Doug Melvin will be vacationing in Italy next week when a group of pasty, hearty and undoubtedly well-lubricated citizens take over Bradford Beach for their annual polar bear plunge into the icy waters of Lake Michigan.
The Brewers general manager will be there in spirit, though.
With the financial blessing of owner Mark Attanasio, Melvin and the Brewers jumped into the free agent pool on Christmas Eve when they signed right-hander Jeff Suppan to a four-year contract worth $42 million. The deal, the richest in franchise history, will be discussed, dissected and debated from now until opening day. Here are some points and counterpoints you’ll likely be hearing:
Point: Suppan has been a durable, productive pitcher for most of his career. You can bank on him for 30 starts and 200 innings. The Brewers need a guy like that, particularly after trading Doug Davis to Arizona.
Counterpoint: Suppan, who turns 32 next week, there is little chance that he will improve. The best the Brewers can hope for is that he doesn’t regress. What was the matter with Davis, anyway? Though he’s headed for free agency next year, the Brewers probably could have squeezed similar production out of him for less than half the price.
Point: Given the way the market is going, Davis will be in line for more cash next season than Suppan got this year. This deal already looks better than the jawdroppers given to Gil Meche, Ted Lilly and Adam Eaton.
Counterpoint: Like mom said – “If everybody else jumped off a bridge….”
Point: Suppan is regarded as a “gamer” and a “good clubhouse guy.” The Brewers, who have lacked leadership since the days of Yount, Molitor and Gantner, need a guy like that to set the tone in the clubhouse.
Counterpoint: Those labels are great, but performance between the lines is far more important than anything that goes on in the clubhouse. Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle could be disruptive in the clubhouse, but their quirks are tolerated as long as they produce.
Point: Suppan was the MVP of the NLCS. He has playoff experience and has pitched in big games.
Counterpoint: In order for that to come into play, the Brewers will have to MAKE THE POSTSEASON. If they do that, do you really think having Suppan around going to help Ben Sheets or Chris Capuano pitch better in the playoffs? Had Suppan lost Game 7 against the Mets, would that “big-game” experience seem as meaningful?
Point: The Brewers will be a better team because they don’t have to face Suppan, who is has beaten them six times over the past three years and is 12-2 in his career against them.
Counterpoint: That’s good, but the highway is littered with sub par guys who carved up the Brewers.
The bottom line is simple: If the Brewers push their victory total north of 81 and make a legitimate run at a playoff berth during Suppan’s tenure and he plays a major role, then you’ve got yourself a successful signing. If Suppan suffers the first major injury of his career or performs like the pitching equivalent of Jeffrey Hammonds… let’s just say that Melvin’s next job may be as a tour guide in Tuscany.
What’s our take? Since you asked, we like this signing for the first two seasons, but are worried about 2009 and ’10. Suppan has reached an age where injury and inconsistency could creep in. When Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Chris Capuano and others reach an age where they make beaucoup dollars, the Brewers can’t afford to have a bad contract weighing them down.
That’s the risk-reward part of the free agent game.
While you ponder that, here is a look at the top 10 contracts in Brewers history (in terms of total value and not including contracts inherited in trades), along with a few little known facts about the newest Brewer.
TOP 10 CONTRACTS IN BREWERS HISTORY
1. RHP Jeff Suppan: 2007, 4 years, $42 million.
2. RHP Ben Sheets: 2005, 4 years, $38.5 million
3. OF Geoff Jenkins: 2004, 3 years, $23 million
4. OF Jeffrey Hammonds: 2000, 3 years, $21.75 million
5. OF Jeromy Burnitz: 2001, 2 years, $20 million
6. OF Geoff Jenkins: 2001, 4 years, $18 million
7. 1B Richie Sexson: 2001, 4 years, $17.5 million
8. OF Jeromy Burnitz: 1998, 4 years, $14.5 million
9. RHP Cal Eldred: 1997, 4 years, $14.2 million
10. LHP Teddy Higuera: 1990, 4 years, $13.1 million
Fun facts about Jeff Suppan:
His nickname is “Soup.” (Man, baseball guys are creative, aren’t they?)
Suppan and his wife operate “Soup’s Grill,” a restaurant in Woodland Hills, Calif., that specializes in cheesesteaks and fries.
Suppan has hit two homers in his career, both off Steve Trachsel. (The second came in the 2006 NLCS).
He once sang the song “Freebird” in a “battle of the bands” competition.
His career ERA at Miller Park is 1.76.
Suppan, who is deeply religious, jumped into the political arena this fall when he appeared in an advertisement o promote Missouri senatorial candidate Claire McCaskill and her stance against embryonic stem-cell research. Rams quarterback Kurt Warner also appeared in a spot, which was designed to offset the ones by actor Michael J. Fox.
The Brewers general manager will be there in spirit, though.
With the financial blessing of owner Mark Attanasio, Melvin and the Brewers jumped into the free agent pool on Christmas Eve when they signed right-hander Jeff Suppan to a four-year contract worth $42 million. The deal, the richest in franchise history, will be discussed, dissected and debated from now until opening day. Here are some points and counterpoints you’ll likely be hearing:
Point: Suppan has been a durable, productive pitcher for most of his career. You can bank on him for 30 starts and 200 innings. The Brewers need a guy like that, particularly after trading Doug Davis to Arizona.
Counterpoint: Suppan, who turns 32 next week, there is little chance that he will improve. The best the Brewers can hope for is that he doesn’t regress. What was the matter with Davis, anyway? Though he’s headed for free agency next year, the Brewers probably could have squeezed similar production out of him for less than half the price.
Point: Given the way the market is going, Davis will be in line for more cash next season than Suppan got this year. This deal already looks better than the jawdroppers given to Gil Meche, Ted Lilly and Adam Eaton.
Counterpoint: Like mom said – “If everybody else jumped off a bridge….”
Point: Suppan is regarded as a “gamer” and a “good clubhouse guy.” The Brewers, who have lacked leadership since the days of Yount, Molitor and Gantner, need a guy like that to set the tone in the clubhouse.
Counterpoint: Those labels are great, but performance between the lines is far more important than anything that goes on in the clubhouse. Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle could be disruptive in the clubhouse, but their quirks are tolerated as long as they produce.
Point: Suppan was the MVP of the NLCS. He has playoff experience and has pitched in big games.
Counterpoint: In order for that to come into play, the Brewers will have to MAKE THE POSTSEASON. If they do that, do you really think having Suppan around going to help Ben Sheets or Chris Capuano pitch better in the playoffs? Had Suppan lost Game 7 against the Mets, would that “big-game” experience seem as meaningful?
Point: The Brewers will be a better team because they don’t have to face Suppan, who is has beaten them six times over the past three years and is 12-2 in his career against them.
Counterpoint: That’s good, but the highway is littered with sub par guys who carved up the Brewers.
The bottom line is simple: If the Brewers push their victory total north of 81 and make a legitimate run at a playoff berth during Suppan’s tenure and he plays a major role, then you’ve got yourself a successful signing. If Suppan suffers the first major injury of his career or performs like the pitching equivalent of Jeffrey Hammonds… let’s just say that Melvin’s next job may be as a tour guide in Tuscany.
What’s our take? Since you asked, we like this signing for the first two seasons, but are worried about 2009 and ’10. Suppan has reached an age where injury and inconsistency could creep in. When Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Chris Capuano and others reach an age where they make beaucoup dollars, the Brewers can’t afford to have a bad contract weighing them down.
That’s the risk-reward part of the free agent game.
While you ponder that, here is a look at the top 10 contracts in Brewers history (in terms of total value and not including contracts inherited in trades), along with a few little known facts about the newest Brewer.
TOP 10 CONTRACTS IN BREWERS HISTORY
1. RHP Jeff Suppan: 2007, 4 years, $42 million.
2. RHP Ben Sheets: 2005, 4 years, $38.5 million
3. OF Geoff Jenkins: 2004, 3 years, $23 million
4. OF Jeffrey Hammonds: 2000, 3 years, $21.75 million
5. OF Jeromy Burnitz: 2001, 2 years, $20 million
6. OF Geoff Jenkins: 2001, 4 years, $18 million
7. 1B Richie Sexson: 2001, 4 years, $17.5 million
8. OF Jeromy Burnitz: 1998, 4 years, $14.5 million
9. RHP Cal Eldred: 1997, 4 years, $14.2 million
10. LHP Teddy Higuera: 1990, 4 years, $13.1 million
Fun facts about Jeff Suppan:
His nickname is “Soup.” (Man, baseball guys are creative, aren’t they?)
Suppan and his wife operate “Soup’s Grill,” a restaurant in Woodland Hills, Calif., that specializes in cheesesteaks and fries.
Suppan has hit two homers in his career, both off Steve Trachsel. (The second came in the 2006 NLCS).
He once sang the song “Freebird” in a “battle of the bands” competition.
His career ERA at Miller Park is 1.76.
Suppan, who is deeply religious, jumped into the political arena this fall when he appeared in an advertisement o promote Missouri senatorial candidate Claire McCaskill and her stance against embryonic stem-cell research. Rams quarterback Kurt Warner also appeared in a spot, which was designed to offset the ones by actor Michael J. Fox.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
