Well, that didn’t take long. On the first day of the baseball offseason, Trevor Hoffman and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract for the 2010 season. According to multiple sources, Hoffman will sign a deal worth $8 million. There is also a mutual option for the 2011 baseball season.
Even though Hoffman will be 42 years old next season, he pitched well enough this season to prove that he’s still a star closer. He finished his 2009 campaign with a 1.83 ERA to go along with 37 saves. His ERA represented his best mark since 1998.
Prior to this season, …read more

One of the best stories of the 2009 Major League Baseball season has been the return to greatness by Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals. With a win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, Carpenter won his tenth consecutive decision.
In his first three years with the Cardinals, Carpenter was very good. His best year came in 2005 when he won the NL Cy Young Award with a 21-5 record and an ERA of 2.83. But then after going 15-8 with a 3.09 ERA in 2006, Carpenter’s career was derailed.
In 2007, Carpenter pitched in the first game but then missed …read more

Like father, like son. Tony Gwynn Jr., the son of Padres legend and baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, has been traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the San Diego Padres. In return, the Brewers will receive Jody Gerut.
Gwynn Jr. is currently hitting over .300 in the minor leagues. At 26, his time as a legit baseball prospect is running out. However, in San Diego, he may get more time on the field to show what he can do.
Last year, Gwynn Jr. hit .190 in 42 at-bats with the Brewers. His best season came in 2007 when he hit .260 …read more

After getting a feel for the 2009 baseball season, a few teams are starting to make a run up the standings. Here is a list of the hottest teams in baseball at the moment.
5) Los Angeles Dodgers
Even without Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 28-13. A big reason for their success is that Juan Pierre has been able to fill in for Ramirez and the Dodgers haven’t skipped a beat.
4) Detroit Tigers
The Tigers started slowly but they are now turning it around. They have won four straight games and are 12-5 at home on the …read more

The Milwaukee Brewers suffered a big blow on Monday when they learned that starting second baseman Rickie Weeks will be out for the rest of the 2009 baseball season due to a wrist injury. At 24-14, the Brewers have been surpassing most expectations — with Weeks playing a big role.
The 26-year-old infielder seemed to finally be living up to his potential. He was hitting .272 with nine homers, 24 RBI and 28 runs in 37 games. Weeks was on pace to shatter his career-highs in nearly every statistical category.
Weeks, who has had surgery on his right wrist in 2006 and …read more

When healthy, Chad Fox has been a quality reliever. The problem for the current Chicago Cubs pitcher is that he has been healthy so rarely in his big league career. After his latest right elbow injury, he may no longer have any more pitches left to throw.
On the season, Fox has pitched only one-third of an inning and has given up five earned runs on two hits and three walks. The result is a staggering 135.00 ERA.
Over 219 games in his career, the 38-year-old reliever has pitched 228 innings and has 262 strikeouts with a 3.79 ERA. However, he …read more

Cole Hamels, the ace of the Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff, left Thursday’s game after getting hit by a liner. Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers hit the ball back up the middle and the ball hit Hamels on his left shoulder. The injury is currently being called a contusion of the left shoulder.
Hamels, who is left-handed, left the game after being hit. In the 3.1 innings he pitched against the Brewers, Hamels allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out six batters.
It’s been a difficult start to the season for the 25-year-old. Last year, he played a vital …read more

While spring training isn’t the greatest way to judge a baseball team, the exhibition standings aren’t as worthless as you may think. In fact, last year the Tampa Bay Rays had the best record during spring training and then went on to represent the American League in the 2008 World Series.
Who are the best teams during 2009 spring training? Here are the top five:
1. Los Angeles Angels
Last year, the Angels finished with the best record in baseball at 100-62. During 2009 spring training, Los Angeles is 24-7. They have outscored their opponents 247-158. All in all, it appears like it …read more

Each year, there are a couple Cinderella stories in Major League Baseball. If a team has the right mix of chemistry, enough talent and a united goal to win, it’s very possible to make a lot of noise.
Here are five baseball teams that could surprise during the 2009 MLB season:
5. Oakland Athletics
While nobody is picking the Athletics to win the World Series, they definitely added a few interesting pieces over the offseason. The A’s typically are strong closers so if they can get off to a good start, they may make noise in the American League.
4. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals …read more

C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee. It’s been the talk this past weekend all over the sports blogosphere. Is Cleveland smart to trade him? Are they just glad he didn’t end up a Yankee? Whatever the reason, there’s word that the 2007 minor league player of the year for the Brewers was in the deal for the Indians.
Juiced Sports Blog is reporting that in the trade, Taylor Green was in the package for the Indians. He’s 21, out of Cypress College in California, and was selected in the 25th round in the 2005 draft. He batted .327, had 14 home runs, …read more