Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke gave second baseman Rickie Weeks every possible chance to fight through his slump. Weeks is the only player on the team who has appeared in all 45 games this season, but he began the contest on the bench for two of them. Considering Weeks has only recorded one hit in his last 19 at-bats, Roenicke has decided to bench the veteran for the second time in three games.
The 30-year-old began Tuesday night’s 5-2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the dugout. He did not appear in the game until the bottom of the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter. Unfortunately, he lined out to center, something that did not even appear to surprise him. He started Wednesday’s embarrassing loss to the Dodgers, and he even recorded his first hit in six games. However, that was simply not enough to convince Roenicke that Weeks deserves to start Friday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The fact is infielder Jeff Bianchi is batting .353 (6-for-17) with three RBI and one run in his last four games. The Brewers also happen to be 2-2 over that span, and considering Milwaukee has only won four games in the month of May, I would say having Bianchi start at second base is a good call.
Weeks has done nothing to deserve his starting job. In fact, if it was not for the fact that he was the highest paid player on the team this season ($11 million) he would not even be in the majors. However, the Brewers cannot afford to pay someone a huge salary to spend his nights in Triple-A.
The Florida native is batting .169 with three home runs, 10 RBI, six doubles and a whopping 52 strikeouts in 154 at-bats this season.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
