Will "Hell's Bells" toll in Miller Park this season?

By: Big Rygg

When you think of the statistic known as "Saves", what comes to mind first? Is it that there are very few closers in the Hall of Fame? Is it that the all-time single seasons Brewers team Save record belongs to Francisco Cordero? Or that the career saves leader in Brewer history is Dan Plesac (who is now a member of the MLB Network crew, by the way, and eligible for the Hall of Fame this year).

Personally, I pay attention to the numbers and try to know the records of baseball as well as I can. So when I think of saves, my mind invariably thinks about the all-time saves leader in Major League Baseball history: Trevor Hoffman.

Cutting to the chase (I'll save the career and recent season breakdown for if we actually sign the guy), but what do you all think about Hoffman and whether or not the Brewers should sign him?

Reports are that Hoffman is discussing terms of contracts with both the Dodgers and Brewers. One major thing working in favor of the Brewers is that Hoffman wants to close, period. We have that opening. The Dodgers, while they could probably slide Hoffman in, have a guy that's been pretty paitent the last couple of years in Jonathan Broxton. A closer competition is probably not what the all-time saves leader is looking for.

The big question for Milwaukee, of course, is whether or not this is our Gagné move of the off-season.

By that, of course, I mean was Hoffman always our first (or maybe second behind Fuentes) choice? Or is he the only guy with closing experience left on the market and now we're going to him out of necessity more than want?

I believe he's got plenty left in the tank, despite one of his worst seasons of his career ERA-wise, because if not for the situation out in San Diego with the sale of the team due to the current owner's divorce, he'd still be a Padre and there would be no discussion to have. He wasn't tossed on the scrap heap because he was ineffective (a la Gagné). That's why I think he'll be an effective closer for the team that signs him.

And I'd be okay if that was Milwaukee.

But what do you thiink, Brewer Nation?