For the record, Norris Hopper is 2 for 6 on bunts this year in AAA with 1 sac bunt (so likely 2 for 7 because we know Hopper was going for the hit, but just happened to be thrown out).
Last edited by dougdirt; 06-27-2009 at 01:16 PM.
Lance's idea regarding why he never received 600 PAs in a season was because after his emergence in '07 (hitting .425 or something in August, and .350 after the ASB as a starter) he got buried and wasnt one of "Dusty's Guys." He received like 50 PAs in 08 and wasn't even on the 40-man this year. He was brought in by a regime in the past and had "nobody to fight for him." Again, this is Lance's idea, not my own.
I struggle to think of many players who hit .330 over half of a season and like .425 in a month as a starter that get flat-out dumped, though.
Nate, I don't think people are arguing that Hopper is a great talent or a star player potentially or even a MLB starting level player on 20+ teams. However, I think you could argue that he easily belongs on a MLB roster as a 3rd or 4th outfielder, given his MLB production (albeit in a small sample size).
Reds currently have Bruce, Dickerson, Gomes, Nix, Dorn, Stubbs, and Heisey (in addition to you know who). Next year if Alonso is ready to go, we might add Votto to that list and possibly also Frazier. That's as many as 9 guys who would have to come ahead of Hopper for outfield spots. How could he be on our roster?
i wasn't a major hopper fan...but c'mon...he is light years better than Miller. the reds are pretty stacked on the OF front so it's not likely hopper was going to see any PT...but still. i have to think they could've done better than miller.
Personally, I don't think Dusty would bury a > .330 hitter.
NoHo was an OK player but he was so deep on the depth chart that one would need to dive the Navy tables and spend a week decompressing in the chamber just to get him. This move isn't a talent swap, it's an organizational flexibility swap.
You know there's not much going on when this thread is six pages long.
Go BLUE!!!
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please. |