Milwaukee Brewers: Rickie Weeks Has Visions of Reaching the Mendoza Line!

Rickie Weeks is venturing into territory that no major league player wants to reside. With another “o-fer” last night, Weeks saw his average drop to .154 for the season. But last night’s performance was even more painful in that his 0-4 included four strikeouts. He has struck out seven times in his last nine at-bats, and has struck out two or more times in 18 of his 35 games this season. His 48 K’s in 2012 leads the National League.

As Weeks tries to get his average up to the Mendoza Line (if you don’t know what the Mendoza Line is, go to Google!), a look at the Brewers history reveals a number of players who have had less-than-stellar seasons as Brewers starters. The list includes some of the best and best-loved players in team history.

Weeks is one of four players in the National League bating under .200. The others: Clint Barmes, Pittsburgh, .155; Nick Hundley, San Diego, 167; Ike Davis, NY Mets, .167. In the American League there are eight players with batting averages under .200. In fact, if it wasn’t for Seattle’s Brendan Ryan, Weeks would have the lowest BA in all of baseball. Ryan is currently hitting .137.

Here are the Brewers players who had a season batting average under .220 (minimum of 100 or more games played in the season to qualify for this list).

Season average, Player, Year (Games played)

.165 Ray Oyler, 1969 (106) * with the Seattle Pilots

.178 Craig Counsell, 2011 (107)

.179 Gorman Thomas, 1975 (121)

.199 Pedro Garcia, 1974, (141)

.203 Chris Magruder, 2005 (101)

.204 Mike Matheny, 1996 (106)

.208 Darrell Porter, 1976 (119)

.208 Chad Moeller, 2004 (101)

.209 Rob Deer, 1990 (134)

.210 Ellie Rodriguez, 1971 (115)

.210 Rob Deer, 1989 (130)

.210 Henry Blanco, 2001 (104)

.211 Ronnie Belliard, 2002 (104)

.212 Greg Brock, 1988 (115)

.213 Tim Johnson, 1973 (136)

.213 Franklin Stubbs, 1991 (103)

.216 Ted Simmons, 1981, (100)

.218 Rick Auerbach, 1972 (153)

.219 Jose Valentine, 1995 (112)

.219 Pat Listach, 1995 (101)

.219 Bob Hamelin, 1998 (109)

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