Slow News Day

by battlekow on Dec 14, 2006 1:40 PM CST in Milwaukee Brewers News

Free agent starter Jeff Suppan has at least one offer on the table, but agent Scott Leventhal said they are still talking with the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets

I think Suppan would make a fantastic addition to the back of the Brewers' rotation, a perfect #4 starter behind Sheets, Capuano and Bush. He's not quite as good as his ERAs the last couple years would indicate; his FIPs suggest that he's been getting a fair bit of help from a great St. Louis defense, but I'd take a mid-4 ERA from him gladly. Plus, the Brewers would benefit simply from getting him out of their divisional opponents' hands. These are his starts against Milwaukee over the last four years, with Pittsburgh in 2003 and St. Louis in 2004-2006:

4/10/03: 7.3 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K, W
7/10/03: 9.0 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 0 BB, 9 K, W
7/18/03: 6.7 IP, 2 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 2 K, W
4/08/04: 4.0 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K, L
4/25/04: 7.7 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K, W
4/15/05: 8.3 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K, W
4/26/05: 5.0 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, W
7/19/05: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K, ND
8/10/05: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 K, W
9/25/05: 8.0 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 7 K, W
4/13/06: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, ND
6/11/06: 4.0 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 5 BB, 4 K, ND
8/06/06: 7.3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K, W
9/20/06: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K, ND
9/30/06: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, ND

Total: 100.3 IP, 30 R, 87 H, 29 BB, 61 K
Avg Start: 6.7 IP, 2.69 R, 5.8 H, 1.9 BB, 4 K

I mean, come on. He's been more than a little frustrating to the Brewers' bats and the Brewers' fans.

Anyway, given the Milwaukee's position on that list, it doesn't seem likely they'll sign Suppan, but I'm in favor of it.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

FA Market is Whacko!

Nice work!
The FA mkt is just nuts--see Ted Lilly/Jason Marquis, so it's a foregone conclusion
Suppan, who is on a higher plane than those two, is not ticketed here (no pun intended).
The Brewers best shot appears to be from one of the non-tendered guys.
Joel Pineiro (who didn't miss many bats!) looks like a fit at about $5 mil.
Otherwise, I'd favor the trade route (with Bill Hall as the bait).

Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Dec 14, 2006 2:02 PM CST reply actions

usually...

When I hear announcers say that so-and-so is a Brewers killer, I always figure they're remembering some random 8IP, 1ER start from 2004, and that since then, there's been no discernable trend.

But Suppan? Man. It IS that bad.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 14, 2006 2:11 PM CST reply actions

Given MIL's position on that list...

You know, it's not that bad. If you were a free-agent, wouldn't you rather play for Milwaukee than Pitt or KC? San Fran, I don't know. The Mets, that would be the best option, but I'll bet Suppan is a backup plan if they don't sign Zito. Rockies? I don't see them shelling out the dough right now. I'm not so sure I want Suppan at whatever he's going to cost, but I wouldn't count us out.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 14, 2006 2:24 PM CST reply actions

Well

There is this quote:

Melvin said he is not a player for any of the remaining free-agent pitchers, a list topped by former Cardinals Jeff Suppan and Jeff Weaver."

But that's a week old, so maybe he's changed his mind (or he was gaming us, the wily old coot!). Also, according to Rotoworld, "the Giants, in particular, might be willing to go higher for Suppan."

I share your concern about his cost, but I think he'd significantly improve the team. I'd feel better about the rotation if it was Sheeter/Cappy/Bushy (Busher?)/Soup/The Kid, with Vargas and The Other Kid in reserve if Sheeter gets Sheeted or one of the others goes Carlos Silva on us.

by battlekow on Dec 14, 2006 7:49 PM CST up reply actions

His has a big name

Plus, it's fun to call him Soup.

I guess we're running out of big name pitchers, guys a GM call tell the city "look, we're in it to win it this year!" "Joel Piniero" just doesn't put the fans in the stands, you know?

(Though he does have a good sandwich shop.)

I guess I wouldn't expect an ERA under 4 for Suppan, and he's going to be making a ton of money. I guess I'd be just as happy to get him out of the NL Central. If we can have him for a reasonable amnount of money, sure, but I don't want to pay $9 mil a season just to see the Journal Sentinel's "Soup's On!" headline.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Dec 14, 2006 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

i couldn't disagree more

at $12 million a year, which is probably what it would take in this market, at least, this would be a terrible waste of dough. Just awful. Take away his 12-2 lifetime record against us and he has a losing record for his career. I'd much rather take my chances with Villanueva or Jackson at $350,000 a season then shell out all that money for a guy who isn't clearly any better than Doug Davis was. Jeff Suppan isn't the kind of guy who could put you over the top, so there is absolutely no reason to give him all those dollars if you're a low-budget team like we are. that is money far better spent elsewhere, or even saved for now. your highest paid player can't be a guy who isn't the ace of your rotation. if it means falling short of the playoffs again this year, fine. it would devastate the team's long term ability to compete financially.

by the way, for a shameless plug, check out my formal thoughts on the subject at my new blog:
http://brewcityzen.blogspot.com/2006/12/melvin-looking-at-suppan.html

by Bill @ Brew Crew Ball on Dec 15, 2006 10:53 AM CST reply actions

he's a hot commodity

with the World Series wins and stuff (which kinda goes in the face of Bill's comments)

and his lifetime record of 106 wins was totaled through Boston when they were average, and the Royals with partial seasons in Pittsburgh and Arizona (when they sucked). We all know record isn't indicative of a pitchers real worth. His ERA is nothing special, but it comes down to do the Brewers want to A. win now? B. trade to do it or C. buy hi to do it. If you're going to buy hi, i'd rather have Suppan than Lilly. maybe that's just me.

by Bertwerst on Dec 15, 2006 4:32 PM CST reply actions

4-0, 1.29 40 IP

That's soup in Miller the past 3 years. .211 Crew avg against him. maybe it's the park?

by Bertwerst on Dec 15, 2006 4:35 PM CST reply actions

well

it could be, ahem, the team he was facing.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Dec 15, 2006 5:31 PM CST up reply actions

I smell small sample size.

40 IP is nothing. Wins don't mean anything in that small of a context. As far as ERA, statistical anomalies are bound to show up like that. Miller Park is pretty neutral as far as an overall park factor. It depressed HR, but Suppan already had a reasonably low HR/9.

Gord Ash has talked about how important it has been for the Brewers not to get tied up with big contracts like that while they build. If Jeff Suppan makes them change their mind, someone check the pipes at Miller Park because something's getting into the water.

Paying $11-12mil per year for Soupie-doup is a move that a team very close to winning it all makes -- a team like the Mets or Cardinals. Improving from 75 wins to 80 wins from one season to the next is not the same as getting from 85 to 90. 90 wins puts you in the playoffs; 80 wins means you're mediocre. When we've won 85-90 games, and are missing a guy who can throw 190 innings of 100ERA+ ball, then I'd dish out the cash. Until then, it's pointless, especially since we have more pitchers waiting to break through than hitters down on the farm.

by baumann on Dec 15, 2006 6:22 PM CST up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	PCT	STRK
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	.000	Lost 0
Cincinnati Red Reporter	.000	Lost 0
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	.000	Lost 0
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	.000	Lost 0
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	.000	Lost 0
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	.000	Lost 0