Suppan will start opener

[GormanHarvey]

Bummer...except for the part about Coffey. That I am pleased with.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/41692512.html

 

According to the article, Looper will start the home opener.

[SeriesFinale]

I paid a lot of money to watch this game, and I am not pleased.

[gbush2004]

You going to San Fran, Rev?

[patrickgpe]

if Macha does not want to put pressure on Gallardo to start the opener that is fine. Bush has earned the opening day nod then. Soup has been our worse starter and has earned the #5 spot.

[SeriesFinale]

I live here, I'll be here for all three

 

I mean, I suppose I can understand protecting the young arms and creaying beneficial matchups (and we've had success against "Timmy"), but I wish it was Bush or Looper opening instead.

[zzzmanwitz]

I live here, I'll be here for all three

 

I thought there were only 2....

[logan82]

I would have a huge problem with this if I was going to the game like the Rev. Overall, not really a big deal though unless Macha comes out and starts talking about Suppan being our best starter. Even skipping Gallardo or Parra once in a while to keep their innings down wouldn't upset me. Skipping Bush instead of Suppan would. I have not formed an opinion of Looper yet, but I will guess he is better than Suppan.

 

If we make the playoffs and Suppan is the first starter for any reason other than we had to have our best guys start so we could get into the postseason, I would have a huge problem with that.

[SeriesFinale]

I live here, I'll be here for all three

 

I thought there were only 2....

No, they play Wednesday night and have a weird 4 PM PST start time on Thursday

I guess this also means Yo doesn't pitch against the Cubs during the home opening series?

 

 

 

[nate82]

As long as Suppan doesn't pitch against the Cubs during the home opener I will be fine with this.

[Ennder]

Doesn't bother me one bit. Bush should probably have his first start at home and Looper needs as much work as he can get before opening day. As long as they aren't skipping Dave Bush at any point in the season the rotation order really isn't going to matter. They can skip Parra and Gallardo just to keep a few innings off their arms.

[liveforoctober]

For these first two series... I kind of like this move to be honest. It sets us up to be favored in 2 of 3 in SF... and then Looper and Bush in our first two home games. After that... once we get into the season and have to skip starts... they better be skipping Suppan and not anyone else.

[sheethead]

Any way you slice it, this team is going to have to score a boatload of runs to stay in the race this year. I'm talking franchise record setting runs. The starting pitching just isn't there. I kind of wish Macha would have Yo starting the 4th game of the year, but that is just me being selfish. Here's to hoping Suppan doesn't start the season 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA.

[Ennder]

Any way you slice it, this team is going to have to score a boatload of runs to stay in the race this year. I'm talking franchise record setting runs. The starting pitching just isn't there. I kind of wish Macha would have Yo starting the 4th game of the year, but that is just me being selfish. Here's to hoping Suppan doesn't start the season 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA.

The pitching staff this year is better than it was in 2007 and arguably better than it was last year before we traded for Sabathia so I'm not buying this one bit. (assuming no injuries of course)

 

Sheets, Bush, Suppan, Parra, McClung vs Gallardo, Bush, Suppan, Parra, Looper... I'll take the 2nd one, especially with another year of experience on Parra and Bush.

[yount19.u]

So if Suppan starts the season opener, then isn't he set to start the home opener as well? Are we just assuming Macha will skip starts on the off days to have Looper pitch the home opener? If this is the case, then I'm ok with the decision (even though Bush is a better option). If Suppan starts the home opener, Macha is on crack.

[sheethead]

The pitching staff this year is better than it was in 2007 and arguably better than it was last year before we traded for Sabathia so I'm not buying this one bit.

 

I'll give you Looper is better than Vargas, marginally. But there is no Gallardo or Para to go to when someone needs to be replaced. Since this thread is about Suppan getting the opening day nod, I will stand by my statement. If Jeff Suppan is this team's opening day starter, they are going to need to score a boatload of runs this year.

[sheethead]

Sheets, Bush, Suppan, Parra, McClung vs Gallardo, Bush, Suppan, Parra, Looper... I'll take the 2nd one, especially with another year of experience on Parra and Bush.

 

I am pretty sure the first one was not a season starting rotation in 07 or 08. Edit: my bad, it was last year's rotation due to Gallardo starting the season on the DL.

[GormanHarvey]

So if Suppan starts the season opener, then isn't he set to start the home opener as well? Are we just assuming Macha will skip starts on the off days to have Looper pitch the home opener? If this is the case, then I'm ok with the decision (even though Bush is a better option). If Suppan starts the home opener, Macha is on crack.

According to the article, Looper will start the home opener

[TheCrew07]

It's a little early to be worrying about the postseason... because my first thought was exactly "meh", this means he'll go 6 innings and give up 2 run or less and I'll have to eat crow.

[BADGERJOBOB]

The pitching staff this year is better than it was in 2007 and arguably better than it was last year before we traded for Sabathia so I'm not buying this one bit. (assuming no injuries of course)

 

Sheets, Bush, Suppan, Parra, McClung vs Gallardo, Bush, Suppan, Parra, Looper... I'll take the 2nd one, especially with another year of experience on Parra and Bush.

Its funny that you don't include Yo or CC in the first group but I guess you can tweak whatever you want to make your arguement look better. You don't want to include CC because he was traded for halfway through the year than fine but than you have to include Yo in the mix as he was a part of the starting rotation before his injury. This pitching staff is mediocre and one injury away from being way below average no matter how you spin it.

[Ennder]

If Jeff Suppan is this team's opening day starter, they are going to need to score a boatload of runs this year.

 

If he is the #5 we won't need as many runs? I'm confused. The #1 starter doesn't mean anything more than the #4 starter. Classically speaking the #5 makes a few less starts than the rest and is different but 1-4 are basically the same.

[sheethead]

Yeah, he should be the #5 starter to give him one or two less starts. I guess one can make the argument he is #4, which also makes at least one less start than #1-2. For a season in a vacuum, #1-2 make 33 starts, while #3-5 make 32. But the season is not in a vacuum, and book it that DiFelice, McClung, etc. will be making quite a few starts. Bush should be starting the season, imo. Either way, lots of runs needed. Cross your fingers Gallardo, Parra, and Bush stay healthy this year, because after those 3 the cupboard is bare.

[Ennder]

Its funny that you don't include Yo or CC in the first group but I guess you can tweak whatever you want to make your arguement look better. You don't want to include CC because he was traded for halfway through the year than fine but than you have to include Yo in the mix as he was a part of the starting rotation before his injury

 

Gallardo started the year on the DL and got hurt right away. I specifically said before we traded for CC so I don't know how that is cherry picking anything.

 

The rotation we are sending out there this year is as good or better than the rotation that had us over .500 before we traded for CC. I don't expect it to be as good as the one that includes CC, never said I did expect that. We don't need to be that good to compete for the wild card though if we see even small improvements in other areas.

 

Looking at 3rd party projections you get the following.

 

Gallardo - 3.50-3.99 ERA

Parra - 3.97-4.57 ERA

Bush - 3.98-4.50 ERA

Looper - 4.14-4.68 ERA

Suppan - 4.70-5.37

DiFelice - 3.40-4.33 ERA

McClung - 3.84-4.80 ERA

 

We have a legit rotation, should be at least league average with a chance at being above average without injuries. Just because it has 2 inexperienced players does not mean it is bad.

 

Our rotation is better than what the Astros or Pirates will be sending out there. It is in the same general range as the Reds and Cardinals, it isn't as good as the Cubs. Should be competitive enough for the divisional games.

[dlk9s]

Lord in Heaven,

 

Please don't let Jorge Julio make the roster. He's horribad.

 

Thanks,

dlk9s

[BrewCrewForever]

I guess we all kind of saw this coming so I'm not to upset with it. But yeah if I had to start anyone other then Gallardo on opening day it would be Bush. He deserves it. Oh well at Least Gallardo and Parra go back to back after Suppan and Looper starts the home opener.

[crewcrazy]

I cringed a bit when I saw this at first, but there isn't much difference between the Brewers starting the season 0-1 and 1-0. I think it also works out that this start is against the Giants, as opposed to someone like the Cubs who would have a better chance of knocking him out early. Thankfully this also means Suppan wouldn't pitch until the end of that Cubs series, so hopefully the Brewers will already have those first two games won before he steps on the mound. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif