Doug Davis returning to Milwaukee, 1 yr. $5.25 with mutual option

[Invader3K]

I like the additional depth added to the starting rotation...but I'm going to going to guess that the Brewers will lead the league in average length of games this year. Not because their pitchers are deliberate on the mound, but because most of the rotation (except for maybe Gallardo) tends to work a lot with men on base.

I saw a stat someone pulled out that said Davis' average start was only about 10 minutes more than the league average last year. So it's really not that big of an issue as much as people would like to say.

[Oldcity]

A slightly better rotation with a slightly worse offense, and they're right around .500 again. They needed bigger improvements than this to be a good team.

[TheCrew]

A slightly better rotation with a slightly worse offense, and they're right around .500 again. They needed bigger improvements than this to be a good team.

How is replacing Looper/Burns/McClung/Villy/etc. and one of Suppan/Parra with Wolf/Davis only a slight improvement?

 

Not a stretch to think this rotation will be about middle of the pack in the NL - which would be a major improvement - and with starters going deeper in games it should keep the bullpen fresher.

[Hate those Rodents]

Well, we won't be worse in the rotation. We'll be better there, and possibly league average. Replacing Hardy and Kendall's production from last season will be pretty easy to more than do. The wildcard is if Gomez can improve his numbers enough vs. what Cameron produced. But I see us producing better at two of the three new spots in the order (C, SS) than we were last year and just regressing in CF. Not sure how that guarantees us a worse offense. Bullpen should be better too, as should our bench production.

[brewers4eric]

I like the depth that this move gives the rotation and bullpen. Given even average health, the typical MLB team will use at least 8 starters over the course of a season. We've got better options for the 8 spots than what we had at any time last year, plus some additional flexibility for the swingman spot in the bullpen. At the very least, it should make for some interesting competition in the spring.

[hawing]

Waiting for the moment Hawing reads the news and joins us with her "Sharpie" excitement. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Hey, I've been on the job. But kudos to tristarscoop for the heads-up.

 

So, my Davis jersey returns to semi-relevance! since he surely won't get his previous number back.

And for what it's worth, Doug has always pitched well when I'm in attendance. So let's hope our 40 games cover more of his 2010 starts than our 20 games per year covered in his prior stint with the Brewers.

 

Welcome back, Sharpie. Stay well.

[Milltownhooker]

I really doubt Suppan will be on the opening day 25 man roster. Doubt his pride will accept a bullpen demotion. He'll take a buy-out or a reworking of his contract to be more tradeable ala Andruw Jones. These guys are competitors & they'll want to pitch meaningful inngs.

[TooLiveBrew]

Excellent signing by Melvin. Davis at right around $5M could wind up being a steal.

[Weirdos19]

Like it alot. I think watching Sheets was a formality, that we had this agreement with DD a while back but it wouldn't look right to announce this before Sheets threw. But only 5.25 guaranteed to Davis is great. Nice job DM.

[Milltownhooker]

Like it alot. I think watching Sheets was a formality, that we had this agreement with DD a while back but it wouldn't look right to announce this before Sheets threw. But only 5.25 guaranteed to Davis is great. Nice job DM.

Probably shortly after the Nats declined offering him a deal

[hawing]

If you'll all pardon one less than substantive post, I just wanted to make sure my avatar is changed back. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[paul253]

Definitely like this move. Even though hes not Cy Young Candidate, it definitely improves the rotation. Suppan gets bumped to the bullpen. Hopefully Narveson can stick around one way or the other. I imagine Suppan gets the first start when an injury sets in, but the depth is better than last season too (Chase Wright and Nic Green!). The team is pretty much set now except probably the 5th outfielder spot.

[joepepsi]

I really doubt Suppan will be on the opening day 25 man roster. Doubt his pride will accept a bullpen demotion.

 

I doubt Macha will be man enough to pull Suppan from the Opening Day rotation. It's going to be Parra or Bush that get sent to the bullpen, I'm afraid. They'll give Suppan 6-8 starts, just enough to give him 2-3 OK outings and justify keeping him in the rotation and keeping the Brewers from making the playoffs.

[Weirdos19]

Like it alot. I think watching Sheets was a formality, that we had this agreement with DD a while back but it wouldn't look right to announce this before Sheets threw. But only 5.25 guaranteed to Davis is great. Nice job DM.

Probably shortly after the Nats declined offering him a deal

 

Not too worried what the Nats think. Their front office has been less than brilliant.

[danzig6767]

A slightly better rotation with a slightly worse offense, and they're right around .500 again. They needed bigger improvements than this to be a good team.

Well, there is at least a chance that Parra improves quite a bit this season and if so mixed in with these two signings, the rotation should be quite a bit better. Gallardo also could pitch better than he did last season.

[Ennder]

If Parra can't throw strikes in spring training I think he is in the bullpen. If Parra looks good it will depend on if Suppan or Bush are locating better with Suppan having the inside track most likely since Bush can be released for some savings but Suppan can't. Given how terrible Bush and Parra were last year I just don't see them dumping Suppan. If the plan is to keep them all then I think they'll throw out that 'Bush was a closer in college' junk and still use him in the bullpen. I just don't see them sitting Suppan without him clearly looking the worst in spring training.

[thebruce44]

Whats not to love about this signing. If anything, this brings us some much needed depth and gets Soup out of the rotation. We now have a fairly deep 1-6 for once.

[jackalope02ca]

Nice signing. Short duration and Doug is dependable. I'd love for Melvin to surprise us by signing Bedard, Sheets or Pineiro to a 2-3 year deal and then dump Parra and Bush to save the money. Then we'd be set and a playoff contender. The playoff money could offset the difference in salary which would be minimal.

[Funketown]

Huh? Davis is exactly what he said they don't want. Randy Wolf and Doug Davis aren't going to make the league's worst rotation into a competitive one.

I don't understand this comment.

 

Chone projects the rotation of Gallardo, Wolf, Davis, Bush, Parra to be good for a 4.45 ERA, and that's with Gallardo only throwing 145 innings. It's certainly not elite, but definitely competitive.

[Milltownhooker]

Ennder Suppan is trending toward Bill Hall territory. Telling Suppan he has to earn his spot in November/December is telling.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

I wonder if they'd be better with Bush and Soup as their 4/5 to start the year, moving Parra in as the year goes along. Somebody will get hurt or stink at some point, probably Suppan. Whatever needs to be done to get Manny's control in order will be a key if they want to go from an average rotation to slightly better. He's the one big upside guy that's yet to hit his stride on a consistent basis. Maybe taking some pressure off him early would do the trick.

 

No reason Bush can't return to 2008 form. He was solid enough before the line drive against Florida last year.

[Milltownhooker]

trade for John Maine or Kevin Correria. Dump Suppan. Lets Bush & Parra fight it out

[valpocrewsader]

Ugh. Quantitatively, this is probably a good decision and a solid move for the team. Qualitatively, I guess as a fan, I absolutely hate Davis being back on this team -- nothing interesting about the player, just boring and pedestrian. Now I have to worry that my 20-pack will be full of starts by this nondescript nonentity. Adding Wolf and Davis are the total nightmare scenario for me as a fan, totally bleh guys, absolutely no interest in going to Miller Park to see these guys pitch. I feel like my team spent good money this off-season to become epically dull. I know I won't convince anyone with these statements, but my heart gives this news a giant BOO. Rough 2010 a'comin for me....

 

Btw, I think this continues to make the Wolf deal look like a huge overpay. Wolf is twice the pitcher Davis is? And for three years instead of one?

[brewizard]

Hmm... It seems Melvin is stockpiling average lefties. IF the offense clicks, and the defense is above average, AND the pitching holds, this ship might not sink so quickly as last season. Still, there is a lot of ifs to this journey.

[berniebrewer4life]

I like this signing. It's cheap, and having an extra, average lefty can't hurt a rotation that was as bad as our last year.