Who should play center

[Gagne#3 8]

Is having Repko out of the starting lineup hurting the Dodgers

[mojorisin71]

I'd prefer Lofton in center, but Repko will get playing time soon enough (I can't see Lofton going the rest of the year without going back on the DL).

[Jake83]

Repko is more important coming off the bench in late innings

[BloodRunsBlue22]

I think this argument boils down to two considerations: age and defensive ability. The offensive stats are pretty much the same and whatever differences there are appear to be negligable: in 3 fewer at bats Repko has more stolen bases(8-6), hit for a higher average(.309-.254), has a higher on base percentage (.397-321), has more homeruns(3-0) and more RBI(12-5), and is only one walk behind Lofton (7-8). Also, with runners in scoring position Repko bats .350; Lofton a paltry .154. My only concern with Repko offensively is that he does strike out (3 more times than Lofton), but I'd be willing to deal with a few more strikeouts to get the superior power numbers in the lineup.
I believe Repko is already the better choice offensively because he hits for more power and can still do all the things Lofton can: they both can sacrifice, and they both can handle the bat fairly well in the #2 spot. But here's the catch: Repko's only 25 years old and could be our centerfielder of the future, a future where we might actually be in contention. Lofton will likely be gone next year. Why not give Repko some time to grow up and maybe those strikeouts start to fall.
And finally, Repko's defensive ability far outshines Lofton's. I would much rather have a centerfielder who can actually throw the ball. Repko already has two outfield assists, one of which i'm sure we all remember: late in the game (8th inning i think?) with two out and the go ahead run trying to score from third on a fly ball to centerfield, Repko comes up firing, tossing a perfect strike to Martin who manages to hold on to the ball for the out. Only Repko makes that play; if Lofton's out there the Dodgers probably lose that game 4-3.
As for the argument that Repko's too valuable coming off the bench, I think that's slightly ridiculous: how many teams do you know of that keep their best players sitting down until the 7th inning? And even if this were a wise strategy, I'd wonder why you'd want to keep a batter who hits .429 in the first inning with 3 runs, a homerun and a stolen base in only 7 AB on the bench to watch it. And, despite what's getting passed around, Repko is actually WORSE in the late innings of close games, hitting only .167 compared to Lofton's .333 average and .429 OBP. Maybe we should rethink who comes off the bench late in the game...