2B Platoon anyone?

[S.P. Rodriguez]

<Void driven question> So, as I near my holiday vacation, I am bored to tears at work.  So I started browsing available 2B's and noticed Orlando Hudson is still available.  So my question becomes, if you were GM, would you sign Hudson to start against RHP and start Keppinger against LHP?

Based on last year's performance for Hudson, it's not much of an improvement on the year Keppinger had in 2010.  That said, Keppinger hit well above his previous levels against RHP.  </Void driven question>

[Noe]

<Void driven question> So, as I near my holiday vacation, I am bored to tears at work.  So I started browsing available 2B's and noticed Orlando Hudson is still available.  So my question becomes, if you were GM, would you sign Hudson to start against RHP and start Keppinger against LHP?

Based on last year's performance for Hudson, it's not much of an improvement on the year Keppinger had in 2010.  That said, Keppinger hit well above his previous levels against RHP.  </Void driven question>

One thing that goes a bit unnoticed is the fact that Keppinger is somewhat limited in his range at second base.  Once again, if you're going to have a slow second baseman, make sure it is the caliber of Biggio or Kent, because if you're not going to fully support young pitchers with excellent defense, then at least make sure said young pitching understands that the bat these guys carry will help them as well.

That said, methinks counting out Manzella at this point is premature, but you may get the combo of Manzella/Barmes up the middle at some point in the season and Keppinger as the uber-utility hitter off the bench.  I noticed that when Keppinger gets hot though, Mills isn't afraid of inserting him into the lineup and leaving him there.  So at times you may see Manzella sit and Keppinger take second and Barmes move to short.  But overall, I'm thinking Manzella gets every chance to prove his worth as a glove man this spring and into the season.

So short answer, I doubt Houston would want to give Hudson playing time they want to give Manzella at this point.

[pots]

He said his issues against righthanded hitting came from his brother throwing left handed to him all winter.  This was something he said he was going to fix last year and his numbers greatly improved. 

[pots]

<Void driven question>  Orlando Hudson is still available. 

According to MLBTR.  "The Padres have agreed to sign Orlando Hudson to a two-year deal worth $11.5MM"

[S.P. Rodriguez]

He said his issues against righthanded hitting came from his brother throwing left handed to him all winter.  This was something he said he was going to fix last year and his numbers greatly improved. 

I have never seen that before.  If so, that's awesome. 

[astrosfan76]

May not become a question of platooning Keppinger:

The Yankees, searching for bench help, have spoken with the Astros about infielder Jeff Keppinger, according to major-league sources

That would certainly help the club if they're trying to figure out a way to sign Hall.  The Yankees have been said to be one of the most aggressive teams after Hall, so trading for Keppinger would end their interest and provide some financial room for us.  

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/yankees_looking_at_astros_keppinger/3810735?new_post=true

[pots]

Keppinger quote:

They brought me in to platoon with [Blum], and I'm sure against righties, he's going to play third," Keppinger said. "I've always liked hitting against lefties more than righties. I don't know the reason. My brother throws to me in the offseason, and he's left-handed, so maybe that has something to do with it.

"All the hitting I do in the offseason is against a left-hander, so maybe I adjust my swing to a lefty, which makes it harder to adjust to a righty. I never really sat down and thought about it before. I don't think it was that much of an issue coming up in the Minor Leagues."

[dirty steve]

May not become a question of platooning Keppinger:

That would certainly help the club if they're trying to figure out a way to sign Hall.  

rosenthal says astros sign bill hall to one-year deal.
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/15851943247224832

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Confirmed by McTaggart.  Looks like Kepp is a super-sub or trade bait.

[pots]

Confirmed by McTaggart.  Looks like Kepp is a super-sub or trade bait.

Hoping for super sub, but reading the opposite. 

[roadrunner]

I wonder if they at least gave Renteria a call.  I know he laughed at the 1 million from SF, but would 3 mil do the trick?

[Ron Brand]

Confirmed by McTaggart.  Looks like Kepp is a super-sub or trade bait.

Yankees want him. Which means that if he goes to NY he'll be an All-Star who wins Game 7 with a walk-off tomahawking of someone's weak-ass shit.

[JackAstro]

Confirmed by McTaggart.  Looks like Kepp is a super-sub or trade bait.

Or Hall plays LF?

[dirty steve]

Or Hall plays LF?

didn't he play CF or LF for the brewers?  this seems like a get-right deal for hall.  i am guessing he wants to start.

[JackAstro]

didn't he play CF or LF for the brewers?  this seems like a get-right deal for hall.  i am guessing he wants to start.

Yeah, he spent a season in CF for the Brewers, and a bunch of time in LF for Seattle and Boston.

[Uncle Charlie]

Hopefully we get the 2007 and 2010 version versus the 2008&9 version.

[Limey]

I wonder if they at least gave Renteria a call.  I know he laughed at the 1 million from SF, but would 3 mil do the trick?

I don't practice Renteria.  I ain't got no silver ball.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I don't practice Renteria.  I ain't got no silver ball.

You know how you know who the douchebags are at a bar?  Put Sublime on the jukebox and see who sings along.

[Limey]

You know how you know who the douchebags are at a bar?  Put Sublime on the jukebox and see who sings along.

Office party on Wednesday was at a karaoke bar.  This got sung.

[Hornstros]

You know how you know who the douchebags are at a bar?  Put Sublime on the jukebox and see who sings along.

Interesting.  Appartently these same people enjoy wearing Ed Hardy and Affliction clothing

[Bench]

Interesting.  Appartently these same people enjoy wearing Ed Hardy and Affliction clothing

And consider Sublime to be "classic rock."

[S.P. Rodriguez]

This addition makes for several different options, none of which are bad.  Basically, adding power to SS and 2B, in Barmes and Hall, the Astros can now opt for better defense and less power in RF.  Or perhaps it simply takes pressure off of Wallace and Castro. Having a bench of Keppinger and Michaels would be a very good thing!  Maybe compliment them with Wallace, Bogusevic, or Bourgois.   

Yep, very interesting moves...

[Ron Brand]

Keppinger is probably too spendy to be a bench guy. I don't like giving up OBP because this team is starved for it - he was a pretty nice #2 hitter last season - but the additional power and glovework and hopefully a good return for Kepp ...*sniff*... will be net pluses.

[Gizzmonic]

You know how you know who the douchebags are at a bar?  Put Sublime on the jukebox and see who sings along.

Hey, I like Sublime!  Their second album even has Bob the Subgenius printed on the CD!  So it can't be all bad.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Hey, I like Sublime!  Their second album even has Bob the Subgenius printed on the CD!  So it can't be all bad.

+1

[Uncle Charlie]

Since the rumor is that NYY are sniffing around for Kepp, what do the Astros ask in return?  No idea, as I do not know the Yanks or their system very well.

[cougar]

And consider Sublime to be "classic rock."

God I remember working security for the summer concert tour last year at the horse track.  One of the groups was Badfish, a Sublime tribute band.  Ended up with a huge crowd of high school and college age douchbags who were barely alive when Sublime was big.  They thought anonymity meant indestructibility, until they started crowd surfing and we decided not to catch one when he hit the front of the stage.  Plywood makes a very large bang when a human body hits it from an 8 foot fall.

[Limey]

God I remember working security for the summer concert tour last year at the horse track.  One of the groups was Badfish, a Sublime tribute band.  Ended up with a huge crowd of high school and college age douchbags who were barely alive when Sublime was big.  They thought anonymity meant indestructibility, until they started crowd surfing and we decided not to catch one when he hit the front of the stage.  Plywood makes a very large bang when a human body hits it from an 8 foot fall.

Satisfying too, I bet.  Large and satisfying bang.

[cougar]

Satisfying too, I bet.  Large and satisfying bang.

Oh yes indeed.  The funniest one was the idiot who jumped up on stage then tried to jump over me (stage was at about shoulder level on me, so about 5' ) to get back in to the crowd and safety.  Apparently the last thing he expected was for me to reach up and grab his leg.  I thought he was either going to break his neck on the guard railing or his back on the concrete.  Surprisingly enough though he was fine.

It's the little things that make it worth getting out of bed.

[Limey]

Oh yes indeed.  The funniest one was the idiot who jumped up on stage then tried to jump over me (stage was at about shoulder level on me, so about 5' ) to get back in to the crowd and safety.  Apparently the last thing he expected was for me to reach up and grab his leg.  I thought he was either going to break his neck on the guard railing or his back on the concrete.  Surprisingly enough though he was fine.

Alcohol is like a full body airbag.