PHOENIX -- Trevor Hoffman will close games this season for the Brewers, but how will the rest of the bullpen shape up?

Manager Ken Macha offered few clues during the first week of Spring Training workouts, saying that he'd make decisions about roles later in camp, or perhaps not at all.

"I will probably sit down with the bullpen guys and say, 'We've got one guy with a role here, and that's the closer,'" Macha said. "That's what I've done in my previous job, and the reason is that you might be going into the seventh inning and facing the heart of [the other team's] order. You might as well put your top guy out there in that inning because the game's on the line then."

More simply stated: "Once you get the lead, you don't want to give it up," Macha said.

Entering the year, the Brewers have a number of candidates for the innings immediately in front of Hoffman, but the list is headed by two right-handers. There is David Riske, who is returning from elbow surgery, and Carlos Villanueva, who established himself last season as a quality late-innings option.

Villanueva began last year as a starter but flourished once he moved to relief, posting a 2.12 ERA in 38 relief appearances. Riske is the more veteran option, pitching in the seventh inning or later of 410 Major League games.

Other options include Todd Coffey, who pitched some high-leverage situations last year while posting nine scoreless appearances for the Brewers. Jorge Julio is the former Baltimore Orioles' closer and has 99 career saves. Eric Gagne is in Brewers camp on a Minor League contract and needs to win a job, but he was one the game's most dominating closers.

So it came as no surprise to Riske that Macha was talking about being flexible with roles.

"That always gets said in Spring Training, and then they always end up working themselves out," Riske said. "The way people pitch is what slots them into roles, so I just worry about getting outs."

That was a problem in 2008 for Riske, who struggled with elbow pain for much of the season and posted a 5.31 ERA in 45 games before surgery. A bone spur in his elbow was shaved down on Sept. 23, and a month into the offseason, Riske felt back to 100 percent.

He's hoping that good health contributes to a better '09. Riskie is entering the second season of a three-year deal.

"It was a huge disappointment last year. I was miserable," Riske said. "[The elbow] started hurting me in Spring Training and then it gradually got worse and worse and worse. Finally, I had to do something about it."

The pain affected his arm slot, and a lower arm slot flattened his sinker.

"It was really disappointing to have that happen right after you sign a multi-year deal," Riske said. "You just want to go out there and pitch, but when you're hurt, it's hard to get guys out. It's a huge relief to be healthy again. I'm excited."

Villanueva was not trying to live up to a multi-year contract, but there was some pressure associated with finding his Major League niche. He was moved to the bullpen for good last season after a poor start as a starter (2-5 record, 6.43 ERA in nine starts).

Now the bullpen is where he'll stay. There was talk of Villanueva as a closer candidate before the Brewers inked Hoffman.

"I think the roles will always define themselves," Villanueva said. "As the season goes on, I think [Macha] will use certain guys in certain situations, but a guy can't pitch every day. If the guy who throws the eighth inning goes four days in a row, someone else is going to have to do the fifth day. Whether he assigns us roles or not, I see it working either way."

Asked what role he would pick for himself, Villanueva said, "All I know is that I'm looking forward to being handed the ball in pressure situations."

He focused on weight work this offseason instead of cardiovascular exercise, believing strength is the key for a reliever.

A strong bullpen could be a key for the Brewers, who figure to pitch more relief innings this season because of the departures of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets. They were similarly unsettled in the bullpen in front of then-closer Gagne at this time last year, but Brewers relievers combined for a 3.89 ERA, fourth-best in the National League.

"I think our bullpen can be just as good," Riske said. "There's talent here, especially considering that at the end of the game, we have one of the best closers out there. I think we're going to be just fine."