Brewers look to solidify second base position for 2014
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Do you bank on the future, or lean upon the past? That's the question the Milwaukee Brewers brain-trust is facing this spring regarding second base.
By outward appearance, the most spirited battle in Brewers Spring Training this year is taking place at second base.
Rickie Weeks, the senior member of the team, has held the job since 2005 -- but he batted only .209 last season. Scooter Gennett came up to the majors last June, and batted .324 the rest of the way.
"That's the thing about baseball. You never know. You just prepare yourself as well as you can mentally and physically and the rest takes care of itself -- so it's always a surprise, but that's one thing. I'm never satisfied. I don't think anybody out here is really satisfied with how they're doing," Gennett said.
That applies to Weeks, who is a tireless worker. However, after leading the league in at-bats in 2010 and being an All-Star in 2011, it has been injuries and ineffectiveness for #23.
"I don't care whether it's baseball, football, life -- you know, things happen. You've got to move on and deal with it, so that's my whole outlook about that," Weeks said.
Besides what they are watching this spring, the Brewers can evaluate two different bodies of work when it comes to Gennett and Weeks on the table, but do they really want two different bodies who only play one position?
"You come to Spring Training to work, and that's what I'm here to do. After that, you've got to put it up to everybody else's hands, I guess," Weeks said.
"I think everybody wants to go out there and play every day, but everybody has a job to do, so whenever you're in the lineup, you've got to go out and give it your best shot -- and at the end of the day, if you don't perform, you're not going to be happy," Gennett said.
"It's not awkward between (me and Scooter) at all. It's just playing baseball. Like I said, we have a great relationship, so just go out there and play ball and see what happens," Weeks said.
At age 23, and with a low salary, Gennett is more than likely the team's second baseman of the future.
At age 31, Weeks is being richly compensated for his production as the team's second baseman of the recent past.
It is still to be determined who will be the second basemen of the present.
So far this spring, Weeks is off to a sizzling start at the plate, while Gennett is struggling. How much that plays into how the team makes its roster choices will be interesting to watch.
Opening Day is March 31st at Miller Park!