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

[clancyphile]

Great value. I'd been holding on to the ridiculous pipe dream that we'd make a run at Big Ben, but given our situation financially (as well as Sheets' overall), I'm more than happy with this deal.

 

Welcome Back, Sharpie. Let's pretend Johnny Estrada never happened.

Sharpie-for-Estrads was the biggest mistake Doug has made. The Brewers have partially corrected that mistake.

 

I wish it was longer. I'd feel better if the deal was two years plus an option.

[fondybrewfan]

Don't understimate the power of a contract year. It seems to happen all the time. That being said, as long as Parra and Bush don't get lit up in Spring Training there is no way that Suppan in the rotation can be justified at this point.

 

I really like the deal. Our rotation is far from top of the line but I would think a 5-7 finish in the NL (In terms of ERA) is certainly possible. With our good offense there should be some healthy optimism that we can get to 90 wins again.

 

Rotation is improved, bullpen is improved, C is improved, SS is likely to improve. The only step back we took was offensively in CF.

[ThePurpleStorm]

"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?"

 

 

Oh come on. You don't love how games drag on and on and onnnnnn with double D walking guys and then finding ways to squeeze out of innings? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

But seriously, when we're fighting it out for a playoff spot come September because of the upgrades we've recently made I'm sure all of those "bleh" feelings will be replaced with excitement. As long as we're winning, I don't think anyone will care how "boring" Davis and Wolf are.

[MJLiverock]

Why are people so excited about having more lefties? Don't righties tend to hit lefties better and aren't their more righties than lefty hitters in the league? I know I for one love it when the Brewers face a LH pitcher, I can' t imagine the heavy RH Cub lineup and the Cardinals with Pujols and Holliday are too worried about a LH pitcher, especially one who walks as many guys as Davis.

[clancyphile]

Lance Berkman had better watch out when he's on first... or Sharpie will pull that pickoff move he did in `04 on him! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

(Anyone else think that the balk call Sharpie got on that play was nonsense?)

[BrewCrewForever]

Great deal, good solid starter for cheap and only 1 year (plus option). I to think adding Wolf/Davis automatically makes us better. If Bush is healthy and Parra improves I really like our rotation. Last season we won 80 games with the worst starting staff in all of MLB. If we are just average we should contend for a playoff spot. I'm not saying pencil us in for the division or wild card, but we should contend. This also gives us depth, with Suppan, Narveson, Capuano, Butler and Jones on the outside looking in in case of an injury. That sounds better then Burns, McClung and Villanueva.

[crewcrazy]

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?

While I definitely don't think Wolf is twice the pitcher Davis is, I think it's important to remember that Davis evidently wanted to return to Milwaukee. There are a lot of people out there that still aren't convinced that Wolf actually wants to play for the Brewers, and that Milwaukee had to overpay just to get him here in the first place. In the end, we're probably paying Wolf more than he's worth and Davis less than he's worth due to their preferences. Whether or not the Brewers should have even bothered with Wolf if that's the case will continue to be debated until he can show something on the field, and rightfully so -- even as a guy who tends to be more optimistic than most here, I have my worries.

 

As far as Davis goes, though, I do like the "Looper-style" contract and the fact that Davis will likely produce better than Looper did at a lower base salary. It will give the Brewers a chance to look for better options next offseason, and if a better opportunity presents itself they can cut ties without much hassle.

[TheCrew]

Why are people so excited about having more lefties? Don't righties tend to hit lefties better and aren't their more righties than lefty hitters in the league? I know I for one love it when the Brewers face a LH pitcher, I can' t imagine the heavy RH Cub lineup and the Cardinals with Pujols and Holliday are too worried about a LH pitcher, especially one who walks as many guys as Davis.

Pujols is gonna get his regardless if it's a lefty or righty. Oddly enough, Holliday is about 30 points worse against lefties for his career.

[thablingster]

This is a nice depth deal. Davis adds a veteran left-hander to the rotation which is typically a valued commodity. If it doesn't work out we can cut bait after this year and not lose much. Hopefully he can come in and provide some stability and keep us in games.

[Flood Pants]

This is the "feel good" move of the off season. Davis is solid, relatively cheap, durable, and left-handed. Plus, he was a fan favorite, and he always seemed to genuinely appreciate his time in Milwaukee. What's not to like?

 

I think we Brewers fans will always have a special attachment to him because we got to watch his "rags to riches" story, if you will. I'd love to see him finish his career where it started.

[rluzinski]

When I first heard DD was signed, I was scared it was some 2/$15 mil guaranteed nonsense. This is fine.

 

As for Bush, the fans (via Fangraphs' poll) think he is substantially better than Suppan, along with every projection system so I've seen so far. Unless Bush stinks it up in spring training (lost velocity or zero command), I don't see Suppan in the starting rotation and Bush not.

[clancyphile]

This deal gives the Brewers flexibility. If Davis pitches well, and say, the Brewers are not going to make the playoffs, he can be moved for some players. the same goes for Dave Bush.

 

The Brewers will contend for the playoffs if all goes well. If not,they have some pieces to fill out the farm system a fair bit. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Omar Little]

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.

So true, brewizard, so true. Melvin LOVES aging, soft tossing lefties for some reason and really has got some strange man-crush on Doug Davis. I've never been a fan of them pursuing Davis and never will be. Another average lefty in a division dominated by power hitting right handers and if anything these guys are modest upgrades over Looper and Soup.

 

Anyone care to guess as to how many more wins Davis and Wolf are good for over Soup and Looper??

 

At best(if most of the "ifs" go our way) these offseason moves push the Brewers closer to, or a few games above .500, NOT closer to the playoffs. IMO, it's another year wasted during the "Prince and Braun" years(that small window small market teams have to win a WS)....which, by the way, are ending after the 2011 season.

[Kennyfelder]

I like the signing and its a cheap contract. I wouldnt be surprised to see the rotation start with Wolf, then Gallardo, then Davis to break up the lefties.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Doug, don't even think of trying to mess with my #49 Gallardo jersey. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[sheetswannabe]

Alright! First off I would like to say that I am happy Melvin made this move. Davis is a reliable starter, and most likely bumps Soup out of the rotation.

 

Now, how can anyone say that we aren't a better team from this?? Gallardo, and Parra should improve with experience and age. Bush will hopefully be healthy, therefore, throwing more innings. I think the people here who are saying we will be the same team aren't remembering that we had some bad starts in 09 from the guys who were filling in at the end of the rotation. The depth alone should be 4+ wins, if Parra and Bushie can pull it together and have a slightly better year we may have 6+ more wins.

 

With our bullpen being above average, and having more starters going deeper in games we have to be in the talks for playoff competitors.

 

Welcome back Doug!

[mothershipconnection]

For the past few years, I've said before every season that things will be better this year because nobody in our rotation sucks. This move keeps that streak alive, even though I fear Bush will lead me to recant like he did last year and in '07.

[trwi7]

I can understand why people are against this move, but not because he's a lefty and there are a bunch of good right handed hitters in the division. Davis has been better against righties than lefties throughout his career.

[rluzinski]

Just did a real quick look at the starting rotation, using CHONE projections. Teams usually get something like 940 innings from their starters, so I've set Suppan's IP to take up the balance:

 

	IP	ERA
Gallardo	145	3.66
Wolf	164	4.23
Davis	170	4.50
Bush	160	4.78
Parra	170	4.81
Suppan	131	5.43
	940	4.56

Still below average but a HUGE projected upgrade over the 5.43 ERA the starters had last year. That's something like 8 wins better. Please don't just add 8 wins to last year's record, though. It doesn't work like that.

 

I'm sure some of you are balking at Yo's and possibly Wolf's IP projection. If we set Yo's innings to 200 and Wolf's to 190 (and lower Suppan's accordingly) we get a team ERA of 4.39. Pitcher health plays a huge role here and if the most difficult to project.

[Invader3K]

So true, brewizard, so true. Melvin LOVES aging, soft tossing lefties for some reason

This is a pretty big exaggeration if I ever heard one.

[JoeHova]

I guess this isn't too bad of a move. It's not exciting (and Davis is excruciating to watch) but he's a nice upgrade on Suppan and the price is not high. Of course, if he's not replacing Suppan, it's not as good of a move.

[jerichoholicninja]

Once again to all those who don't like signing "average" players, what else can we do? We are limited by the amount of money we can spend and because of that we can't trade young, cheap players for veterans. Anytime we do spend money people complain that we are spending foolishly. Sometimes that has been right (Suppan). Sometimes wrong (Cameron). So our choices are to not use any resources, player or money, and stand pat. Or we could do what we are doing and make smart trades and add cheap veterans on short contracts and allow our young players to develop while maintaining a consistently competitive team. I'll take what we are doing now.

[Hofbraunhaus]

I really like this signing. Davis is a solid pitcher and we got him for a reasonable price. However, I will despise this signing if it causes Gallardo to switch numbers before I ever get the chance to wear my Gallardo jersey to a game.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

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.

Parra has been very good in the last 2 Spring Trainings so if he follows the recent trend, he'll be in our opening day rotation.

[Yeti73]

I say we go with a Mulder, Cappy, Wolf, DD, Manny rotation for the novelty of 5 lefties.

 

In seriousness, I have to agree with the majority. Solid move; hope it gets Soup moved; Still think the difference between 85 and 95 wins for us will rest on how well of Gomez, Manny and Rickie play. If those guys play even close to their potential, we'll be fantastic.