On Thursday, we have somewhat definitive word on the extent of Rickie Weeks' injury. Wednesday night, the Brewers' All-Star second baseman injured his ankle sprinting to first. After falling to the ground, he was removed from the game and couldn't put weight on his left foot. X-rays were negative for any broken bones, but the Brewers put Weeks on the disabled list anyway anticipating tendon or ligament damage, and now Tom Haudricourt shares the bad news:
#Brewers calling Weeks' injury "severe ankle sprain." No surgery needed. Expected to be out anywhere from 3-6 weeks.
Well, it's bad news and good news, I guess. The bad news is that Weeks could conceivably be out for a month and a half. The good news is that he shouldn't be out any longer than that, and surgery easily could've ended his season. It doesn't look like he's dealing with any significant tears.
Said Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash:
"He has a number of issues in the ankle," said Ash. "I can't get into those things. There are so many moving parts in there. It's tough to put an exact timetable on it."
The Brewers currently lead the NL Central by a half-game over the Cardinals. However, their second baseman is out for 3-6 weeks, their shortstop is Yuniesky Betancourt, and Craig Counsell is hitless in his last 38 at bats. That is a team in dire need of infield help, and that is a team that's almost certainly going to find a way to get some before the Sunday trade deadline.