Scooter has the edge for 2014?

[TURBO]

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Tuesday that Scooter Gennett has "an edge right now" over Rickie Weeks for the starting second base job, but that a decision will be made during spring training.

 

Gennett impressed in his first taste of the big leagues this season, batting .324/.356/.479 with six home runs and 21 RBI over 230 plate appearances. The Brewers figure to shop Weeks this winter, but there might not be much interest coming off a down year and hamstring surgery.

 

Source: Adam McCalvy on Twitter Oct 1 - 11:25 AM

[jerichoholicninja]

I would hope so. However, I would not be surprised if Weeks is the starter next year because of some stupid reason like "veteran-ness" or "had a good spring." I would guess Ron and Doug both see it as Rickie's spot to lose.

[JohnBriggs12]

Gennett hit .206/.270/.235 in Arizona in March. Weeks hit .288/.356/.558. Lets hope Roenicke doesn't have those numbers staring him in the face next spring. His Arizona judgment in the past hasn't been good. I can't imagine Weeks will be in great shape coming off a torn hamstring.

 

I took Melvin's comments to mean it's Scooter's job to lose though. He especially raved about his defense and lumped him in with Gomez, Segura and Lucroy as he talked about being strong up the middle at a reasonable cost.

 

My guess is they don't think they can deal Weeks until he proves he's healthy in spring. I'd be shocked if Rickie is in the lineup on opening day.

[monty57]

Yeah, Rickie's probably in the "trade for whatever you can get, even if you eat most of the salary" situation. There's probably more bad than good that can come from Rickie sitting the bench next year, plus there's really no reason to have two guys who can only play 2B on the roster. They'd be better served with something like Bianchi/Green, which would cover all the IF positions, Gindl/Schafer as backup OF and Maldonado.

[igor67]

The fact that this was mentioned publicly at all is a testament to how awesome Scooter played this year. And the defensive improvement is a big part of that. You have to figure that the Brewers were seeing that and figuring even if both players regressed toward career norms Scooter's D looked like a potent tie breaker. Not saying it was all world or anything, but clearly its an upgrade on Weeks.

[JohnBriggs12]

Melvin decried the teams poor starts the last couple years. Left unsaid that Weeks has been one of the culprits contributing to the slow starts. If they are going to emphasize getting off to a better start next year, it's hard to believe that would include Weeks.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Isn't Weeks' recovery from surgery going to take significant time, which likely is going to hamper his ability to play right away when spring rolls around? If anything Gennett showing he can at least man the position at the big league level should give the Brewers plenty of reason not to rush Weeks back into the lineup until he's healthy and showing the ability to hit...something that hasn't happened in the past when Weeks has come off other injuries.

[Roderick]

It sucks to tie up a 25 man roster spot with strictly a backup 2B, but I assume and hope they start the first month and a half in a strict platoon and then evaluate. Which should keep Weeks from too many at bats and earning any bonuses or activating the 2015 option.

[splitterpfj]

I don't know how this could have been seen any other way, given Rickie's current health status. Rickie's got a hill to climb to get back, and Scooter played well, I would assume that would make him the favorite in early October.

[reillymcshane]

I wouldn't take what Melvin says too seriously. First, he doesn't want to disrespect Rickie and say outright that the guy has lost his job. Second, the team likely wants to trade Weeks, and if we say he's going to be a backup or he isn't in our plans, no one will want to deal for him. They'll just wait until he's cut to try and sign him. I think the plan will be to let Rickie come to spring camp, saying he's going to have to earn the 2B job. But that will be a fallacy. The team will go with Scooter. They'll hope Rickie looks serviceable, and trade him to a team for a million or two dollars in salary relief.

[TURBO]

...or they will start the year with Weeks as their starting 2B, hoping desperately that he has a hot start so they can trade him. When that doesn't happen, it will take RRR 2 months of every day starts to finally decide that he is still horrible.

[reillymcshane]

...or they will start the year with Weeks as their starting 2B, hoping desperately that he has a hot start so they can trade him. When that doesn't happen, it will take RRR 2 months of every day starts to finally decide that he is still horrible.

You forgot to add that he'll be replaced by Yuni Betancourt because the team will benefit from his veteran presence.

[djoctagone]

interesting insight from tom haudricourt today about both weeks and gennett both breaking camp with the club.

[RockCoCougars]

There is zero point to keep both Weeks and Scooter on the roster.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I agree. Just play one of them everyday. I don't see a platoon being as effective over a full season. Hard to stay sharp that way. It also comprises the bench to keep 2 players who both only play 2B.

[DoubleSwitch]

There is *some* point to keeping both Scooter and Weeks. Scooter does need a platoon partner. That could be Herrera or Bianchi, but still. A bench with Fat Jaun/Reynolds, Scooter/Rickie and then Herrera, Maldo and Schafer would cover all your bases. I'm a guy who just can't give up on Rickie, but I would argue that he's got the most upside out of that group, and I don't see the point of dumping him for nothing if you're not forced to. If he shows a little life all of a sudden you've got yourself a decent trade chip this summer. If you he does nothing then you can cut your losses and get the same return you could get now: nothing.

[RockCoCougars]

I think that you start the season with both playing every day. After a month or six weeks, the decision will likely be made for you, based on performance or lack thereof. It likely wouldn't be a true platoon anyway, they aren't going to keep Weeks to play once or twice a week against lefties and pinch hit. If they keep both, one will probably rot on the bench, and my money would be on Scooter for that. Send him to Nashville and let him play.

[torts]

I think that you start the season with both playing every day. After a month or six weeks, the decision will likely be made for you, based on performance or lack thereof. It likely wouldn't be a true platoon anyway, they aren't going to keep Weeks to play once or twice a week against lefties and pinch hit. If they keep both, one will probably rot on the bench, and my money would be on Scooter for that. Send him to Nashville and let him play.

 

[sarcasm]can one of them play first base?[/sarcasm]

[reillymcshane]

I think that you start the season with both playing every day. After a month or six weeks, the decision will likely be made for you, based on performance or lack thereof. It likely wouldn't be a true platoon anyway, they aren't going to keep Weeks to play once or twice a week against lefties and pinch hit. If they keep both, one will probably rot on the bench, and my money would be on Scooter for that. Send him to Nashville and let him play.

 

[sarcasm]can one of them play first base?[/sarcasm]

No, but as last year proves, that doesn't mean we won't put them there.

[JohnBriggs12]

Of the 3 choices of keeping Gennett, dealing Weeks, keeping Weeks, optioning Gennett, and finally keeping both, for me the least desirable is keeping both.

 

Now Weeks has been awful through May for two straight seasons, and giving him another shot at it because he's been decent in Arizona this spring screams the old bromide of the definition of insanity is repeating something over and over and expecting a different result. But I wouldn't be surprised if they did so I'm going to expect the worst, hope for the best, and live with it.

 

Gennett earned the starting nod with two solid months last year and well over 200 AB's. They sort of put him through the pressure cooker this spring of still having on paper at least to "earn" a job that should be his. Rather than protecting him from LHP, it would do him more good to see all kinds of pitching.

 

Finally there's the roster construction. Bianchi's earned the utility infield role. Yes, he can't play OF like Herrera, but he's better defensively in the infield, he's out of options and he's raked in Arizona. Moving one of the two 2B opens up a spot for the deserving Gindl who really has nothing to prove at AAA.

[pete]

Hey JB12, if you want an old bromide, how about Schroeder's argument that Rickie can't lose the starting job due to injury? I don't think he comes up with that kind of stuff on his own. As grating as I personally find him, he seems like a good source to get a read on management.

 

I hope the whole situation is just GM poker and Weeks is moved, but I don't think you can understate how much Melvin loves Weeks.