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The consensus opinion from Cardinals fans on the Jeff Suppan deal seems to be disgust. Ignoring Dave Duncan’s track record with veteran pitchers, Cardinal fans may be taking Suppan leave for the Brewers in 2006 a bit personal. Or maybe it’s a cry that Suppan is only a temporary solution - as in not Roy Oswalt.
John Smoltz came in last year - although his arrival was two months later in the season - as a temporary solution as well. Cardinal fans heralded his arrival, mostly because of his name.
It certainly wasn’t because of his pitching.
Smoltz was left for dead after the first half of 2009. With the Red Sox, Smoltz put of these numbers: 40 IP, 8 HR, 8.33 ERA.
Through 31 innings this year, Suppan’s ERA is a comparable 7.84. No one is saying Suppan will revive this rotation. He is simply trying to make it survive.
And no, Smoltz’s numbers were not inflated because of pitching in the AL East - he faced Baltimore three times, Washington, Kansas City, Texas and Oakland. Everyone just remembers the last shelling the Yankees put on him.
Suppan is not here to save the day. He’s just here to get the team through it. Or so we’ll find out when he starts on Tuesday.
