Keppinger Back This Weekend?

[reds44]

From Fay:

Jeff Keppinger will DH and Norris Hopper will play in the outfield tonight for the Sarasota Reds. That begins their official rehab assignment. The Florida State League All-Star Break is this week end. My guess is Keppinger plays through Thursday and then get activated. Hopper will probably need more time since he's been out of action so long.

Josh Fogg will start for Sarasota Tuesday or Wednesday

It would be great to get Keppinger into the leadoff spot and Hairston would strengthen the teams bench.

[Joseph]

You wonder if EE won't see some pine time with Kepp playing third.

[Always Red]

From Fay:

It would be great to get Keppinger into the leadoff spot and Hairston would strengthen the teams bench.

Do you think Kepp will pick up right where he left off?

I hope he does, but if I were a betting man...

[Always Red]

You wonder if EE won't see some pine time with Kepp playing third.

Makes me shudder to think of the lack of range with Kepp at 3B and Hairston at SS.

[flyer85]

You wonder if EE won't see some pine time with Kepp playing third.

very possible.

[RedsManRick]

I really am not a big fan of the idea of Keppinger playing over EE. Clearly he hasn't been hitting up to snuff, but I'm not sure I see how a benching/platoon would help resolve that. But what it would do is slow his development, allow us to gather less information about his future ceiling, and generally undermine our long term planning. The benefit, clearly, is that Keppinger likely gives us a better chance to win games today. But I'm not sure that 50 points of OPS merits the downside.

It's akin to giving Josh Fogg starts instead of a struggling Matt Belisle, perhaps a little higher up on the ability scale, but conceptually similar.

[fearofpopvol1]

Wow, that's a pretty quick return for Keppinger if so. I have no problem with Kepp at SS and Hairston at 3B while his bat remains hot. EdE simply has been horrible at the plate the last 6 weeks.

[kaldaniels]

Wow, that's a pretty quick return for Keppinger if so. I have no problem with Kepp at SS and Hairston at 3B while his bat remains hot. EdE simply has been horrible at the plate the last 6 weeks.

I know it seems like yesterday he got hurt...but it was back on May 13 and they did say 4-6 weeks. Kepp/Bruce at the top of the order will be nice.

[Heath]

Well, with Keppinger coming back, that should end the days of Corey Patterson wearing a Cincinnati uniform.

[BRM]

Well, with Keppinger coming back, that should end the days of Corey Patterson wearing a Cincinnati uniform.

It will most likely mean Janish goes back to Louisville.

[flyer85]

that should end the days of Corey Patterson wearing a Cincinnati uniform.

... and also a silver bullet.

[reds44]

Well, with Keppinger coming back, that should end the days of Corey Patterson wearing a Cincinnati uniform.

That should already have happend with the way Dickerson is hitting the ball in Louisville.

[Kc61]

I really am not a big fan of the idea of Keppinger playing over EE. Clearly he hasn't been hitting up to snuff, but I'm not sure I see how a benching/platoon would help resolve that. But what it would do is slow his development, allow us to gather less information about his future ceiling, and generally undermine our long term planning. The benefit, clearly, is that Keppinger likely gives us a better chance to win games today. But I'm not sure that 50 points of OPS merits the downside.

It's akin to giving Josh Fogg starts instead of a struggling Matt Belisle, perhaps a little higher up on the ability scale, but conceptually similar.

I think the idea would be to replace a .233 BA with a .324 BA. Pretty simple calculation.

Edwin has 1,504 total plate appearances in the major leagues. The question is whether that's enough information gathering.

[fearofpopvol1]

I know it seems like yesterday he got hurt...but it was back on May 13 and they did say 4-6 weeks. Kepp/Bruce at the top of the order will be nice.

I'm totally aware, but many were speculating 6 weeks minimum...8 weeks was likely. So the fact that he is probably going to be back in 4 weeks is pretty amazing.

I really am not a big fan of the idea of Keppinger playing over EE. Clearly he hasn't been hitting up to snuff, but I'm not sure I see how a benching/platoon would help resolve that. But what it would do is slow his development, allow us to gather less information about his future ceiling, and generally undermine our long term planning. The benefit, clearly, is that Keppinger likely gives us a better chance to win games today. But I'm not sure that 50 points of OPS merits the downside.

It's akin to giving Josh Fogg starts instead of a struggling Matt Belisle, perhaps a little higher up on the ability scale, but conceptually similar.

But Rick, at what point is enough enough? I'm not naive here, the Reds have almost not chance of competing this year, but I feel like EdE's leash has been too long. Maybe sitting him some and letting someone else play (and actually perform) might send him a message that he needs to work harder at the plate. His popup rate is very alarming.

[membengal]

Vacationing in Sarasota this week, I will try to swing over there and catch a game.