Monday, April 4, 2011

Jeff Suppan? Really? Why would they...oh. Never mind.

The Royals have signed Jeff Suppan to a minor-league deal, eh?

This isn't good for the Royals, really -- Jeff Suppan isn't good anymore at 36 years of age. Actually, let's backpedal; Suppan never really was good -- in his prime, he was serviceable. He's not quite in his prime anymore, as his age and final few seasons of pitching would suggest.

If you don't believe me, take a look...a long one, as a matter of fact.

So the question is, why do it? How will this help? Despite the fact that Suppan isn't good, and won't be good for the Royals at his age, doesn't mean it can't help. Here's a couple of reasons why:
  • Despite him not being good, well...neither are any of the other Royals' starters. Jeff Francis might be okay. Maybe. So Suppan probably won't make the staff worse at this point.
  • If he proves to at least be able to have his trademark command, which was really his only commodity when he pitched, he can serve as a lurking presence for the other Royals' starters. An incentive, if you will. Pitch better, or we'll bring in this guy. Okay, maybe that's a threat, not incentive.
I'm never one to panic (...much), and the Royals navigating their way to a 3-1 record against a questionable Angels squad can't help but be a positive thing overall. But besides the wonderful start by Francis, the other pitchers are who we thought they were (that joke just doesn't get old...really, it doesn't).

Another way I think this helps is that it shows Dayton Moore sees what we've seen, and realizes he sort of has to do...something. And that's what the Suppan signing is...something.

That's something, right?

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