Brewers send Suppan to bullpen
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan has been removed from the rotation in the fourth and final year of his $42 million contract in favor of Chris Narveson.
Suppan opened the year on the disabled list with neck pain. He went 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in two appearances as the fifth starter, including being booed off the field after giving up six runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings in Friday night's 8-1 loss to Chicago.
Suppan says his results haven't been there, but he feels like he's making good pitches.
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"I'm just trying to continue to work on what I need to work on to go out there and pitch," Suppan said. "I'll go to the bullpen and help out any way I can."
Suppan said he understood the reasoning behind the move, and declined to say whether he felt two starts were enough to justify the decision. He went 7-12 with a 5.29 ERA last year.
"They have their reasons and they have their thoughts, and I respect that," he said. "They make the decisions, so like I said, I'll go down to the bullpen and work on what I need to work on."
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Brewers manager Ken Macha said he told Suppan that the move wasn't permanent, but that the team will give Narveson several turns in the rotation after going 2-0 in four starts late last year.
Suppan last pitched in relief on Aug. 26, 2003, with Boston and has only made 16 relief appearances in his career.
CORRECTS Suppan's contract; ADDS Narveson's stats, Suppan quote.