NewsReplacing Weeks won't be easy
Milwaukee (24-14) at Houston (17-19), 7:05 p.m. CT
By B.J. Rains / MLB.com
05/19/09 2:11 AM ET
ST. LOUIS -- Now that the shock and disappointment of Rickie Weeks' season-ending left wrist injury has worn off, the Brewers are turning their attention toward the tough task of trying to replace him. Weeks was excelling as the team's leadoff hitter and also defensively at second base, making the task that much more difficult. "It's tough to replace that kind of guy on a full-time basis," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "It's a good test for our team." Craig Counsell started at second base on Monday night against the Cardinals in the Brewers' first game without Weeks, who injured his left wrist during Sunday's game and will have surgery on Wednesday in Phoenix. Rookie Casey McGehee will start at second in Tuesday's series opener in Houston and again on Wednesday, with left-handers Mike Hampton and Wandy Rodriguez throwing for the Astros. The Brewers will also call up an infielder from Triple-A Nashville before Tuesday's game, and that player will get some consideration for playing time as well. "They will all step up," Melvin said. "I'm confident in the guys that we have to replace Rickie." Melvin also said the Brewers will start playing top shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar at second base for Triple-A Nashville, but that he wasn't being considered for the team's open roster spot. Counsell, who has started at second, shortstop and third this year and is hitting .324 in 28 games, seems to be the likely candidate for the majority of the playing time, but at 38 years old, he doesn't have the same juice in his legs that he once had. "I don't think Craig Counsell is going to be an everyday player," manager Ken Macha said. "He's a little older, and as we saw in Spring Training, he can have some knee issues. "Right now, he's my best pinch-hitter. He backs up at short, third, second. That's enough said. Losing a guy like him to injury now that we have lost Rickie would really be tough. Right now, we're just going to see what happens." The injury to Weeks also opens up some playing time at third base for rookie third baseman Mat Gamel, who homered in his first career start on Monday against the Cardinals. Gamel could help supply the power that is now missing in the Brewers' lineup with the subtraction of Weeks, who had nine home runs and 24 RBIs. "One thing we are going to miss is the power part of it with the home runs," Macha said. "It's an opportunity for Gamel to get in there a couple games and see what happens." But while his presence at both the top of the lineup and at second base will be hard for the Brewers to overcome, it's Weeks' absence in the clubhouse that may be the biggest obstacle of them all. "He was a big part of the clubhouse chemistry that we have in there," Melvin said. "It's got to be very disappointing for his teammates for him to not be around." Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Dave Bush (2-0, 3.83 ERA)
Bush was originally slated to start Game 2 of this three-game series in Houston, but he was bumped up a day after the Brewers' rainout on Friday in St. Louis. He will nonetheless be pitching on regular rest. Bush has been good for seven innings in each of his last three outings, matching his season high with seven strikeouts in two of those games, and he has put together a quality start in six of his seven starts this season. He missed the Astros when the Brewers went through Houston last month, but he's 5-1 against them in his career with a 3.50 ERA. All of that success has come in Milwaukee, though. Bush is 0-1 at Minute Maid Park with a 4.31 ERA. HOU: LHP Mike Hampton (2-3, 5.31 ERA)
Hampton was the beneficiary of the Astros' 24-hit, 15-run drubbing of the Rockies in his last outing, during which he contributed two hits and allowed five runs over six innings. Hampton walked two and struck out three in the landslide win at Coors Field. Hampton returns to Minute Maid Park to face the Brewers, whom he last faced at home on April 25. He allowed four runs over six innings in that game, which the Astros lost in extra innings. Hampton is 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA over three home starts this year. Tidbits
The Brewers are 12-7 on the road this season as they continue their nine-game, 10-day road trip that will take them to Minnesota for three games after three in Houston. ... The Brewers are 21-1 when leading after the eighth inning. ... Milwaukee's pitching staff leads the Major Leagues with 24 quality starts. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 4-1, 3.09) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 4-2, 1.90), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 3-3, 4.63) at Astros (Roy Oswalt, 1-2, 4.50), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Friday: Brewers (TBD) at Twins (Kevin Slowey, 5-1, 4.50), 7:10 p.m. CT
B.J. Rains is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
