Lawrie's Moving to Second Base
According to Mr.Haudricourt, Brett Lawrie's going to be a 2nd Basemen.
Considering our depth at catcher, with Lucroy and Salome, is already good. Whereas 2B is some what a vacancy. I expect to see Lawrie up in June after Weeks goes to his 'throwing into the stands' routine.
almost 3 years ago
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Yeah, if Weeks really has major issues
Counsell will probably start the majority of games, and they may make some adjustments to make sure a guy like Bourgeois is on the roster.
But I still hold out hope. I hold out hope that The Mustache will let his #2 overall pick walk in free agency, and Lawrie can fit in nicely at 2B
Maybe he can learn to whip it fast-pitch softball style. Can’t be any worse.
by juggernaut400 on Feb 24, 2009 5:26 PM CST up reply actions
Slow-pitch style might be an improvement as well
by juggernaut400 on Feb 24, 2009 5:27 PM CST up reply actions
General consensus seems to be no.
But that’s not going to stop him from trying, apparently.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
I think it is just more logical
It isn’t a slip, but maybe easier to learn the position, one that he has played for 6-7 years, than one he has little to no experience… if he were to spend a year or two learning catcher, and then switch, that is probably no the right idea
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
Agree
Glad they moved him now instead of a year or two down the road.
A guy on Brewerfan who has been watching workouts called Lawrie “just OK” at 2B with a strong arm. I can live with that from a 19 year old. Apparently anyone who has been watching would notice Lawrie exclusively getting reps at 2B the past 2 weeks, but TH just got word out today.
His projected timetable for the big leagues matches up nicely with Weeks’ arbitration years.
I've spent half an hour trying to find where I read it.
But I’ve seen it said that Lawrie’s body type/physical build does not translate well to second base. Part of the really I’d really like to find it is because said person was absolutely certain Lawrie would not be an MLB second baseman.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
Found this:
Did a quick search on Baseball Prospectus for early scouting reports and found the following (Pre-draft they had him listed as a SS). The only body type stuff I’ve read is the occasional reference to him being “stocky.”
What He Is: A big, thick Canadian athlete with a ton of power who has been rocketing up draft boards of late following some monster showings in exhibition games in Florida and the Dominican.
What He’s Not: A shortstop, not by any means, but he has the arm and reactions for third.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A power-hitting all-star at the hot corner.
Backup Plan: His arm and body have some dreaming on him as a catcher.
"just OK" at 2B is better than most said Week's defense was when we drafted him.
Eric Gagne DL time: May 23-June 29 Brewers record in that span: 20-9
…can he play second?
Are we talking about Lawrie or Weeks
by Saberilliterate on Feb 24, 2009 7:01 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Good move
Middle infield prospects are very thin outside of Escobar…
I believe Lawrie did play second in his last season…
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
FWIW
Weeks’ defensive metrics were all average to even slightly above last year. He isn’t, nor will he ever be, a great defensive player, but he isn’t a liability either.
Second base is quite the surprise for Lawrie though. Other than Biggio, can anyone recall such a move?
shouldn't be that big of a surprise
He isn’t moving from catcher to second… before the draft, said he was going to try to learn catcher… after playing infield 2B/3B his whole life… decided not to try to learn the position given the prospects ahead of him, and the extra time it takes to learn the position
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
Do those metrics take into account all of the double plays that he muffed?
by Saberilliterate on Feb 24, 2009 7:02 PM CST up reply actions
UZR Does now
Weeks was like a run below average there
Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.
Infield of the future?
1B- Gamel 2B- Lawrie SS- Escobar 3B- Taylor Green?
2012 or 2013’s infield?
I could see Escobar perhaps going to 2B next year while we still have Hardy, and then shift if he is traded or leaves via free agency and hope Lawrie is ready at that point… something like what Barry Larkin did in the 1980s before moving to shortstop.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
check that
Larkin apparently only played 6 games at 2B his rookie year… thank you baseball reference
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
I welcome this move, but...
… I would have liked the Brewers telling him which position to play, not the other way around. I’m not confident with Lawrie’s experience as a player development analyst to determine the catchers ahead of him are major leaguers.
Just saying.
My non-embarrassing thoughts on the Brewers:
Two Fisted Slopper
My bigger concern
Why is he going to the WBC to be a bench warmer when he could be getting regular playing time in minor league camp? If he’s able to hit the ground running in Appleton, and performs as everyone thinks he can there is nothing in Brevard County to keep him from advancing up a level this year with the opportunity to be in AA at some point next year as a 20 YO.
If he was Canada’s starting 2B, I’d say go for it. But he needs regular playing time at his age, not to sit with some grizzled vet on the Cananda bench and soak up the grit.
He can soak up the wisdom of Stubby Clapp
Plus Chris Barnwell can teach him all about playing second base in the minors.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
Oh, come on
Everyone knows that it’s the dream of every young boy to eventually represent Canada in the WBC. Isn’t that what The Natural was about?
by Marty McSuperFly on Feb 24, 2009 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
no
you’re thinking of Field of Dreams.
Or maybe Hoosiers.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 24, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
Are the hoops 10 feet tall in the WBC?
Just like the gym at home in Canada?
by Marty McSuperFly on Feb 24, 2009 10:11 PM CST up reply actions
Actually
back in Canada, they’re a little over 3 meters.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 24, 2009 10:17 PM CST up reply actions
Interesting
Green is a natural 2B moved to 3B, and Lawrie seems to fit in better at third. If he can play second, I’d let him go for it, but that makes it seem a bit odd. Maybe he’ll end up at third anyway.
Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.
I don't know how I feel about this.
I think I like it, but I reserve the right to change my mind. The Brewers must be pretty content with Salome/Lucroy if they are going to let Lawrie move to second. I’m pretty excited for those two as well, and this gives us a second base option that could possibly be a great offensive force at that position.
Eric Gagne DL time: May 23-June 29 Brewers record in that span: 20-9
I am starting to think
Lawrie just listed himself as a catcher to increase his value in the draft and get drafted higher… and then move back to a position he is more suited to play… don’t mind it, smart actually- I would do the same thing, but if his bat is as good as the reports are, hope he stays healthy and moves up quickly
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
it's possible
Catchers are valued higher especially if they can hit, as production typically is lower from this position… if you can put a slugger in the position it increases their value.
There seemed to be no attempt from Lawrie to even try the catching position… and the Brewers weren’t even the ones who recommended be switch to 2B, he made the decision on his own… so for all these reasons, it makes it more plausible…
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
I'd put a little bit more faith in the scouting department
To suggest that the organization was “duped” into overdrafting Lawrie due to some lip service about playing catcher implies that a preposterously simplistic draft/prospect analysis system was in place.
It's a classic...
… Jack Z “holy-crap-this-guy-can-hit-we’ll-find-a-place-for-him-to-play-somewhere” pick.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 25, 2009 8:26 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think that's how it works either...
He was actually listed as a C/2B. IIRC, the Brewers drafted/touted him as a C, which confused quite a few who thought he was better off at 3rd or 2nd. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the position they’re drafted as depends on what the team turns in on the card.
Source on the C/2B: http://www.inbetweenhops.com/2008/06/brett-lawrie.html
Comments from when he was drafted on his position: http://www.620wtmj.com/sports/19573709.html
by TheBurningRom on Feb 25, 2009 8:42 AM CST up reply actions
yeah
i think the catcher business was blown out of proportion by us in the blogosphere.
And even if he was heavily touted as a catcher, joke’s on us — the number of high school players who stick at the positions they’re playing when they are 18 is pretty low. It’s not even that high for college guys. And it’s more true of catchers than any other position.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 25, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions
It's true.
At 18, I was a non-athletic radio guy. Now I’m a blogger.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
Musclebound Weeks?
Speaking of having the body type for second base. Did anyone else see this picture of Rickie
Has he always been this strong? Is it just somehow distorted in the picture? The guy looks like a running back for the Packers than a 2nd baseman for the Brewers. Beyond all the usual alarm that comes to mind when we see a He-man-esque baseball player, I just can’t believe that’s the optimal mix of muscle and flexibility for the position.
I’m sure I’m overreacting to a single picture though.
My thought
Would be that he has most likely been of a similar build in the past, with the possibility that he did put on a couple extra pounds of muscle throughout the offseason. My bet is that the majority of the pictures we see of Weeks, and most major leaguers in general, consist of them wearing baseball jerseys that are by nature, relatively big with longer sleeves, thus hiding the build of the player underneath. Seeing him in a skin tight, short sleeve sport shirt, as in the pictures, is just something we aren’t normally exposed too.
BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.
by MadJimiBrewha on Feb 24, 2009 10:23 PM CST up reply actions
Last Year
I sat front row in left field at the Brewers Rockies game last year (CC’s first game). I had never known how big Matt Holliday is. The dude is just a brickhouse. You really don’t realize how big some of these guys are until you see them in person. TV doesn’t do them justice. After all, they’re paid to be physical specimens.
Sax Award
With the Oscars just passed and Spring Training upon us, one award must be doled out, even if it’s prematurely. The Steve Sax Award. It’s presented by me whenever I feel the need.
For the worst defensive second baseman in MLB in 2009…the nominees are Chase Utley of the Phillies, Dan Uggla of the Rays, Robinson Cano of the Yankees, and Rickie Weeks of the Brewers.
Drumroll, please. And the winner is…Rickie Weeks of the Brewers. Now, go be a DH in the AL.
I'd like to thank the Academy...
But in this case, I’d be thanking them for having no concept.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
Wait, Chase Utley?
That’s the opposite of a bad defensive second basemen.
Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.
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