The Milwaukee Brewers have re-signed 42-year old closer Trevor Hoffman to a 1-year, $8 million dollar contract with a mutual option for the 2011 season. Hoffman deserved this contract as he was outstanding for the Brewers this season. He pitched in 55 games out of the pen for the Brewers this season and he was 3-2 with 37 saves, a 1.83 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He only allowed 35 hits in 54 innings for the Brewers this season while whiffing 48 batters showing he still has enough stuff to handle the closer’s job. Hoffman has now pitched in 984 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 59-68 with 591 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He has only allowed 797 hits in 1,042 innings in his major league career while whiffing 1,103 batters which really shows how great of a career he has had. Trevor Hoffman is the current all-time leader in saves with 591 but he will have to keep pitching for a while to stay ahead of Mariano Rivera who has 526. This was a good move for the Brewers as Hoffman is still a great closer.

The Brewers have decided to shut down 23-year old righty starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo for the rest of the season. He started 30 games for the Brewers this season and he was 13-12 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Gallardo only allowed 150 hits in 185 2/3 innings while whiffing 204 batters which shows how nasty his stuff can be. To be a dominating pitcher however Gallardo will need to tighten his control as he walked 94 batters this year. The Brewers were probably smart in shutting down their best starting pitcher protecting his golden arm.

The Brewers put together a hodge podge of a bullpen over the winter but it has been outstanding so far this season. Trevor Hoffman has shown no signs of slowing down despite being an old timer. Hoffman has pitched in 23 games for the Brewers this season and he is 1-1 with 18 saves, a 1.93 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. There is no reason to think he’s not going to continue to pitch well as he’s showing no signs of his age. Todd Coffey was a throwaway from the division rival Reds. He has pitched in 37 games this season and he is 3-1 with 2 saves, a 2.77 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. 32-year old rookie right Mark DiFelice has been unhittable this season allowing only 22 hits in 32 innings. He has a 4-1 record with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. Lefty Mitch Stetter has also been nasty this season. He has only allowed 15 hits while whiffing 34 batters in 27 2/3 innings this season. He is 2-0 with 1 save, a 2.28 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. If the Brewers’ bullpen continues to pitch like they are right now there is no reason to think that they aren’t a playoff team again.

C.C. Sabathia has been flat out dominating since being acquired from the Indians right before the All Star Break. He has started 4 games for the Brewers (3 complete games, 1 shutout) and he is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. He has only allowed 20 hits in 33 innings this season while whiffing 31 batters for the Brewers. He also is a good hitter as he has already jacked a homer for the Brewers. The Brewers look like a team to be reckoned with in the National League the rest of this season.

Salomon Torres likely won’t be giving Eric Gagne his old job back as the closer because he has pitched so well. Torres has pitched in 38 games this season (0 starts) for the Brewers and he is 4-1 with 13 saves, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Torres has taken full advantage of getting his big chance to close again after the debacle that was the 2007 season he had with Pittsburgh when he lost the closer job early in the year. Look for him to keep up the good pitching as he has been solid for the Brewers so far this year.