Rickie Weeks

[JohnBriggs12]

The Dodgers signed a guy named Alex Guerrero 26yr old Cuban defector 4/28 to play 2B. That's not the kind of money you pay a guy to sit in your minors. He'll be playing for LA in 2014

 

From an article by Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles dated Jan. 29th:

 

"Is Guerrero Ready?"

 

"Nobody had ever heard of Miguel Rojas until about a month ago, when the Dodgers started dropping his name as a legitimate alternative at second base. Considering Rojas is a career .234 hitter in the minor leagues, that's a pretty good clue they're having their doubts about Guerrero's readiness for opening day."

 

Apparently Guerrero's had hamstring troubles in the Dominican Winter League, and hasn't had much time to learn a new position (he was strictly a SS in Cuba). The signing of Chone Figgins to a minor league deal is also a hint they are worried.

 

Got to believe the Dodgers are one team Melvin will be sure to have talks with in the spring. From a Dodger perspective, if the Brewers' picked up say $7 of the $11 million owed Weeks, they could easily justify starting the year with Weeks and letting Guerrero get accustomed to 2B in the minors.

[Warning Track Power]

Weeks is going to be in Milwaukee in 2014. Scooter, while I like him, is no sure thing. Moreover, if he were to fall flat and Weeks is gone, what are the Brewers options? A stud 2B prospect coming down the pipe? Nope. Bianchi as the everyday 2B? I prefer him in the role he is currently in. Segura moves to 2B? Great, who plays SS? A trade for a 2B? Why do that when you already had Weeks?

 

While you may not like him, Weeks is insurance against Scooter falling flat in a year that the Brewers are very obviously viewing themselves as contenders.

[JohnBriggs12]

Weeks is going to be in Milwaukee in 2014. Scooter, while I like him, is no sure thing. Moreover, if he were to fall flat and Weeks is gone, what are the Brewers options? A stud 2B prospect coming down the pipe? Nope. Bianchi as the everyday 2B? I prefer him in the role he is currently in. Segura moves to 2B? Great, who plays SS? A trade for a 2B? Why do that when you already had Weeks?

 

While you may not like him, Weeks is insurance against Scooter falling flat in a year that the Brewers are very obviously viewing themselves as contenders.

 

But if you really want Gennett to be the guy, you don't put training wheels on him. They just signed two vets to minor league deals, Pete Orr and Joe Thurston who between them have played 191 major league games at second base. Taylor Green has also played there. The White Sox would give them Jeff Keppinger for a song and there's already a thread about Dustin Ackley likely to be shopped in Seattle. Not great alternatives but neither is the Weeks we've seen the last couple years.

 

What if Weeks does take over 2 months into the year and hits around .160 again for his first 200 AB's for the third straight season? To me that's far more likely than Gennett falling completely on his face.

[Bnowell4evr]

Weeks is going to be in Milwaukee in 2014. Scooter, while I like him, is no sure thing. Moreover, if he were to fall flat and Weeks is gone, what are the Brewers options? A stud 2B prospect coming down the pipe? Nope. Bianchi as the everyday 2B? I prefer him in the role he is currently in. Segura moves to 2B? Great, who plays SS? A trade for a 2B? Why do that when you already had Weeks?

 

While you may not like him, Weeks is insurance against Scooter falling flat in a year that the Brewers are very obviously viewing themselves as contenders.

 

But if you really want Gennett to be the guy, you don't put training wheels on him. They just signed two vets to minor league deals, Pete Orr and Joe Thurston who between them have played 191 major league games at second base. Taylor Green has also played there. The White Sox would give them Jeff Keppinger for a song and there's already a thread about Dustin Ackley likely to be shopped in Seattle. Not great alternatives but neither is the Weeks we've seen the last couple years.

 

What if Weeks does take over 2 months into the year and hits around .160 again for his first 200 AB's for the third straight season? To me that's far more likely than Gennett falling completely on his face.

 

You keep the training wheels on Gennett because he's proven over the course of his minor and major league career that he can't hit LHP.

 

Scooter vs LHP

2013 MLB - .154/.175/.154/.329

2013 AAA - .235/.262/.330/.592

2012 AA - .241/.271/.335/.607

2011 A+ - .282/.325/.342/.667

 

I know Weeks is overpaid and hated around here but people need to just grasp that Scooter is a platoon player and needs a RHH compliment on the roster. Since Weeks is already a sunk cost I see no reason to jettison him off unless you're getting some substantial salary relief and even then I wouldn't do it unless I could guarantee getting someone like Jeff Baker as a replacement.

[monty57]

I don't like have two guys who only play 1B and two guys who only play 2B, but that's our situation. If Melvin could get someone to take Weeks and pay some of his salary, I'm sure he'd do it, but at this point, Weeks is pretty much untradeable, so we either play him or cut him and pay him not to play. I think that if he only faces LHP in a platoon/RH-bat-off-the-bench role, then he has some chance of having decent stats, while also allowing Gennett to work his way into the majors in a more player-friendly manner by only facing RHP and getting some days off to rest.

 

After a couple of months, if Weeks' numbers look good in his favorable role of only facing LHP, we're in a better position, as we could either trade him (other GMs would see his good numbers and think he could help them) or we could simply continue the platoon. If he's not working out, he could be cut and no one would be upset about it. If Weeks is outplaying Gennett, Scooter could go back to AAA once it becomes clear that Weeks won't get 600 PAs.

 

Certainly not an ideal situation, but a platoon makes sense. Ideally, we'd have someone with more positional flexibilty, but even if Rickie were cut or traded tomorrow, I'd still want to see Gennett platooned (or "soft platooned") with a RH hitter.

[Warning Track Power]

Certainly not an ideal situation, but a platoon makes sense. Ideally, we'd have someone with more positional flexibilty, but even if Rickie were cut or traded tomorrow, I'd still want to see Gennett platooned (or "soft platooned") with a RH hitter.

And this is the whole point of why Rickie Weeks will be a member of the 2014 Milwaukee Brewers. The only way he isn't is if he is included as a secondary piece in some type of deal that could make the Brewers better long term at multiple other positions i.e. a Ramirez trade.

[logan82]

and I still wouldn't add Weeks to any trade. It would lessen our return.

[JohnBriggs12]

Weeks is going to be in Milwaukee in 2014. Scooter, while I like him, is no sure thing. Moreover, if he were to fall flat and Weeks is gone, what are the Brewers options? A stud 2B prospect coming down the pipe? Nope. Bianchi as the everyday 2B? I prefer him in the role he is currently in. Segura moves to 2B? Great, who plays SS? A trade for a 2B? Why do that when you already had Weeks?

 

While you may not like him, Weeks is insurance against Scooter falling flat in a year that the Brewers are very obviously viewing themselves as contenders.

 

But if you really want Gennett to be the guy, you don't put training wheels on him. They just signed two vets to minor league deals, Pete Orr and Joe Thurston who between them have played 191 major league games at second base. Taylor Green has also played there. The White Sox would give them Jeff Keppinger for a song and there's already a thread about Dustin Ackley likely to be shopped in Seattle. Not great alternatives but neither is the Weeks we've seen the last couple years.

 

What if Weeks does take over 2 months into the year and hits around .160 again for his first 200 AB's for the third straight season? To me that's far more likely than Gennett falling completely on his face.

 

You keep the training wheels on Gennett because he's proven over the course of his minor and major league career that he can't hit LHP.

 

Scooter vs LHP

2013 MLB - .154/.175/.154/.329

2013 AAA - .235/.262/.330/.592

2012 AA - .241/.271/.335/.607

2011 A+ - .282/.325/.342/.667

 

I know Weeks is overpaid and hated around here but people need to just grasp that Scooter is a platoon player and needs a RHH compliment on the roster. Since Weeks is already a sunk cost I see no reason to jettison him off unless you're getting some substantial salary relief and even then I wouldn't do it unless I could guarantee getting someone like Jeff Baker as a replacement.

 

Not playing Gennett vs. lefties, might make him worse vs. righties. Gennett posted .324/.356/.479 combined even with the poor splits (in very small sample) vs. lefties. My contention is that having to face pitchers from the same side makes hitters better against pitchers from the opposite side. I know it's counter-intuitive, but hitters have to concentrate even more to pick up the ball when facing pitchers from the same side. That level of concentration becomes a habit and carries over to AB's against pitchers from the opposite side. I think most hitters don't like platooning for that very reason.

 

Besides Weeks hit .226 vs. lefties in 2013, just .195 vs. lefty starters. Bianchi isn't going to get a lot of AB's behind Segura. He can start occasionally to spell Gennett vs. a tough lefty. Also even with Gennett in the lineup, this lineup is heavily right handed that should mash LH pitching. There's not a critical need to get another RH bat in there. Gennett would likely be in the 8 spot vs. LH, but even if he were in the 2 spot, he could bunt and move runners regardless.

 

If Weeks had value at any other position, then fine, keep him as a backup but he doesn't.

 

Finally, this isn't just what I think should be done. It's what I think in the end they will do and I stick by my prediction. They will showcase Weeks in Arizona.

[logan82]

Besides Weeks hit .226 vs. lefties in 2013, just .195 vs. lefty starters.

 

You picked a really nice sample and stat to back up your opinion. You like BA, we get it. Please understand that it isn't very useful without other stats.

[Outlander]

Besides Weeks hit .226 vs. lefties in 2013, just .195 vs. lefty starters.

 

You picked a really nice sample and stat to back up your opinion. You like BA, we get it. Please understand that it isn't very useful without other stats.

Don't really have a problem with the sample because there is no point in including career numbers because Weeks isn't the same player he used to be when he was a 800 OPS guy against lefties. However, a 700 OPS against lefties is okay and very likely better than Scooter will ever be able to achieve against lefties.

[monty57]

If we were talking about a good lefty hitter who didn't hit LHP well, then I'd agree that we should keep him in the lineup everyday. Instead, we're talking about Gennett. I'm glad we have someone to play second, which allows us to move on from Weeks, and I really hope Gennett outplays his ability, but he doesn't really project to be a good, everyday MLB player. The likely scenario is that we play him a few years while he's cheap, and then move on to the next option. I hope he proves everyone wrong, but that's not the likely scenario.

 

As I mentioned, I don't have any problem dumping Weeks, but I'd still platoon Gennett with Bianchi or someone else. However, I think the Brewers are going to try to let Weeks hit vs LHP to start the season, in hopes that he does a good job. If he can have an OPS of .800+ (hitting only against LHP there is a chance of this), then he is helping the team, and could be kept in that role, or could be flipped to another team who sees the .800+ OPS and thinks maybe Weeks has "found it." I think this is the only hope we have of getting some value from Weeks without running much risk of his getting 600 PAs and automatically vesting his option.

 

If he doesn't do well in this role, then he's dumped a month or two into the season. We're paying him either way, so unless his 25-man spot is needed for a significant upgrade somewhere, then he'll get the spot. I can't think of anyone else we have that is such a significant upgrade that we'd eat the contract right now. Josh Prince? Caleb Gindl? Holding three first basemen? None of these options are good enough to force Melvin's hand.

 

Of course, a GM could surprise me and trade for Weeks, but I think that's pretty unlikely, even if we eat most of the contract.

[SoupTown]

I don't believe talent vanishes. Weeks is the best, by far, lead off option we have at this stage. I assume he knows the first six weeks he is playing for his career and 10s of millions. If ever he will perform it will be the first four to six weeks of this season. I hope to see the Brewers have that effort for them

 

My gut says 'comeback player of the year'. It is possible

[Mr Southpaw]

My gut says 'comeback player of the year'. It is possible

 

.260/.360/.460 with 20 HR and 75 RBI. As long as he doesn't get the 600m AB.

[Warning Track Power]

My gut says 'comeback player of the year'. It is possible

 

.260/.360/.460 with 20 HR and 75 RBI. As long as he doesn't get the 600m AB.

If Rickie does this I will gladly welcome him back in 2015 as the starting 2B. Him doing this would greatly improve our chances in 2014.

[HiAndTight]

I don't believe talent vanishes. Weeks is the best, by far, lead off option we have at this stage. I assume he knows the first six weeks he is playing for his career and 10s of millions. If ever he will perform it will be the first four to six weeks of this season. I hope to see the Brewers have that effort for them

 

My gut says 'comeback player of the year'. It is possible

 

 

The logical fallacy here is the assumption that Weeks needs a reason to try hard and hasn't felt that same pressure to perform before. Pressure like this is more likely to be to the detriment of the player than to help them achieve their previous success.

 

Weeks is going to work as hard as he always does, try as hard as he always tries. I hope he is able to relax and is completely healthy, because if he is, he could be that other big bat this team needs. If not, he'll still likely be a good bat off the bench and a nice platoon player.

[HiAndTight]

The Dodgers signed a guy named Alex Guerrero 26yr old Cuban defector 4/28 to play 2B. That's not the kind of money you pay a guy to sit in your minors. He'll be playing for LA in 2014

 

They signed Puig to a 7/42 deal and put him in the minors.

 

For a little over a month worth of games and they had Andre Either, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford in their OF as well as Adrian Gonzalez at 1st base.

 

So it's not really comparable to Puig's situation, ignoring the difference in age as well.

[SoupTown]

"The logical fallacy here is the assumption that Weeks needs a reason to try hard"

 

Strawman.

 

I did not say that. I did not assume that. Weeks should be healthy. He should be over (hopefully) his loss of his mate, Prince. If the stars are to align for Weeks, it will be at the start of 2014.

[monty57]

Pressure like this is more likely to be to the detriment of the player than to help them achieve their previous success.

 

I'd probably agree with this. It's akin to a manager saying "if you don't have a good game today, you'll be on the bench tomorrow." I think that would screw up more players than it would help.

 

But, that's life in professional sports. Weeks has had more than his share of chances, and the Brewers have been very patient with him. Throughout his erratic career, he's been given "everyday" status with no plan to replace him and no one brought in to compete based on his #2 overall draft pick and his potential. With this approach, he played very well for short periods, but not so well for longer periods. It's time for him to be on the hot seat. I hope he performs well, but if he plays poorly, I hope they are willing to eat the contract and send him packing.

 

Gennett is far from a world-beater, but at this point he should (and likely will) get a shot to see if he can hold down 2B for the next few years. As much as I hate having two guys on the roster who only play 2B, it's probably best for Gennett to have a platoon partner this year. Since the Brewers are paying Weeks anyway, it makes sense to put him in that platoon role. Hopefully, both players do well.

[logan82]

Weeks has been pretty consistent at getting on base at a decent rate up until the last couple years. He has probably underperformed compared to expectations but other than missing big chunks of time he has generally been an asset.

[TURBO]

I think some of us are forgetting just how god-awful Weeks has been the past two seasons. This is now a trend, and since he is on the down-side of his career age-wise, I am shocked how many people still think he can turn things around. The only thing Rickie has earned is an outright release, or at best a spot start every now and then.

 

He has been completely over matched at the plate, and his defense has gotten even worse, if that is possible. If he weren't a home grown Brewer, and Melvin considered trading for him, or signing him as a free agent, the majority of this board would groan in disappointment, as they should...

 

The Weeks era looks to be over, and judging by his last two seasons, it should be over. I think we have to ride out his contract and part ways. It happens, and in this case, it needs to happen.

[reillymcshane]

I think some of us are forgetting just how god-awful Weeks has been the past two seasons. This is now a trend, and since he is on the down-side of his career age-wise, I am shocked how many people still think he can turn things around. The only thing Rickie has earned is an outright release, or at best a spot start every now and then.

 

He has been completely over matched at the plate, and his defense has gotten even worse, if that is possible. If he weren't a home grown Brewer, and Melvin considered trading for him, or signing him as a free agent, the majority of this board would groan in disappointment, as they should...

 

The Weeks era looks to be over, and judging by his last two seasons, it should be over. I think we have to ride out his contract and part ways. It happens, and in this case, it needs to happen.

And lets not forget he's coming off a major injury. He tore his hamstring. His defense is likely only going to get worse (which is kind of scary).

 

The ankle injury Rickie had in 2011 seems to have really hampered him defensively. Perhaps offensively as well. He just isn't the same player. I love Rickie. The guy plays hard. But he just looks like a shell of his former self.

 

If he comes back and hits .260 and 20 HR, I'd be thrilled. But I just don't know if that's going to happen.

[monty57]

Weeks (from Baseballreference.com):

 

2003 14 PA, .167 Avg / .286 OBP / .250 SLG / .536 OPS, 43 OPS+, -0.1 WAR

2005 414 PA, .239 Avg / .333 OBP / .394 SLG / .727 OPS, 90 OPS+, 0.1 WAR

2006 413 PA, .279 Avg / .363 OBP / .404 SLG / .766 OPS, 96 OPS+, 0.8 WAR

2007 506 PA, .235 Avg / .374 OBP / .433 SLG / .807 OPS, 108 OPS+, 2.2 WAR

2008 560 PA, .234 Avg / .342 OBP / .398 SLG / .740 OPS, 96 OPS+, 2.2 WAR

2009 162 PA, .272 Avg / .340 OBP / .517 SLG / .857 OPS, 125 OPS+, 1.9 WAR

2010 754 PA, .269 Avg / .366 OBP / .464 SLG / .830 OPS, 123 OPS+, 3.7 WAR

2011 515 PA, .269 Avg / .350 OBP / .468 SLG / .818 OPS, 121 OPS+, 3.0 WAR

2012 677 PA, .230 Avg / .328 OBP / .400 SLG / .728 OPS, 93 OPS+, -0.4 WAR

2013 399 PA, .209 Avg / .306 OBP / .357 SLG / .663 OPS, 80 OPS+, -1.1 WAR

 

In nine seasons, 1021 games, 4414 PA and $33,296,600 in salary (so far), Weeks has given us one good full season, two good 400-500 PA seasons and one good 162 PA season mixed in with about five average-to-bad seasons. He has given us a grand total of 12.3 WAR (His poor defense deducting 8 WAR). His ability to get hit by pitches has added .026 to his lifetime OBP, helping make it a respectable .346, but possibly costing him his ability to remain healthy.

 

He's had a decent career as an offensive 2B. He was helped by playing in a hitter's park, and has been hurt by a number of injuries. He's only 31, but his past two seasons, which should have been in the prime of his career, have been pretty bad, with last year being awful. It's possible that he turns things around, but I really hope he gets nowhere near the 600 PAs needed for his option to vest. Let him be the RH part of a platoon at 2B, hope he destroys lefties for the first couple of months, and hope that allows Melvin to flip him for a good prospect at the deadline.

 

My worry is that he'll have a couple of good games at the start of the season and Roenicke will decide that the veteran is his everyday guy, sitting Gennett and playing Weeks. That fear is the reason I wouldn't be upset if the Brewers simply cut ties with Weeks in Spring Training, but I doubt that will happen.

[jjkoestler]

I think some of us are forgetting just how god-awful Weeks has been the past two seasons. This is now a trend, and since he is on the down-side of his career age-wise, I am shocked how many people still think he can turn things around. The only thing Rickie has earned is an outright release, or at best a spot start every now and then.

 

He has been completely over matched at the plate, and his defense has gotten even worse, if that is possible. If he weren't a home grown Brewer, and Melvin considered trading for him, or signing him as a free agent, the majority of this board would groan in disappointment, as they should...

 

The Weeks era looks to be over, and judging by his last two seasons, it should be over. I think we have to ride out his contract and part ways. It happens, and in this case, it needs to happen.

 

Rickie could cure cancer, play gold glove D, slash 300/400/500, and giveaway 500 bobbleheads to blind orphans and it wouldn't change your mind about him. In fact, you'd probably knock him because 50 of the 500 were variants.

 

2012-13 were disappointing seasons for Weeks, but I still believe Rickie's floor is Scooter's ceiling. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Outlander]

Rickie could cure cancer, play gold glove D, slash 300/400/500, and giveaway 500 bobbleheads to blind orphans and it wouldn't change your mind about him. In fact, you'd probably knock him because 50 of the 500 were variants.

 

2012-13 were disappointing seasons for Weeks, but I still believe Rickie's floor is Scooter's ceiling. Hopefully I'm wrong.

No, he is just being realistic while some cling to the hope he will somehow have a comeback season when there is just no evidence to suggest that.

[jjkoestler]

Rickie could cure cancer, play gold glove D, slash 300/400/500, and giveaway 500 bobbleheads to blind orphans and it wouldn't change your mind about him. In fact, you'd probably knock him because 50 of the 500 were variants.

 

2012-13 were disappointing seasons for Weeks, but I still believe Rickie's floor is Scooter's ceiling. Hopefully I'm wrong.

No, he is just being realistic while some cling to the hope he will somehow have a comeback season when there is just no evidence to suggest that.

 

He's 31, played well in the past, and is a freak athletically. I'm not saying he will return to 2011 form, but its not a stretch to think he could put up better numbers than 12-13.