Loading ...John Fay drools all over Norris Hopper again this morning.
If Norris Hopper gets 300 ABs next year, the Reds are in big trouble. If he is the 25th man on the roster, we’ll be in good shape. He’s a fine option as a fifth outfielder. But he has a career minor league OPS of 678 (with a SLG of .335!). I don’t know why a couple hundred hot ABs in the last few months makes people forget the 3400+ minor league ABs in which Hopper was not good.
To his credit, though, Hopper has the highest batting average in the history of baseball for a player who can’t hit the ball out of the infield.
Seriously, we like Norris Hopper here at Redleg Nation. I like having him on the roster. He plays hard and he’s a good backup option. There’s no shame in that, and no one should pretend he’s anything other than a backup. John Fay should know better.
“Career year.” John Fay should carve that phrase into his forearm, so it’s still there next May.
Hopper plays very good defense in the corners, too.
Yeah, I feel the same way about Keppinger.
But these guys seem to be on base all the time. Weird. Phillips wouldn’t be so near 100 RBIs without those two. Double weird.
If the season ended today, Hopper would become the first player since 1953, and only the fourth in history, to bat over .330 and post an OPS+ below 100 (min 250 PAs). Of the other 3, two (Pinky Whitney and Don Mueller) later went on to All Star Games and the third (Lloyd Waner) went on to the Hall of Fame. So, who knows?
He’s such a one trick pony with his opposite field slap hitting approach. I don’t see how that could ever translate into success beyond what he’s enjoying this year. It’s gonna be a slippery slope when he tails off. Kepp on the other hand can hit the gaps, takes walks, and hit behind runners. He has the best chance to carve out a legitimate career, a la Craig Counsell.
i keep wondering when teams are going to start playing their outfielders just beyond the infield when he’s up to bat.
I agree that Norris is a fourth OF type of guy. Something to his credit though, bunting and speed very rarely go into deep slumps. He’s very valuable as a defensive replacement/pinch runner/sacrifice kind of guy who can spell starters a couple of days a week. With him, Kepp, and Cantu, you have a solid bench from the right side. With Votto, Dunn, Griffey, and Hamilton, you have power from the left side. I could live with that combination.