The post-Trevor Hoffman era began in San Diego Tuesday night, when Heath Bell struck out the side in the ninth inning to nail down a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers. It was an impressive start for Bell, who had picked up just two saves in his first five big league seasons.

Hoffman had been closing out games for the Padres since August 1993, and during his tenure as the ninth-inning guy, he recorded 552 of San Diego’s 641 saves. Only the late Rod Beck, who was 20-for-20 in saves with Hoffman injured in 2003, had more than six for the Padres during this span.

Bell’s number the last two seasons have looked closer-worthy, though there is reason for concern. The 31-year-old right-hander has been a better first-half pitcher over his career, and his dropoff during the second half of 2008 was quite pronounced.

Heath Bell, 1st Half vs. 2nd Half, 2006-2008

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IP. . . . . . . . . . . .ERA. . . . . . . . . . . OBA. . . . . . . . . . . .OSLG
2006
First Half. . . . . . . 22.0. . . . . . . . . . . 3.68. . . . . . . . . . . .344. . . . . . . . . . . . .478
Second Half . . . . .15.0. . . . . . . . . . . 7.20. . . . . . . . . . . .313. . . . . . . . . . . . .516

2007
First Half. . . . . . . 50.2. . . . . . . . .. . .1.78. . . . . . . . . . . .179 . . . . . . . . . . . . .243
Second Half . . . . .43.0. . . . . . . . . . . 2.30. . . . . . . . . . . .191 . . . . . . . . . . . . .250

2008
First Half. . . . . . . 50.1. . . . . . . . . . .2.15. . . . . . . . . . . .209. . . . . . . . . . . . . .291
Second Half . . . . .27.2. . . . . . . . . . .6.18. . . . . . . . . . . .264 . . . . . . . . . . . . .415

It’s hard to quibble with Bell’s second-half performance in 2007, when he posted a 2.02 ERA and .185 OBA over 93.2 innings. It’s those 93.2 innings, though, that may have led to the substantial dropoff down the stretch last season.

Bell made 81 appearances in 2007. Only five pitchers had more, but no one matched his innings total in relief. The reliever may have paid a price down the stretch last season for his 2007 workload, and we’ll find out this summer if second-half performance is an ongoing concern or a blip caused by excessive use two seasons ago.