Rickey, Don't Lose Your Numbers

[DOUGHBOYS]

I got away from previewing players that I started last fall. In an effort to bring back normalcy....



I'm a paper and pen guy. Laptops would be space takers at my table. The laptop can't tell me what I need to know quick enough. As much as I use a computer to post on these Boards, dead weight at a draft.



I am down to bringing two pieces of paper that is written on to a draft. Hitters and pitchers. Everything else just muddies it up for me, and if I don't know the capabilities of each player written on those two sheets of paper, then I may as well Walla Walla right out the door.



Constantly, because of the flow of the draft or just a feel, I will skip names nearer to the top of my list and go lower.

On most teams this year, I won't be rostering a player, that I believe has a great chance in being a 30-30 player.

Rickey Weeks.

Every year, somebody touts a player for 30-30. No players did it last year. Heck, only seven had a 20-20 year. And Weeks didn't even achieve that last year.



I'm not touting Weeks as being a 30-30 player, more so just putting it out there that he has a better chance than most players in baseball.

His power should grow from year to year. The human stop sign that is Ken Macha has been fired, green lighting Weeks for more steals.



That being said, there are two major problems with picking Weeks-



One, he is injury prone. Last year they did not afflict him, leading the Majors in plate appearances. The history is there though, and with Weeks stealing more bases, it only intensifies his chances of being hurt.



Two, there is no bargain to be had. Last year, the injury prone Weeks, without leading the league in plate appearances was taken in the 10th round in many drafts. This year, the third or fourth. Those are fair rounds. Alexis Rios is being drafted close to Weeks and the skill sets are similar.



Second base is a deep position this year. I have Beckham as my 15th ranked 2b. If the 15th ranked player at an infield spot as a starter, is comfortable for you, than it's a deep position.



Here's the rub, in the third round, there are still consistent players and possible four or five category players. Weeks, if given an injury free year, will still be a three category player.

Some will argue that the 83 rbi make him a four category player, but I don't expect him to repeat that this year. Even if he does, the minus at having so many at bats and hitting .269 or maybe a couple of ticks lower detracts from the bonus rbi.



In my mind, Weeks has become a trap this year. If he betters last year with more steals and a few more home runs and stays the same in the other categories, I'll still feel like I drafted him in the third round and got third round value.

Call me greedy, but I want more.