Bill James: Brewers should move Weeks off second base

From James, via Rob Neyer:

I really like Rickie Weeks, and I feel strongly that he has major league ability that just hasn't come out yet. One of the reasons it hasn't come out yet -- one of several -- is that they keep playing him at second base, and he really is not much of a second baseman. I would compare him to Don Buford, a player of three or four generations ago who came up as a highly touted second baseman for the White Sox, but never really could put it together as a second baseman. But Earl Weaver moved him to left field, and he was a very valuable player as a left fielder/leadoff man.

11 months ago KLSnow 22 comments 0 recs |

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So Hart gets the boot from the outfield?

by Saberilliterate on Mar 13, 2009 2:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Heir to Cam?

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Mar 13, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So how optimistic would his projection for Weeks be if Rickie wasn't a second baseman?

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Mar 13, 2009 3:32 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

So how about we ignore the fact that he's barely below average at second on defense?

The artist formerly known as jihad.

by Jordan M on Mar 13, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by HRF on Mar 13, 2009 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Neyer actually kinda had me thinking when I read that article, but to suggest Braun can’t play LF is pretty irresponsible. Looks like he just guessed that without checking anything.

The artist formerly known as jihad.

by Jordan M on Mar 13, 2009 4:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The whole article seemed remarkably context-free.

Braun being moved from the outfield simply as a “plot device” to facilitate Weeks leaving the infield, no mention of Gamel likely needing either that outfield spot or the 1B job that Braun was being pencilled in there, etc…

by Zeyes on Mar 13, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, isn't that article pretty much crap?

Sure, Rickie isn’t a great 2B, but what evidence is there that he would be better anywhere else? The Brewers definitely don’t have an everyday second baseman on the roster anywhere waiting to take his place.

After a shaky start, Braun was fine in LF (technically speaking, he didn’t make an error) and there’s a fair chance he’ll even play above replacement defense this year.

I don’t think there’s anything that can be done about Fielder, but those guys have their place in the league, as well.

That wasn’t thought out much better than a random fan comment on a TH blog entry.

by ecocd on Mar 13, 2009 5:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

disagree

Braun’s move from infield to the outfield actually works against your point. It shows that an athletic player having some troubles in the infield could adapt to playing the outfield. Most of the time that I have seen the suggestion to move Rickie, the idea is to have Rickie in center and some combination of Escobar, Hardy, and Hall manning the infield. Rickie has been getting a little better in the field, but I bet if he struggles early they will play either McGahee or Escobar there.

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Mar 13, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

Who leads off if Rickie sits? I don’t think Escobar would be put there, so that leaves Cameron or Kendall, right?

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Mar 13, 2009 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I vote Kendall

We all should start our day with a healthy helping of GRITS.

"If loving CC is wrong I do not want to be right"
"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender"

by kirbir on Mar 13, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or maybe even (gasp!) Corey Hart.

I know there’s plenty of deserved derision for the idea of putting a base-stealer at leadoff, but if a given day’s lineup consists of nothing but slugger types and low-OBP guys anyway, you might as well take the low-OBP guy who can steal a little.

by Zeyes on Mar 13, 2009 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I choose death.

by HRF on Mar 13, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Mar 14, 2009 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lead off

Cam is probably the most likely choice but how bout some JJ at the lead?

"You have no honor!" - McClung to Fukudome

by zsxander567 on Mar 14, 2009 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Escobar at 2B

Would definitely diminish his defensive contributions, maybe he maxes out at +10 runs. If we agree Rickie is about a 5, Esco would have to hit better than I would expect him to to come out even. In 2009, I’d doubt that Escobar is a better choice than Weeks at second base under any circumstances. Playing at second or short doesn’t change his hitting- but it would bump his defensive contributions overall down 5-10 runs when you factor in the added difficulty of playing short.

The artist formerly known as jihad.

by Jordan M on Mar 14, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about Bill Hall

He’s an athletic player (who was actually good in the infield) that had a lot of troubles adjusting to the outfield.

I think Braun and Hall show that you don’t know what you’d get from Rickie in the outfield.

Weeks plays decent enough defense at 2B. It is his offense that needs work, and I don’t see how a move to the outfield helps that.

"My fellow nerds and I will retire to the nerdery with our calculators."

by craigholl on Mar 13, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Braun to 1B is ridiculous

He wasn’t great in left field but he wasn’t bad. And he’s only gonna get better. Moving him to 1B would be such a waste of his speed and athleticism

And what about Gamel? I always imagined him at 1B once Fielder leaves.

"my goodness"

by BrewHaHeather on Mar 13, 2009 9:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that sounds right

Braun should stay in LF and I also think Gamel is the future at first.

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Mar 14, 2009 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also agree.

Use the next couple of years to see if Gamel has any chance of playing 3B in the majors, and then move him to 1B if necessary.

by oconnobe on Mar 14, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We definitely need someone who can play 3B decently

"If loving CC is wrong I do not want to be right"
"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender"

by kirbir on Mar 14, 2009 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with this...

1. Weeks’ defense at second base was ok. While he still makes those frustrating plays, every defensive metric had him at at least an average second baseman last year. If he hadn’t made that big improvement last year, the case has more merit.

2. I will say that even though his defense was ok, maybe he has put so much time into his defense that it has hindered his growth as a hitter.

If you believe that is true, what about going forward?

Now that he has reached adequacy at second, can he now concentrate on becoming the hitter we think he can? Or, will his defense always require more of his time, thus limiting him?

3. From a value standpoint, the only way I believe they can get star value from him is as a second sacker. As a LF, I think he can be solid, but is never going to be an elite player. He still has a chance (though fading) of being that at second.

With that in mind, I think he is best to remain at second for the time being. This year will be telling.

Down the road, I would hope CF as opposed to LF.

by badgermaniac on Mar 14, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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