Is Trevor Hoffman Washed Up?

Trevor Hoffman blew a 3-2 lead by the Brewers by giving up two ninth inning homers including a game winning grandslam by Ryan Doumit giving the Pirates a 7-3 win and ended a 22 game home winning streak for the Brewers against the Pirates in Miller Park.

When the 2010 baseball season started the question was when would Trevor Hoffman post his 600th career save. Now the question is if Hoffman will even be closing games much longer for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hoffman entered the game last night after Randy Wolf had allowed two runs in eight innings and leading the Pirates by a 3-2 score.

By the time the game ended the Brewers were on the short end of a 7-3 score after Hoffman imploded on the mound giving up two ninth inning home runs including a Ryan Doumit grandslam.

It was the second time this season that Wolf left a game with a lead only to have Hoffman blow the lead. Wolf is 2-1 but would be 4-1 if Hoffman had been able to hold the lead in both games.

The Brewers may have to make a decision soon on Hoffman and relegate him to a lesser role in the bullpen despite his $7.5 million salary this season.

Hoffman needs six saves to be the first relief pitcher to record 600 saves but may not happen now that he is tied for the major league lead in blown saves with Brandon League of the Mariners with each having three blown saves.

His 13.50 ERA and his .368 average against opposing hitters shows that he is not the pitcher he has been in the past.

Last season he gave up two homers in 54 innings while he has allowed five homers in eight innings in 2010.  He limited hitters to a .183 average last season but they are hiting almost 200 points higher against him this season with a .368  average with Hoffman on the mound in 2010.

The most alarming statistic for Hoffman is that he has given up 12 runs in only eight games this season which is one more than he allowed last season in 55 games.

The 42 year old Hoffman may have pitched one season too many. He still may get untracked but the Brewers may not be patient much longer with him in the closer role.

Hoffman should be a lock for the Hall of Fame in about six years but right now he is not pitching like a Hall of Famer.