mnevis

I have always been Rickie's number one fan. A kid in my office got to hang out with him last week and I was kind of envious. That's hard to say being a 35 year old man.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif What did it for me was that homerun he hit into Big Mac Land shortly after he was called up. I always thought it would be foolish to give up on him.

It is down right scary, when a supremely talented player becomes supremely confident. I was really pulling for Rickie to get that double for the cycle. With Rickie doing his thing, this offense is explosive. Give up three runs, no worries we got you covered. Everyone is feeding off Rickie, which is what we all wanted to see happen. Most of us felt if he could be consistently good everyone could have banner years. Rickie is "The Catalyst". I know it's cheesy, but you get the point.

I would love to see Rickie remain a Brewer. In fact, outside of Braun he is the one player I believe will "age gracefully". I just would like to see a little more "dirt on the track" before we talk extension. My problem isn't performance, rather the injury issue. He has had a thumb, wrist and knee injuries. Also, it seems he gets nicked every year. I would like to see him go the entire 2009 campaign with no major injuries. This concern is the only reason I feel an extension would backfire on the Brewers.

To me, its the adjustments AB to AB. He is receiving good coaching for the first time as a Major Leaguer. Most players regress to their mean. The only difference to me is he is using right center and right field way more than he had in the past. It's just like, when a pitcher can through their off speed stuff for strikes. It's one more thing to consider, when you are at the plate. I would imagine it's tough, when the pitching coach and staff game plan for a hitter and observe the player's willingness to go to the opposite field. Plus, Rickie has been pretty good in RISP situations. Teams are going to be a little more careful. He is developing. Lastly, being a toolsy player, he is going to age well without much drop off. He is, definitely, a "growth stock".

Rickie went to right/right center in his early at bats. That forced the Pirates to start banging the inside part of the plate. Rickie recognizes middle in pitches pretty well and has the bat speed to make opponents pay. To me, that is an indication that he is making adjustments. Braun might not want to let Rickie sit in that 3 hole to long.:-) Has anyone noticed Rickie's bat? It appears longer (plate coverage) and that "roll of tape" he used to put on the knob of his bat (counterbalance) seems to be reduced a great deal. Lastly, Rickie is going back on pop fly balls with much more confidence. IF he keeps it up, I can say 2009 is FINALLY the year he joins the other guys (Braun, Fielder, et al).

To me the walks will come because of the series of adjustments made by Rickie and the pitching he has faced. Early on he was driving the ball up the middle and to right. So, advanced scouting has another element to worry about. He has not really chased many pitches low and away, so how do you pitch to him? Maybe pound him inside, but Rickie has a good eye in off the plate. You don't want to walk him because of the Law Firm of Hart, Braun and Fielder. He gets pitches to pull now and he is making the opposition pay. I think we will see an adjustment by pitchers to get Rickie to swing at "their" pitches. With that, I can see Rickie getting more walks because he is making the adjustment with the pitchers. I thank Dale Sveum for helping Rickie to anticipate the adjustments to his success.

It seems we will never be satisfied with whatever Rickie does on the field. Nobody is perfect. Heck, it is a long season. He has been working with Sveum and Randolph for a little over three months. Let's see where he is at the break, at least. I am very pleased with the strides he's made as a hitter and a fielder. He is more aggressive at the plate and his OBP has suffered, but I believe he will revert to past OBP performances. His fielding will never be his "calling card", but it is passable.

I go back to the fact that both Hardy and Hart were scalding the ball, when they were batting 2nd and 5th respectively. I liked that lineup because it was highly productive during the spring. It just seems both guys were comfortable. Athletes are creatures of habit. I think Hart and Hardy should ask to switch ala Braun and Fielder.

From my vantage point, as some have suggested, he is swinging at strikes more often than in the past. He seems to be laying off the low outside pitch. He is doing well against solid average to below average pitching. It's going to be tough against the Hardens and Santanas of the world. However, if you wear out the 3 through 5 pitchers, that sounds like a breakout season in the making.

That shot he took from Cueto might be a disincentive to bunt. I know I would be a little gun shy after that.

Ennder, do you believe the changes (his stance and arc of his swing) have allowed him to go to right more often or is it a conscious effort on his part? I can see him beginning to give advance scouts food for thought. Maybe he can get some pitches middle in to hammer.

I have noticed Rickie going to right center a lot lately. Although he has hit right at the fielders (Winn in SF comes to mind), I have been encouraged by him trying to go the other way. I am certain his spray chart is more balanced than ever before. I believe this is the best indication of the "light coming on". Thoughts???

This may be kind of a stretch, but does anyone expect anything from Brent Brewer? It would seem to me that, barring a move to an already crowded outfield, this guy figures in this discussion. Brewer held his own in an abbreviated stint in the Arizona Fall League and didn't look too bad (small sample against AAA guys alert) in his brief appearance in the big league camp. He has the kind of athletic giftings to be a Hanley Ramirez-lite.

I believe I read a scout's analysis of Jeffress as a Johnny Cueto/Ervin Santana type. If so, give me some of that. I love the approach of acquiring guys like Jeffress and Mark Rogers. If they get lucky with these guys, with the next wave of prospects The Crew can be fiscally sound and good. Even though Rogers' star his faded somewhat. I am sure that is the understatement of the year.

I am a huge Rickie Weeks apologist. I don't blame Rickie one bit for his failings. I think that is the reason why Doug Melvin is so steadfast in his support of Weeks. I think he knows they didn't handle his development correctly. Rickie is "taking one" for the team, by batting leadoff. To me that is a sign of mutual loyalty. He is not a natural fielder of the ball. However, I think if you let him be the offensive force he can be by batting him 2, 3,5 or 6 he could cover those defensive deficiencies. Don't throw "the baby out with the bath water". I will be content to watch him progress at his own pace, while he is cheap and adequate for his position. With all that said, if Lawrie is a fast mover all of this may be moot in 2 to 3 years.