Inglett and Edmonds.

While the dreams of Frank Inglett and Tom Edmonds becoming a modern day Loggins and Messina reside in the ashbin of their Pooh Corner cover? The Brewers have smoothly made some attempts at filling out their roster with excellent skills at low costs.



Joe Inglett has been a solid righty masher (for a middle infielder) who's served time at four positions, even though he really can only defend three. A career line of .298/.351/.407 versus righties is a valuable asset to have. I know he's already in his early 30's, so this may be the exact ceiling of his usage. But here's the deal.

He's Weeks insurance. We know that he's not going to play nearly as much on the roster if Weeks can manage to get himself 500 at-bats. And to get a low cost asset to use mostly at second base as good as Inglett in back up terms? It's not a bad thing, it is most definitely a good thing.



Now, in the Wildcard category? We have Jim Edmonds comeback attempt. The guy spent 2009 in the unwanted bin of Free Agency. One would assume that he demanded to roam Center Field or a multi-year deal and no team really wanted to have to deal with all that. Because his 2008 was great as a Cub, but you know what else?

He was unlucky. For the year, his BAbip was a ridiculously low .249. But even as a Cub, when it seemed as if he was hooked up to a juvenation machine? His BAbip was .257.

But that's not where Edmonds makes his money. Where Edmonds makes his money is as a righty masher. He had a .998 OPS versus righties as a Cub. So yeah. That's where last we left him. Put it simply, if he's useful, all he has to do is slug .500 as a Brewer versus right handed pitchers.

And get 400-450 plate appearances.

But lets be honest. If Corey Hart was actually able to be trusted? I wouldn't be nearly as excited by the signing of a 39 year-old who skipped 2009.

Oh, for craps sake.

I have made mention of my feeling that this was the year that Rickie Weeks was supposed to be at long last hitting his stride. And for a while there? I was looking pretty smart, Marlins winning the NL East style. In fact, this Friday, despite my misadventures as a Substitute Gym Teacher, I was a goddamned genius.

But like a wise man once said? A lot can happen in 48 hours. And unlike the Eddie Murphy-Nick Nolte vehicle? This does not turn into a buddy comedy. Rickie Weeks is having wrist issues. Again.

Why is this more annoying than having Weeks as a perpetual breakout machine? This does not leave Milwaukee in good shape offensively if it's not just some sort of Carlos Zambrano internet related wacky. Craig Counsell would likely become your second baseman in peril. His offensive hot start would become obliterated. We would get Mat Gamel staying around longer than the first series of interleague play. But that being said?

You cannot be happy when you have a player who seems to have found his stride get his third flippin' wrist injury.

I say this to you tonight.

It's all about to change. Hope and faith will come to the degenerates and philistines. The worst local sports talk show will flip and decide they loved this player the whole time. Age 26 with experience? Hell yeah.

Post hype sleeper?

Shit, the shine was gone when Mark Foley jokes became topical.

But you know what? It's time for Rickie Weeks to break out.

Okay, those of you who know me as a Brewer fan know that I'm one of the more optimistic of the Brewers fans. And you know he's been eternally on somebody's breakout list since Mark Foley jokes have been topical.

But the fact is? He is just too skilled not to be denied. The upside of .260/20/75/30/100? It's very real. And there are reasons why he can do this.

1) His second half was actually pretty good.

His OPS was on the borderline of hitting 800. For a middle infielder? That's pretty good. His line-drive and fly-ball rates were stronger. He may never get that batting average up to par, but he had a second half that he can build on.

2) The skill set.

His power is legitimate. His speed is coupled with a judgement on how to use it. He has a great ability to take walks. And his defense has become passable as well. He doesn't need much from his contact rate to become a top 5 second baseman. And he can get this done.

3) Toughness.

Yeah, Rickie Weeks has been someone who has been laid up. I get that. But that's not why he's got a chance. He will play through pain. Above and beyond seeming logic. The wrist problems he suffered through in '06 and '07 were compounded by him attempting to play through it. It means that when he's healthy? He won't sweat the small stuff.

The one reason why I may be an idiot dovetails from this. Staying healthy is a skill. He hasn't shown that in the bigs. Not to say he can't. But Milwaukee is a land of beer and nagging injuries.

I'm willing to put myself on the line and say it. It's gonna happen. Weeks and weeks of Rickie Weeks.