Trevor talks to Indians, Nomar to SD?

[HollywoodLeo]

Well, it's not over yet. Ted Leightner's reporting that the padres have increased the offer to Hoffman for 2 years guaranteed for $13M with vesting options that could lead to a 3 year $19M....

[Refugee]

Well, Trevor contributes maybe 66 innings a year. Giles contributes pretty much every game. If you get past all the sentimental BS Giles is most definitely worth much much more to this team than Trevor is.

The last time Hoffman pitched 60 innings was in 2001.

I'm of the opinion that the closer is very over rated and not worth the money they recieve for what they contribute to their team. I believe the money could be better spent elsewhere.

I also believe that Linebrink would be fine as a closer but I think he would be less valuable to the team as a closer than what he has done the last 2 seasons for us.

[padrefanforever]

IMO...........having a great closer is one of the most important things in great bullpen........having a guy that you can call on to slam a door shut is so so so very needed......it shortens the innings your starting pitchers feel they have to go right off the bat........it allows you to utalize the rest of your bullpen far more strategically if you know that one guy is going to nail it down for you if you can get to the 9th......... There is a very good reason great closers are hard to come by.......and even more reason why they are paid so well........and in this day and age..........what we're offering, to the 2nd best at his craft alltime, isn't very much when you consider that fact along with the other fact that he's the face of the Padres and puts people in the stands all by himself......... If the Padres let him go, fans will get over it in time of course, but the Padres will take an attendance hit without question.........and suffer from the loss of revenues directly due to this move........IMO.........at least for the near future until fandome gets over it

[HollywoodLeo]

anybody who doesn't go to a game simply because Trevor wasn't resigned for the riddiculous amount closers are getting in this market is failing to see the big picture, sorry, but that's my opinion.

As much as I love the guy (figurativley speaking, of course) the closer and the "save situation" is overated. Linebrink does more for this team when he comes in with guys on base in the 7th or 8th and shuts the pending comeback down than Trevor does when he comes in the 9th with the bases empty and faces the bottom of the order a lot of times.

[padrefanforever]

nobody said that the set up man isn't important either.......for many of the same reasons............but if you think for one minute that people didn't come to see Gwynn and Hoffman for years you're just kidding yourself

[HollywoodLeo]

and i'm not saying that the closer is unimportant, either. I'm simply arguing that he's not worth overpaying for with money that could be better spent elsewhere.

I don't know what Gwynn has to do with any of this debate, and I realize that people pay just to see Hoffman...but that doesn't stop me from finding it dumb that someone would refuse to go to games because the Padres didn't invest an exhorberant amount of money into an aging closer who will pitch a grand total of 60 innings.

I just carry a different mindset than others, I suppose. I'd much rather they make the team better than to be able to feel warm and fuzzy inside because Hoffman's still a Padre.

I want Trevor back, but I want a winning team on the field more than I do that. I can listen to AC/DC anytime I feel like it on my iPod.

[padrefanforever]

I feel losing Hoffman makes the team worse........not better.......simple as that...... you lose one of the best at any position you do NOT get better......

[HollywoodLeo]

If you just look at it at face value, then yes you are correct.

However, if you look at it as giving Hoffman too much money to pitch 60 innings hampering us from improving other, more important aspects of the team...then yes it does improve the team (as compared to the alternative of overpaying, that is)

[padrefanforever]

Looks like we wont lose our HOF closer after all