early conclusion to what could have been a stellar career.
- The Tampa Bay Rays are on fire to start this season. They are 30-11, sitting on top of the AL East 5 & 6 games ahead of two teams, in the Yankees and the Blue Jays, who are off to great starts themselves. Everybody knew the Rays were for real when the went to the World Series in 2008. Not many were shouting "fluke". But, I don't know if anybody knew they were this good. Even if someone through out a stray thought that the Rays could win 30 of their first 41 games, would they have included with that prediction that the Rays would have released Pat Burrell, due to lack of production, and that Bossman Jr, Carlos Pena and Dioner Navarro would all be batting under .225, with Pena and Dioner on the interstate? The Rays are putting up these numbers, and they are not even hitting yet! This is a start we haven't seen since the record-setting 2001 Mariners. BUT, when your team ERA is 2.83 in the American League, you are going to have some success. The Rays have been a fun team to watch for a long time now. I quiver a bit at what might become of them as new contracts come calling for their stars. But I hope to have some fun watching them succeed first.
- Andre Ethier fell to a broken pinkie finger this week. The Dodgers aren't quite noticing yet, as they continue their tear, rising through the NL West. Ethier departed while leading the NL in all three triple-crown categories (Batting .392 (a lead of .059) 11 HR and 38 RBI). Raul Ibanez was in a similar situation last season when he went on the DL, Ibanez ended up out a while, and a Pujos triple-crown was the talk by the time he came back. Raul was not nearly as effective after the injury. Hopefully Ethier will be back soon. Though I don't beleive he'd be keeping those numbers up all year, we still could have been looking at a special season.
- Speaking of triple-crown categories, Christian Guzman has come out of nowhere to take second to Ethier in BA. Guzman is batting .426 in the month of May, raising his average to .333. Guzman was supposed to find a lot of time on the bench this season, with Ian Desmond moving into the Short Stop role, but Guzman has become the starting 2nd baseman in Washington.
- Ubaldo Jimenez: 8-1, 58 K, 0.99 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, .171 BAA...WOW!
- The Mets pitching is shambles. Oliver Perez was being Oliver Perez, and the the Mets understandably had enough, so they decided (or after finding out that he wouldn't go to Buffalo) to put him in the pen. That would have been all well and good. RA Dickey had a strong start, and being a knuckleballer, is dependable for innings. Hisanori Takahashi looks like he might be able to contribued as a legitimate starter. So, as much as Ollie's paycheck hurts, the situation isn't that bad. But then, in his next start, Jon Niese strains the hamstring he just had surgery on, and is now on the DL, forcing Takahashi and Dickey BOTH into the rotation. And now, 5 pitches into his start last night, John Maine was pulled and it is not at all clear what's going on. Though, we know John Maine is pissed. The Mets turned some heads by not really addressing their need for starting pitching in the off season. Admittedly, they put out a rotation that within the last few years would have been regarded as solid. However, coming into this year it was considered questionable. They could have gotten away with it, if the guys were able to stay healthy. But now all hell is breaking lose in NY.
- Good for David Ortiz!
We'll get another set of Sprites out next week. There's plenty to write about.
-APT
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