It's January, and I'm all ready to hear Hell's Bells...

Four months 'till Spring Training...

Nothing. I mean nothing, gets me stoked like number 51 walking to the mound from the bullpen, just like Vaughn in Major League. Only in this situation, it's not Wild Thing playing on the P.A. , but Hell's Bells, and Hoffman is walking out. Lets hope it happens more than 41 times this season...

Trevor Hoffman has no fear.

He pitches in the ninth inning with the game on the line, so he can't afford any fear.

The San Diego Padres' closer has finished up All-Star games. He's pitched in the World Series with 50,000 people screaming.

And he's never felt afraid.

Yesterday, however, he admitted to a touch of fear. Well, if not outright fear, at the very least a severe case of nerves.

Last night, Hoffman was presented with the 2005 Hutch Award at the P-I Sports Star of the Year banquet. The award, named for former big league pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson, a Seattle native, goes annually to the baseball player best displaying "honor, courage and dedication to baseball both on and off the field."

Go Hoff. Go Padres.