The Brewer Advent Calendar #12: Rickie Weeks
by Rubie Q on Feb 8, 2010 12:00 PM CST
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PrintWho's that struggling to break through Door No. 12? Why, it's Rickie Weeks -- and, actually, if you could help Rickie out by opening that door, it'd be much appreciated -- we don't want him to hurt his wrists again ...
DISCLAIMER: The following statement has not been sanctioned by BCB, KL, SBN, NATO, or any other acronym:
Rickie Weeks is the single most important position player on the Brewers roster this season.
Before you shout me down, hear me out:
At this point, a little less than two weeks before Spring Training, we know that: Prince and Braun are more or less givens, and, to a lesser extent, so is Zaun; Alcides and CarGo should give you excellent defense, and any offense will be a bonus; and Hart, in all likelihood, will continue to drive us up the wall. The only real unknown, I think, is McGehee.
In my mind, if this team is going to contend, Rickie Weeks is going to have to make good on the promise he showed last season and make The Leap. If he can put it together (and, probably more importantly, keep it together), the top of that lineup -- Weeks, (whoever), Braun, Fielder -- looks awfully imposing. And I'll also be able to forgive myself for ruining last season by prematurely dubbing it The Summer of Rickie Weeks. (Again: sorry 'bout that.)
Here's your Rickie Weeks Nugget of Goodness: we spend so much time focusing on the things that Rickie can't do that we often forget what he's really good at -- letting the baseball hit him. Rick's already No. 2 on the Brewers all-time HBP list:
| PLAYER | HBP | GAMES PLAYED |
| Geoff Jenkins | 95 | 1234 |
| Rickie Weeks | 62 | 482 |
| Fernando Vina | 58 | 528 |
| Jim Gantner | 52 | 1801 |
| Brady Clark | 50 | 549 |
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Comments
Does this mean that plunkeveryone is going to stop by to comment?
Applying Simpsons and Star Wars quotes to Brewers discussions since 2009.
surprised
Kendall didn’t have enough HBPs in his couple few years here to be in the top 5.
by PagsBrewCrew on Feb 8, 2010 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
if he wants
he can stop by my house and I will chuck a bucket of balls at him.
"I like Suppan"
- Noah J. on 12/22/09
I'm ok with that
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
I completely agree with your premise
Dodgy and/or hurt Weeks has led to deadline trades two years in a row, as well as running the existing utility infielder ragged. Isn’t Craig Counsell far more useful when he’s not starting 120 games a year?
Rick-e4 Weeks
Taking shallowness to new depths -- FtJ's blog
by Fatter than Joey on Feb 8, 2010 2:35 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know about that
Counsell looked pretty good while putting up a 2.8 WAR playing nearly everyday in 2009.
If you squint really hard, it almost looks like my name is Satchel Paige.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy
by Satchel Price on Feb 8, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
in 2009
2007 and 2008, not so good. 2010, who knows? (Come on, I can’t be the only one who thought he was playing over his head last year…is this the general consensus?)
Not so good?
He was still solid in ‘07/’08: 1.1 WAR over 282 PA (2007) and 1.2 WAR over 248 PA (2008) vs. 2.8 WAR over 404 PA (2009). Obviously he was on a bit of a tear last season and shouldn’t be expected to repeat his numbers – especially at 39 – but the Wizard of Whitefish Bay is still a great backup.
(I agree with you though, of course Weeks is the first choice. Just defending C.C.!)
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Feb 8, 2010 4:10 PM CST up reply actions
I for one am looking forward to the 4th annual Rickie Weeks Breakout Season
When there is a scuffle in Ireland, there’s no need to specifically mention in the news story that alcohol was involved
by Getting Yosted on Feb 8, 2010 12:45 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
I just thought “Breakout Season” referred to the fact that they set up an Atari 2600 with the paddle controllers in the clubhouse and he’s spending all his time playing it.
by morineko on Feb 8, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
A Milwaukee tradition
I root for the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings and yes, the Lions.
www.twitter.com/zajareich
So long as it's not the 3rd annual Rickie Weeks Breakwrist Season
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Feb 8, 2010 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
Not a single rec?
Maybe it’s an old joke, but if it is, then it’s still worth a rec. I laughed and texted it to my brother (citing BCB, of course). This is totally a Harry Doyle quote.
And the thing I forgot to mention:
how does the guy take a ball flush in the mush (as pictured above) and suffer little ill effect, but then have his wrist asplode on a check swing? Come on, baseball gods. That ain’t right.
by Rubie Q on Feb 8, 2010 2:33 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Not Just Getting Hit
More than just getting drilled by nearly every pitch thrown at him (he should look like that batter dummy from Major League by now), he also just plain gets on base in every way but batting himself aboard. And, after that, he scores runs. Lots and lots of runs. His career OBP is 101 points higher than his career BA (.247/.351). .351 isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, but it’s a lot better than a guy with, say, a career .246/.292…
I’m going to remain skeptical about Rickie, but that month and a half he had last year was enough for me to at least hope for something respectable this year.
Mike Bischoff
Milwaukee, WI
So in other words
He’s a run scorer.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
You have no concept
When there is a scuffle in Ireland, there’s no need to specifically mention in the news story that alcohol was involved
by Getting Yosted on Feb 8, 2010 3:02 PM CST up reply actions
me too... for the quotes
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
"He scores runs"
I attribute that more to the guys following him in the lineup (Braun and Fielder).
I will say, however, that he is one of the most patient hitters in the lineup. I’ll be ecstatic if he can actually get 500+ ABs this season and hit .260 or better.
Eventually, maybe.
But it’d be tough to put the kid in that slot from the get go.
I admit: there aren’t a lot of other options. Maybe McGehee? I think he had the third-highest OBP on the team last year.
But
if McGehee ends up in the 2-hole, is there another player on the team who can legitimately protect Fielder in the lineup?
I’m thinking the 2 spot will go to one (or all, at some point) of Hart, Gomez and Escobar.
It's a vicious circle.
Plug McGehee in at No. 2, and you have to use Hart (or Zaun?) at 5. But if you put Hart and his .320-ish OBP second and stick McGehee at 5, Braun and Fielder have less opportunities to drive runners in. No easy answers, unless you think Zaun can protect Fielder.
I think it all depends on how McGehee performs
If he hits close enough to what he did last season to stick in the 5-spot, then Zaun makes sense in the 2-spot. He has a solid enough OBP (at least compared to Hart/Escobar/Gomez). Of course, Zaun won’t be playing 100% of the games, but I think Lucroy/Salome could make sense batting second too.
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Feb 8, 2010 4:20 PM CST up reply actions
I think George Kottaras has the more likely shot at winning the backup role, as he's out of options.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 8, 2010 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
It's not like we don't have options if we just let Kotteras go.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
While that's true
you risk wasting service time on Salome or LuCroy. If Salome will simply become a piece of some trade package down the road, it probably hurts his value more to be getting one or two starts a week than it would having a full 6 years of club control.
Similarly with LuCroy, if he is to be dubbed “the catcher of the future”, you burn a club control year with him sitting on the bench most of the time.
And I’m not sure I entirely buy the “Greggg Zaun will mentor the young catcher—just look what he did with Matt Wieters!” argument. Wieters’ talent is what got him to the big leagues every day—not Zaun’s mentorship.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 8, 2010 7:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Or Treanor.
I’m not saying that they should let him go. But if he doesn’t do well in spring training, I don’t think they’ll be super scared to let him go.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Good point
I forgot about Misty’s hubby.
I think the youngin’s will be in the minors this year, though.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 12:01 AM CST up reply actions
There's not really room for all 4 guys (Kotteras, Treanor, Salome, Lucroy)
Unless somebody is stashed away as a backup AAA catcher. I think you’re right, and Kotteras will stay on the major league club, but I don’t think it will be because of his option situation. I think DM likes his defense.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Isn’t his defense his weak point (aside from his ability to catch knuckleballers)?
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
I thought that was kind of his strength
His ability to stop balls in the dirt.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
I think you may be right
I’m fairly certain that his “offensive upside” is what The Mustache is all hot and bothered about.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
tell DM he doesn't run the Sox
hitting better than Jason Varitek is only offensive upside when Jason Varitek is on your roster
Its not my phrasing
I just remember reading that somewhere.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 4:21 PM CST up reply actions
i know it wasn’t your phrasing or your thought process; I’m just sayin’, things look a lot different when the team in question is looking for Gregg Zaun’s backup. ;)
Good point
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 5:35 PM CST up reply actions
I’m not a fan of putting the catcher that high in the lineup… particularly someone like Zaun. Yes, he has a decent OBP, but you’re limited in what he can do at the plate.
I like having speed in the top two spots, which then gives you more flexibility and options.
Fair point
Though I’m skeptical that Macha will let the top of the order run very much in front of Braun/Fielder. Not saying that necessarily makes a lot of sense, but it’s probably likely. Having Hart/Escobar/Gomez at the bottom of the order would allow Macha to let them run and then let each other/the pitcher/the top of the order knock them in.
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Feb 9, 2010 1:01 AM CST up reply actions
I think Hart
His OBP is pathetic, but he’s a line drive/flyball hitter which, combined with his speed, means he won’t be the double play machine that JJ Hardy was. Assuming McGehee plays to the same level as last season, he’s a better option protecting Fielder, because ultimately you want pitches thrown to him or you want to make the guy that walked him pay. Weeks can most likely do the 2-hitter’s job for him by continuing to drive the ball for extra-base hits and stealing bases. If Hart can do anything it’s hit fastballs—fewer fastballs thrown to the 2 hitter, more opportunities to run.
We’ll see. I still agree with Eric Karabell and think Hart will have a bounce-back year.
Mike Bischoff
Milwaukee, WI
McGehee : Regression :: Tomorrow 6am-2pm : Free Grand Slams
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 12:02 AM CST up reply actions
Free grand slams from 6 AM til 2 PM?
Can Braden Looper pitch that long?
Applying Simpsons and Star Wars quotes to Brewers discussions since 2009.
by Yar Nivek on Feb 9, 2010 12:17 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Not as many as you'd think.
To load the bases consistently, he’d have to be able to pitch to three consecutive hitters without allowing a home run.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 9, 2010 6:26 AM CST up reply actions 4 recs
Rickie "Weeks is the single most important position player on the Brewers roster this season."
Well, shit. We’re screwed.
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 8, 2010 6:57 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
GOOOOOOOOOOOO-MEZ!!
Goooooo-mez!
by Drew C on Feb 9, 2010 8:22 AM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
drunk^
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
It was me.
I’m probably the only one, but I think the GOOOOOO-MEZ thing is hilarious. As long as it’s done in severe moderation, I love it. If he has a good year, I could see the cheer really catching on.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
drunk^
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 9, 2010 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
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