PHOENIX (AP) -- Jeff Suppan kissed the Pope's ring, hoisted the World Series' trophy and signed the largest contract in Brewers' franchise history.
All that in a little more than 13 months.
Now he's busy with a new challenge - becoming the anchor and veteran leader of a pitching staff that's been hampered with injuries the past two seasons.
Suppan will earn $42 million during the next four years as a mainstay in the Brewers rotation.
He's solid in the field and at the plate, places where the rest of the staff has struggled.
He'll be expected to pitch his share of innings after making at least 31 starts and throwing 188 innings or more each of the last eight seasons.
Sheets, by comparison, has made just 39 starts over the past two seasons.
Suppan sees his role changing with the Brewers, a part of the continued evolution of his career.
He described meeting Pope Benedict in November 2005 at a Pontifical Council of Church and Sport as a life-changing experience.
