Rickie Weeks

[Mr Southpaw]

I hope Taylor Green eats up the PCL and solves this problem by May 15.

[TURBO]

I hope Taylor Green eats up the PCL and solves this problem by May 15.

 

 

I see a lot of talk about this guy, and he sure appears to have a lot of fans on this site, but I see no reason to be all excited about him...

 

Like Gamel, he has a lot of hype, but never seems to be able to get things together.

 

I hope I am wrong, but I have no faith that he will be of any help to this team ever again.

[Warning Track Power]

I hope Taylor Green eats up the PCL and solves this problem by May 15.

I see a lot of talk about this guy, and he sure appears to have a lot of fans on this site, but I see no reason to be all excited about him...

 

Like Gamel, he has a lot of hype, but never seems to be able to get things together.

 

I hope I am wrong, but I have no faith that he will be of any help to this team ever again.

I agree Turbo. I like Taylor Green a lot and HOPE he could become a true super utility at 1B, 3B & 2B. Hoping isn't reality though and Green is already in his age 27 season with a whopping 154 MLB PAs to his name. While he certainly has put up the statistics in MiLB, I just have no reason to believe at this time that he will be a significant part of our team. I hope I am wrong though as he may be a better long term option at 2B than Scooter.

[danzig6767]

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, but if the Brewers were engaged in that type of forward thinking, do you think they'd have signed Lohse and Garza the last two years?

 

They're hoping to get 2012 Aramis Ramirez, and none of the options you've suggested have a very good chance to put up that type of season.

 

I think 2012 was Aram's career year and he's likely to be a decent, 2.5 WAR type player this year, but the Brewers are obviously counting on him being more.

 

The offense doesn't have to get 2012 production from Ramirez, but i do think they need at least around an .800 OPS and about 140-145 games.

 

I fear him getting a significant injury much more than i fear that his production this year will decline very noticeably.

[TooLiveBrew]

I hope Taylor Green eats up the PCL and solves this problem by May 15.

I see a lot of talk about this guy, and he sure appears to have a lot of fans on this site, but I see no reason to be all excited about him...

 

Like Gamel, he has a lot of hype, but never seems to be able to get things together.

 

I hope I am wrong, but I have no faith that he will be of any help to this team ever again.

I agree Turbo. I like Taylor Green a lot and HOPE he could become a true super utility at 1B, 3B & 2B. Hoping isn't reality though and Green is already in his age 27 season with a whopping 154 MLB PAs to his name. While he certainly has put up the statistics in MiLB, I just have no reason to believe at this time that he will be a significant part of our team. I hope I am wrong though as he may be a better long term option at 2B than Scooter.

It's a good example of how relying on MiLB stats as a primary method of judging a player's potential (which is, incidentally, also a reason I've soured on projection systems) is a bad way to go. Not saying that you do that, WTP, just commenting. The scouting analysis is far more relevant.

[Warning Track Power]

It's a good example of how relying on MiLB stats as a primary method of judging a player's potential (which is, incidentally, also a reason I've soured on projection systems) is a bad way to go. Not saying that you do that, WTP, just commenting. The scouting analysis is far more relevant.

Exactly TLB. Which is why I am a little nervous about 2014 when so much is riding on the development of players like Davis & Scooter, whom the scouts have never raved about.

[JohnBriggs12]

Ok here's a deal that should satisfy the naysayers that insist Gennett should only play sparingly vs. LHP.

 

Three way deal involving Brewers, White Sox, and Yankees. Brewers get Jeff Keppinger. Yankees get Weeks via the White Sox.

White Sox get Francisco Cervelli.

 

Keppinger is coming off a bad year and is persona-non-grata in Chicago with 2 years and $8 million owing on his deal. Keppinger vs LHP career wise is .318/.362/.467, so assuming some rebound in familiar NL Central, he'd be a nice fit as platoon partner at 2B and insurance at 3B. Downside is Brewers would owe Keppinger $4 million in each of next two seasons, a lot for a utility guy, but less than they'd have to pay Weeks for one year. If Keppinger were to bounce back, he'd give Brewers additional option in post Ramirez 3B derby in 2015.

 

White Sox would get much needed help at catcher position where they are particularly weak. Depending on how much of Weeks' salary they'd have to pay to ship him to NY, they still would be relieved of an $8 million obligation for Keppinger so their additional expense if any would be minimal.

 

Yankees would get former All Star at a position of need at a presumed bargain rate.

[reillymcshane]

A note saying the Yankees are keeping their eye on Weeks:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/yankees-monitoring-market-for-infielders.html

 

"...the Yankees will monitor Rickie Weeks during Spring Training, who figures to be plenty available due to his $11MM salary and $11.5MM vesting option. It stands to reason that Milwaukee would need to eat a significant amount of salary in any deal to move Weeks, who batted just .209/.306/.357 last season."

[reillymcshane]

Ok here's a deal that should satisfy the naysayers that insist Gennett should only play sparingly vs. LHP.

 

Three way deal involving Brewers, White Sox, and Yankees. Brewers get Jeff Keppinger. Yankees get Weeks via the White Sox.

White Sox get Francisco Cervelli.

 

Keppinger is coming off a bad year and is persona-non-grata in Chicago with 2 years and $8 million owing on his deal. Keppinger vs LHP career wise is .318/.362/.467, so assuming some rebound in familiar NL Central, he'd be a nice fit as platoon partner at 2B and insurance at 3B. Downside is Brewers would owe Keppinger $4 million in each of next two seasons, a lot for a utility guy, but less than they'd have to pay Weeks for one year. If Keppinger were to bounce back, he'd give Brewers additional option in post Ramirez 3B derby in 2015.

 

White Sox would get much needed help at catcher position where they are particularly weak. Depending on how much of Weeks' salary they'd have to pay to ship him to NY, they still would be relieved of an $8 million obligation for Keppinger so their additional expense if any would be minimal.

 

Yankees would get former All Star at a position of need at a presumed bargain rate.

 

John, the Keppinger idea is something to think about. If anything, you keep Reynolds from playing 3B.

 

Keppinger hit lefties badly last season, but it's a small sample. He's generally hit them pretty well - as you noted above. So I would expect some rebound.

 

Issues include the fact that he doesn't play SS (at least he hasn't for several years, and stunk when he did). That means you still have to have an IF that can play SS - limiting you one back up OF. And let's not forget the money. The Sox would have to pick up a big portion of the salary.

[TURBO]

Keppinger? Keppinger? Seriously, Keppinger?

 

If this is the type of player that we set our sites on, I am going to be very disappointed... What has he ever done to warrant any interest?

[jerichoholicninja]

Keppinger? Keppinger? Seriously, Keppinger?

 

If this is the type of player that we set our sites on, I am going to be very disappointed... What has he ever done to warrant any interest?

 

He's not Rickie Weeks and he can play 3rd base, that's what. I don't like that trade but many will be in favor of it simply because it gets rid of Weeks.

[RockCoCougars]

Keppinger at his best has not been much better than Weeks at his worst. The Brewers already have at least five guys in camp that can play 3rd base, so I don't think that matters much.

[Warning Track Power]

Keppinger at his best has not been much better than Weeks at his worst.

Amen. I know Weeks has struggled for 1 1/2 of the past two seasons but if this were the return, I would rather play Rickie and see if he can recapture any of his previous abilities.

[JohnBriggs12]

Keppinger at his best has not been much better than Weeks at his worst.

Amen. I know Weeks has struggled for 1 1/2 of the past two seasons but if this were the return, I would rather play Rickie and see if he can recapture any of his previous abilities.

 

Weeks has struggled in 2 of his last 2 1/2 seasons, the lone exception was the 2nd half of 2012. He was bad after the 2011 All Star game as well: .229/.347/.386.

 

In 2012, Keppinger hit .325/.367/.439 in 418 plate appearances, including .376/.439/.806 vs. LHP. How is that not considerably better than the Weeks of 2012-2013?

 

For whatever reason Keppinger struggled last year with Chicago. My guess is he put pressure on himself to live up to what for him was a big contract, and for the first time he was in a big market.

 

I'm not like most on here and think it's critical to platoon Gennett. Not with all the RH thunder in the lineup. But if you're going to do it, get a guy that's accustomed to a diminished role (Weeks is not), and has a record of success that's a little more recent, and has good career splits vs. LHP, and oh save $4 million or so.

[jerichoholicninja]

...and oh save $4 million or so.

 

You see the problem is no one is going to take on Weeks contract. Everybody wants to get rid of him, release or trade, and either way the Brewers are still going to be paying him. Unless there is a clear upgrade, I see no reason for the Brewers to do that. Keppinger would not be a clear upgrade and with your trade proposal the Yankees would not be taking much of Weeks contract. They have already said they will not spend much on an infield upgrade.

[Outlander]

This is a total what if scenario but if the Brewers took Keppinger, they would be responsible for his contract and the Sox/Yankees would figure out how much each would pay Weeks. The Sox are already committed to pay $8 million to Keppinger so they certainly would pay $8 million of Weeks contract if they received a nice prospect from the Yankees.

[Daubs]

Weeks has struggled in 2 of his last 2 1/2 seasons, the lone exception was the 2nd half of 2012. He was bad after the 2011 All Star game as well: .229/.347/.386.

 

Talk about a small sample size - that was 98 PA. 46 of those PA were after his ankle injury in Sept/Oct.

 

The fact you cited that timeframe is astounding.

[jerichoholicninja]

Weeks has struggled in 2 of his last 2 1/2 seasons, the lone exception was the 2nd half of 2012. He was bad after the 2011 All Star game as well: .229/.347/.386.

 

Talk about a small sample size - that was 98 PA. 46 of those PA were after his ankle injury in Sept/Oct.

 

The fact you cited that timeframe is astounding.

 

Briggs has been pretty vocal in his dislike for Weeks and is good at cherry picking stats that back that up.

[trwi7]

I also think Gennett would be lucky to put up a .347 OBP and .386 SLG% over a full season as well.

[logan82]

Weeks has struggled in 2 of his last 2 1/2 seasons, the lone exception was the 2nd half of 2012. He was bad after the 2011 All Star game as well: .229/.347/.386.

 

Talk about a small sample size - that was 98 PA. 46 of those PA were after his ankle injury in Sept/Oct.

 

The fact you cited that timeframe is astounding.

 

Briggs has been pretty vocal in his dislike for Weeks and is good at cherry picking stats that back that up.

Not a terrible OPS for a 2B either. Especially with a .346 OBP. Briggs really loves guys with a good batting average.

[Outlander]

The fact you cited that timeframe is astounding.

Not at all, it is included as part of a bigger picture which is his post injury stats. He has been bad since his injury and post all star 2011 is part of that.

[Daubs]

The fact you cited that timeframe is astounding.

Not at all, it is included as part of a bigger picture which is his post injury stats. He has been bad since his injury and post all star 2011 is part of that.

 

To cite the stats without any acknowledgement that he was being rushed back for the playoff chase is a bit sleazy, IMO. Everyone knows he was far from 100% when he returned.

[SoupTown]

So far so good Mr Weeks. An HR a stolen base and a bundle of walks. As predicted he will have a big spring. Scooter having 6 weeks at aaa will allow us to keep Juan Fran AND Wang.

 

IMO a lot of the Brewer YEAR rides on Weeks spring training. I am following the games like it is in season

[Mass Haas]

Barely worth a mention (has SportsMedia101.com ever broken a story?), but this author tosses Brewers interest in swingman David Phelps out there as part of a possible Weeks trade with the Yankees.

 

Nothing else on the web even hints at a Brewers-Phelps connection, so not even initiating its own thread for now.

[monty57]

So far so good Mr Weeks. An HR a stolen base and a bundle of walks. As predicted he will have a big spring. Scooter having 6 weeks at aaa will allow us to keep Juan Fran AND Wang.

 

IMO a lot of the Brewer YEAR rides on Weeks spring training. I am following the games like it is in season

 

I just wish he didn't have that automatic vesting clause in his contract. I can't imagine the Brewers want that option to vest, so barring a Gennett injury I can't imagine he'll be given everyday duty at 2B to start the season. Without the option, an argument could be made for Gennett going to AAA. With the option, I don't see it happening.

 

That said, the Brewers' website had an article saying that he finally made an adjustment to his stance (holding his hands a little higher) and that could be why he's hitting. Of course, you see these type articles every year at this time when a player looks really good over a handful of PAs. I think the biggest effect a hot spring could have for Weeks is that it might up his trade value from "no thanks" to "I'll do it as long as you pay most of his salary."