Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, along with assistant general manager Gord Ash and Vice President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger, met with the local media today at Miller Park to discuss the 2009 season.

The Brewers finished 80-82 under manager Ken Macha, and 13 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. The disappointing finish -- coming off the team's first playoff appearance in 26 years -- was due in large part to ineffective starting pitching.

"Our evaluation of our pitching didn't go as planned," Melvin said. "I take some responsibility for that."

Melvin, to the surprise of no one, spent a majority of the session talking about pitching and says the top priority this offseason will be to upgrade the starting pitching at both the major league and top minor league levels.

"We will be very active," Melvin said. "It's a big challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."

It was announced Sunday, prior to the season finale, that Macha would return as manager next season and the club added an option for 2011 to his contract. Melvin said that he thought the manager did a good job, considering the situation he came into: a tight-knit clubhouse coming of the franchise's best season in recent memory.

"He was put in a unique situation and that was a bit of a challenge for him," Melvin said. "I still believe in Ken Macha as manager of this ballclub."

Melvin will be looking for ways to upgrade the roster -- shortstop J.J. Hardy is likely to be traded for pitching help -- but admits that he may have to "sacrifice offense to help the pitching."

"We're still a good organization with very talented players," Melvin said. "We want to win some championships."

Some pundits have suggested that the team move either Prince Fielder -- coming off a career best season -- or Ryan Braun -- a young star signed to a very manageable long-term contract -- be moved to add pitching depth but Melvin, without saying so directly, played down that notion.

"I don't see that happening," Melvin said. "That would be tough."

Despite the poor on-field performance, the team still managed to draw more than three million fans to Miller Park for the second consecutive season. For Schlesinger and his side of the operation, the focus is to keep that streak going.

"Our fans have put us in position where we have some flexibility to do things," Schlesinger said. "We want to keep deserving that attention."

Here are some other highlights:

• Signing closer Trevor Hoffman was an important step. Melvin said that many times, free agent pitchers inquire about a team's closer before making a decision. Having Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader, is a big bonus for the Brewers.

"It would be very hard," Melvin said when asked about having shortstops J.J. Hardy and Alcides Escobar on the roster next season.

• On trading Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun in order to improve the pitching: "I don't see that happening."

• Jeff Suppan, despite a $12.5 million salary due in 2010 and an otherwise forgetful 2009 season, won't be guaranteed a spot in the rotation next season.

"I think we have to make it more competitive," Melvin said.

• The Brewers will likely pursue free agent centerfielder Mike Cameron, catcher Jason Kendall and infielder Craig Counsell, but will focus on pitching before trying to hammer out those deals.

"We don't want to lose our flexibility," Melvin said.

• Both Casey McGehee and Manny Parra underwent operations on Monday and both, according to team doctor William Raasch, were routine with no complications. Both are expected to be ready to participate when spring training begins.