Todd Coffey News

The calendar says it's still 2009, but my Inbox was full of questions about the New Year.

LaTroy Hawkins had such a good time working the lobby at the Winter Meetings that he's already mulling his post-pitching career.

Right after the season ended, LaTroy Hawkins decided he would attend the winter meetings.

Right after the season ended, LaTroy Hawkins decided he would attend the winter meetings.

The Milwaukee Brewers offered a 2010 contract to six arbitration-eligible players on Saturday while allowing three players to become free agents.

The Brewers upped their offer for free-agent infielder Craig Counsell on Thursday morning and departed the Winter Meetings feeling good about Counsell's chances of returning to Milwaukee in 2010.

After committing more than $37 million on free agents Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins at the Winter Meetings, the Brewers could cap the week with some cost savings.

Actually, before the day was done Wednesday, they got two. The Brewers acquired the starting pitcher they targeted from the outset when they agreed with free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf on a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth year.

Right-hander Kevin Gregg and left-hander Mike Gonzalez are among the relievers being at least internally discussed by the Brewers, who were also reportedly to meet Tuesday with representatives of free-agent starter Mark Mulder.

The Brewers' primary focus this winter is acquiring at least one starting pitcher, but club officials have lined up a wish list of relievers, too.

Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol's performance on the field and Mr. T's off-key singing of the seventh-inning stretch off of it are among the candidates for MLB.com's This Year in Baseball Awards.

First baseman Prince Fielder and right-hander Yovani Gallardo were named the Milwaukee Brewers' most valuable player and most valuable pitcher, respectively, for 2009 in balloting conducted by the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Oct. 27, 2009 9:56 a.m. First baseman Prince Fielder and right-hander Yovani Gallardo were named the Brewers' Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher, respectively, for 2009 in balloting conducted by the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Chris Smith left the game after he was struck in the face by a bouncer off the bat of Eric Young Jr.

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin was unable to acquire help for his injury-thinned rotation when the club fell out of the playoff race in July and August, but his acquisition of relievers Claudio Vargas and David Weathers has allowed the bullpen to put together a strong finish.

With a baby on the way, Brewers starter Dave Bush already had plenty to smile about.

Brewers manager Ken Macha candidly discussed his job security on Tuesday afternoon, then watched the kind of game that put him in that uncomfortable position in the first place.

His power kept the Giants right behind Colorado in the N.L. wild-card race. Molina homered on the first pitch of the eighth inning after rallying off an uncharacteristic error by Mike Cameron and the Giants bullpen pitched five scoreless innings to lift San Francisco over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Friday night.

Just before batting practice Friday afternoon, Bengie Molina strolled past Buster Posey in the dugout, and with a smile on his face, told the hotshot prospect, "Will you stop trying to light a fire under me?" Then Molina sparked the Giants to a pennant-fueled victory.

Louis lineup has done for the Cardinals ' offense what the midseason acquisition of CC Sabathia did for the Milwaukee Brewers ' pitching staff last season.