It is Time to Bench Rickie Weeks

With the second overall pick in the 2003 MLB Draft the Milwaukee Brewers select… Rickie Weeks! Once a highly touted prospect, Rickie Weeks has never been able to live up to his abilities and expectations. His 10-year career has been filled with numerous injuries and disappointing play, but this season has been worse than any other.

Through 32 games this season Weeks is hitting a dreadful .188 average with two home runs and nine RBIs. He is on pace to strike out 197 times this season, which would be a career high. For a guy making $10 million this season and with tons of athletic ability there is no excuse for these awful numbers.

With $21 million remaining on his contract the Brewers can not part ways with him, but they need to bench him. His lack of production has hurt the Brewers offense with being unable to deliver in the clutch and produce in the middle of the lineup.

Scooter Gennett would be a solid replacement for the Brewers at second base. He is a left-handed batter who would help break up the right-handed heavy lineup and he is a career .303 hitter in the minor leagues. Even though he does not present a real powerful bat, he is able to get on base, unlike Rickie Weeks.

The one weakness for Gennett is his defense. Last season he had 19 errors and holds a career .966 fielding percentage. While he defense is below average, Weeks has never been great with the glove as well. Throughout Rickie Weeks’ career he has a .969 fielding percentage.

It does not matter if a player makes $10 million or the league minimum, if they are unable to produce at a major league level and help their team win, then they should not be playing. Rickie Weeks needs to be benched and replaced by the young and talent Scooter Gennett.

What should the Brewers do with Rickie Weeks? Leave your comments below.