I just think he is overrated.
I don't think he is a Hall of Famer.
And he is KILLING the Brewers! Today he gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th without recording an out, allowing Cincinnati another day alone on top of the NL Central standings.
He has 5 blown saves already and games like this must be quadruply crushing for the Brewers who are in an awful losing streak and seeing their hopes for a playoff run starting to slip away.
Reliever Manny Parra gives the Brewers 4 innings in an emergency start. Marco Estrada throws 4 solid innings in his Brewers debut and they seemed ready to withstand a good Homer Bailey start.
Then in comes Hoffman. And before you can say "Scott Brosius" the game is tied. And before you can say "2 chances to clinch a playoff spot in 3 days in 2007" the game was over...Hoffman's ERA is now 13.15.
Even Brad Lidge is thinking "Wow, that sucks!"
It's early, but not THAT early.
Ken Macha has to pull the plug on Hoffman's closing career. I don't buy the whole "Well, he's a Hall of Famer" argument.
First of all, I don't think he's a Hall of Famer. But secondly, Bob Feller is also a Hall of Famer. Should the Indians throw him every 5 days? (OK, bad example, Rapid Robert could probably make it as the Tribe's #5 starter now.)
Hoffman DID have some great seasons. Even I can admit that. But they are in the rear view mirror.
But when you are trying to make up any ground in this race, you can't cough up games like this.
And if Macha wants to keep his job, he better make that decision sooner rather than later.
Besides, this is the organization that will fire the manager no matter what the situation is!
It's nothing personal, Trevor. It is strictly business.
Right on, Sully. I've been telling people that Trevor Has-been is washed up since the last week of the 2007 season, and no one believes me. This outing almost makes Papelbomb's puke fest last night look good.
ReplyDeleteI said almost.
Doug Jones has better stuff right now.
ReplyDeleteIf Hoffman is not a hall-of-famer, then you really can't justify putting any relief pitchers in the hall of fame (possible exception, Mariano Rivera). If you're willing to make that concession, then I will call it valid.
ReplyDeleteI admit my Hall of Fame stance on Trevor Hoffman is harsh... but the fact of the matter is if the position of bullpen closer is a specialist position, then you need and I mean NEED to come through in the big game.
ReplyDeleteTrevor Hoffman's post season record (and one game playoff record) is no good.
I say the same thing about Lee Smith, who also was the All Time Saves leader for a while, but came up short in October.
The relievers who I put in (Hoyt Wilhelm, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rich Gossage, Bruce Sutter, Dan Quisenberry, Mariano Rivera) all put up the big numbers AND came up big in the big games.
I know that Hoffman will be voted in... I just don't agree with it