When Do You Retire? Former Brewer Watch

Over the years there have been a multitude of guys who played for the Brewers who ended up abruptly retiring when things didn’t work out with another team. Eric Gagne briefly reported to spring training for his old club the Dodgers and retired last spring. Corey Koskie came back to play in spring training for the Cubs and retired a couple years ago.

This year alone former Brewers Braden Looper, Gregg Zaun, Jody Gerut  and Jim Edmonds all had a spring invite to a team and decided to hang it up instead of going through the season.

Some of these guys and their decisions to retire really surprised me. I think a few had some gas left in the tank. There were some other players I liked who just did not catch on. These people, such as Brady Clark, Richie Sexson, Geoff Jenkins and Frank Catalanotto really just faded into obscurity and never caught on with another club after they parted ways with the crew. One player who should not be still playing is Jeff Suppan. Given a contract by the Brewers that many would envy, he is currently pitching in AAA for the Royals. I see no reason why the guy is still pitching. He has a wife and kids and a restaurant. He does not need the minor league salary he is earning. Provided he somewhat knows what he is doing, there should be no reason why he can't live the rest of his life without ever working again.
If I were in that situation, playing in the minors fighting and hoping for a job after being a major leaguer since 1995, I would kinda get the hint and hang it up. His current ERA in AAA is 5.81 in five starts. Even in AAA he is not getting batters out.
Of all my 28 years of being on this earth, I can’t remember a player who looks so lost and hopeless. As a pitcher you should research opposing batters and try to figure out what they chase and what your “out pitch” should be right? Do you really think Suppan does that? He is such a tosser. I CANNOT see him developing any type of game plan with anyone or any team. It really seems like he goes out there and just throws the ball and then if they hit it or even if they don’t and he gives up a lot of walks, he just talks to the reporters afterwards and says he is working on things or working on pitches or mechanics.

If anyone ever soaked up a major league salary and deserved none of it, it was Jeff Suppan, with the possible exception of Jeffrey Hammonds. But now, my point is if you can’t even dominate or be effective in AAA after a dozen plus years of experience, then you need to hang it up Jeff!