-love, your mom.

From 2007-2011, there have only been 7 players to have an .800 OPS over that span. (Min 2000 PA)

Utley .290/.386/.503/.889 137 wRC+
Cano .304/.349/.498/.847 120 wRC+
Pedroia .309/.377/.469/.846 125 wRC+
Kinsler .273/.357/.471/.828 122 wRC+
Uggla .253/.344/.482/.826 117 wRC+
Weeks .255/.357/.448/.805 120 wRC+
Zobrist .260/.355/.446/.801 122 wRC+

Even in what’s clearly a down season for Weeks, he’s still an above average offensive 2B.

Weeks (2012) .229/.333/.392/.725
MLB avg 2B .257/.317/.382/.699

Weeks hasn’t been a great defensive 2B over his career, but he’s not a liability out there. He struggled his first 2 seasons and was improving until the ankle injury last season.

2005 -13.0 UZR
2006 -10.3 UZR
2007 -2.3 UZR
2008 -3.0 UZR
2009 3.0 UZR
2010 1.8 UZR
2011 1.6 UZR (was at about 4 or 5 before injury)
2012 -17.4 UZR (has said ankle wasn’t/isn’t 100%)

We won’t know if his ankle will ever let him get back to a league average defender that he was from 2007-2011.

As for Farris and Gennett, those guys don’t have anywhere the upside offensively that Week’s can provide. Farris flat out can’t hit while Gennett’s numbers have dropped each level he moves up.

Farris (3 seasons in AAA) .277/.321/.369/.690

Gennett (A) .309/.354/.463/.817
Gennett (A+) .300/.334/.406/.740
Gennett (AA) .293/.330/.385/.714

In conclusion, Rickie has been a well above average offensive 2B in his career (top 10 from 2007-2011) and clearly isn’t a liability on any team despite questions about his defense going forward.

Your approach to player evaluation is straight out of 80′s.

Obviously, the injury history is cause for concern and I definitely don’t think he should be making 10 mil+; but he was paid for his potential and his ability, when he is healthy. He has shown what he can do in 2010/early 2011/late 2012, and he has been in the middle of some of the biggest offensive juggernauts we’ve had in years.

A lot of people have been calling for Gennett to be called up and start, but looking at his numbers in the minors, I highly doubt he is the answer for a few more years. He doesn’t take enough walks to get anywhere near Weeks’ OBP, not nearly as much power, a SB% of 65% or so, and defense similar to Weeks (.965 F%). Farris is along the same lines, but with better defense and speed.

They are good depth to have behind Weeks in the (probable) event of his next injury, but I don’t think either of them should be starting over Weeks next year. Now, if it was a case of clearing money to sign someone like Greinke, then I’d be all over it. I’d like the Brewers to dangle him out there just to show the anti-Weeks people, such as yourself, just how much people would jump at the chance to add someone like Weeks to their team; .350 OBP with 20-30 homers for only 10MM is a steal if he can stay healthy (just look at Dan Uggla’s current contract).

You’re right – I didn’t mention his injury history at all. Mainly because I think the fact that he has been injured for so much of his career is, in fact, MORE indicative of the fact that he should not be on this roster. We can spend forever talking about how great Rickie MIGHT be were it not for the injuries. But, whether it was his fault or not the man can not stay healthy and that is a serious issue.

In fact, he has been healthy all this year and his numbers are the worst they have ever been, so I don’t necessarily buy into the fact that injuries are to blame. And even if they are, what difference does it make? He’s not any more effective in rehab than he is on the field.

To address the runs scored point that you bring you up – yes, that is an indisbutable fact that he scored plenty of runs up until his injury. First and foremost, the argument doesn’t hold as much water because he couldn’t stay healthy. Also, there’s the fact that while getting on base is important, scoring runs is as much attributed to him as it is the teammates behind him – maybe more so. He had to get on base, yes, but if Braun and Fielder were not behind him how many runs does he score? Surely he didn’t steal home every time – even though he is quite efficient there as well.

Finally, I can’t show you another 2B who does what Rickie does in the majors because we haven’t given anyone else a legitimate shot. Scooter’s career line in the majors: .300/.339/.416. Farris’s line in the minors: .289/.331/.381. Farris’s line in Spring Training: .295/.348/.410. Why not give these guys a real shot at the job that Rickie obviously can’t stay healthy enough for?

I hope you don’t think I’m being antagonistic or rude, I’m just saying that in my opinion Rickie is not doing the job we are paying him a lot of money to do.

Thanks again for starting the discussion

The main knock on Weeks is his injury history and that alone is reason why I don’t like his current deal at 10MM+ a year. However, I also notice you don’t even mention his injury history and how they have sapped him of his hitting and running abilities throughout his career. How many major league hitters do you think would be playing at the top of their potential while injured year in and year out. In fact, his 2010 and 2011 season (up until his ankle injury) showed exactly the kind of player he is when he is healthy and playing at his abilities; a dominant force in the lineup.

As for his defense; it’s obvious that he isn’t ever going to be a Brandon Phillips. However, as you site his career .969 fielding %; I notice you also didn’t point out the fact that his first two years in the majors would pull that career % down, since he only had .951 & .952 F% his first two years and has had at least a .969% in each year since (min. 100 games). And that’s including an injury free season in 2010 where he posted a .980% over 159 games. Obviously not stellar numbers, but he’s not in the majors for his glove…

And please show me another 2B that we have that will bat .260/.350/20-30 homers, play a fearless 2B, be tough as nails, be a leader on a young team, etc.