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|caption=Rickie Weeks playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
|caption=Rickie Weeks playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|team=Free agent
|team=Seattle Mariners
|number=
|number=--
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
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|teams=
|teams=
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2003}}, {{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2014}})
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2003}}, {{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2014}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|2015}}–present)
| awards=
| awards=
* [[MLBASG|All-Star]] ([[2011 MLB All-Star Game|2011]])
* [[MLBASG|All-Star]] ([[2011 MLB All-Star Game|2011]])
}}
}}
'''Rickie Darnell Weeks''' (born September 13, 1982) is an American [[professional baseball]] [[second baseman]] who is a [[free agent]]. He previously played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. He was named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]] in 2011.
'''Rickie Darnell Weeks''' (born September 13, 1982) is an American [[professional baseball]] [[second baseman]] who currently plays for the [[Seattle Mariners]]. He previously played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. He was named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]] in 2011.


Weeks bats and throws [[right-handed]]. Until the 2009 season, Weeks had a distinctive batting stance similar to that of [[Gary Sheffield]], waggling his bat heavily before swinging. The waggle is still present, but noticeably less aggressive. Weeks pointed to this change when asked about his improved presence at the plate in 2009.
Weeks bats and throws [[right-handed]]. Until the 2009 season, Weeks had a distinctive batting stance similar to that of [[Gary Sheffield]], waggling his bat heavily before swinging. The waggle is still present, but noticeably less aggressive. Weeks pointed to this change when asked about his improved presence at the plate in 2009.

Revision as of 22:35, 12 February 2015

Rickie Weeks
Rickie Weeks playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Seattle Mariners – No. --
Second baseman
Born: (1982-09-13) September 13, 1982 (age 42)
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
September 15, 2003, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Career statistics
(through 2014 season)
Batting average.249
Home runs148
Runs batted in430
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Rickie Darnell Weeks (born September 13, 1982) is an American professional baseball second baseman who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was named an MLB All-Star in 2011.

Weeks bats and throws right-handed. Until the 2009 season, Weeks had a distinctive batting stance similar to that of Gary Sheffield, waggling his bat heavily before swinging. The waggle is still present, but noticeably less aggressive. Weeks pointed to this change when asked about his improved presence at the plate in 2009.

Personal life

Weeks was born in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He is the son of Richard and Valeria Weeks. His sister Kaisha was an NCAA Regional Finalist at Southern University in track.[1] Weeks's brother Jemile Weeks was drafted by the Brewers in 2005 out of high school, but never signed with them, choosing to attend the University of Miami instead. The Oakland Athletics drafted Jemile in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft twelfth overall.[2]

In 2005, Weeks signed a sponsorship contract with sportswear company 3N2, which designed a shoe for him. In 2009, Weeks was voted "Sexiest Baseball Player" by Cosmopolitan Magazine.[3]

Baseball career

College

Weeks attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a sophomore in 2002, he batted .495 with 20 home runs, winning the NCAA Division I batting title. The next year, he batted .479 with 16 home runs, winning a second straight batting title and finishing his career with a .473 batting average, highest in NCAA history. In 2003 he also was named Baseball America College Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur player. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft.[4]

Professional career

2003–2009

Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder at Spring Training, 2005

He made his major league debut on September 15, 2003, soon after inking a contract which included a $3.6 million signing bonus.

Weeks did not become a full-time player for the Brewers until June 2005, when he was recalled from Triple-A Nashville, despite playing much of the 2005 season with a thumb injury. In his first full MLB season in 2005, Weeks had a batting average of .239 to go with 13 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 96 games. These HR/SB number are consistent with his minor league totals (playing in 209 games) of 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases. In 2006, Weeks hit .279 with 8 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 95 games.

Weeks returned to the Nashville Sounds on July 31, 2007, since he was batting below .200 after returning from a wrist injury.[5]

In 2008, he had the lowest fielding percentage (.975) and the most errors (15) of all NL second basemen.[6] On offense, however, Weeks scored 46.6% of the time he reached base, second-best in the NL.[7]

In Game 1 of the 2008 NL Division Series, Weeks made a key error in the third inning that led to three unearned runs scored by the Phillies in Philadelphia's 3–1 victory. In Game 3, Weeks injured his knee while trying to beat out a throw at first base. He underwent surgery the next day to remove torn cartilage from his left knee.[8]

On February 3, 2009, Weeks and the Brewers reached a 1-year deal worth $2.45 million, thereby avoiding salary arbitration. Weeks could have earned an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances from 575 to 650.[9]

In early 2009, sabermetrician Bill James wrote in John Dewan's "The Fielding Bible Volume II," that Weeks should be moved to a position other than second base, as he had 44 defensive misplays that season. Dewan ranked Weeks the worst starting second baseman in the majors.[10]

Back atop the lineup to begin the 2009 season, Weeks began to at last fulfill the weighty offensive expectations of Milwaukee fans, with a .281/.333/.486 start and 5 home runs in April. Unfortunately, his promising season was shortlived, as on May 18, 2009, Weeks was diagnosed with a torn muscle in his left wrist, and missed the remainder of the 2009 season. At the time of his injury, Weeks was tied with Prince Fielder for the team lead in home runs.[11]

2010–present

Playing in 160 games, Weeks recorded his finest season as a pro, and perhaps the best all-around season a Brewer second baseman has ever had. On June 12, 2010, Weeks tallied his 500th hit at Miller Park and received a standing ovation. Weeks finished with a career-high 29 home runs and 83 RBIs. He led the NL in at bats (651), plate appearances (754), and hit by pitch (25), and was second in runs scored (112).[12]

On February 16, 2011, Weeks signed a contract extension for 4 years at 38 million dollars. The deal includes an option for a 5th year provided Weeks is an everyday player in 2013 and 2014, and could raise the total value of the contract to 50 million dollars.[13]

Weeks was voted by the fans to be the starting second baseman for the National League in the 2011 All-Star Game.[citation needed] Weeks sustained a severe ankle sprain he sustained while legging out an infield single in July. Weeks was placed on the DL until early September, and his offensive production was significantly hampered down the stretch.[citation needed] On September 27, in the second to last game of the regular season, Weeks hit one of the longest home runs ever hit at Miller Park, off the stadium club windows in left field. It was his first home run since his return from the DL, and his 20th of the season.[citation needed]

In the 2011 regular season, he batted .269 with 20 home runs.[12] On defense, he led the NL in errors by a second baseman for the fourth season, with 25, and his .969 fielding percentage was the lowest of all major league starting second basemen.[12][14] However, advanced defensive metrics were more favorable, pegging him as a league-average defender at the keystone.[15]

Despite a slow start in April and May 2012, Weeks rebounded beginning in June and posted typical power numbers, albeit with a dip in his on-base totals, which had been a hallmark of his value to this point.[citation needed] Weeks had a poor 2013 season, posting career lows in nearly all major offensive categories. A torn hamstring ended his season in August, and Scooter Gennett replaced him at second base.[citation needed]

In the 2014 season, his contract year with Milwaukee, Weeks has assumed the right-handed part of Milwaukee's productive second base platoon, starting versus all left-handed starting pitchers. Although over only 286 plate appearances, he returned to pre-2012 form hitting .274/.357/.452. With Gennett, Brewers second basemen ranked fourth in the National League in Wins Above Replacement, and 11th league-wide.[16] After the 2014 season, the Brewers declined his contract option ending his ten-year tenure with the Brewers.[citation needed]

Awards

References

  1. ^ [1] (June 6, 2008).
  2. ^ "A's Make Jemile Weeks Top Pick In Draft" (June 5, 2008), AP. Accessed June 5, 2008.
  3. ^ "10 Reasons to Watch Baseball," Cosmopolitan Magazine, accessed 05/10/09
  4. ^ Sickels, John. "Brewers prospect Rickie Weeks". ESPN. ESPN.
  5. ^ "Weeks sent to minors". August 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  6. ^ " "2014 Regular Season MLB Baseball 1B Fielding Statistics - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  7. ^ Tom Haudricourt. "Brewers By Position - Second base - Plotting ways to escape the speed trap". jsonline.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ " "ESPN, accessed 2/3/09". go.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Bob Wolfley - Field analysis shows flaws". jsonline.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  11. ^ "May 17, 2009 Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Nyjer Morgan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  13. ^ Nicholson, Ben (February 16, 2011). "Brewers Sign Rickie Weeks To Four-Year Extension". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  14. ^ "2014 Regular Season MLB Baseball 2B Fielding Statistics - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "Rickie Weeks » Statistics » Batting - FanGraphs Baseball". fangraphs.com. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "Appreciating the Brewers second base platoon". Brew Crew Ball. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
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