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Frustrating to see you mention the back issues - followed immediately by the question about should he be playing 1B - and you don't link the two.
Can Sweeney play a competent 1B?  Absolutely.  The reason to not play him at 1B (IMHO) has absolute zero to do with his defensive skills there.  It has to do with how much you are willing to push the back issues.  One quick step to the right - or dive to the left or maximum stretch to catch an errant throw from third -- and Griffey is your primary DH for the next 15.
That said -- given that Kotchman has been batting like Griffey for quite awhile, the need to give Kotch some time off is obviously influencing the decision.  But, is Langerhans a 1B buffoon? 
Me?  I still say that Sweeney proved that his body cannot handle playing the field five years ago.  At this point, my best guess is that his body likely needs at least 3 days (72 hours) off to repair itself after any game played in the field.  (Of course, even if true, this opens the door to playing him in an afternoon game before an off-day as being relative low-risk).
The recent streak proves one thing hands down.  Sweeney still has TONS of ability.  In fact, he NEVER lost the ability.  What he hasn't had for 5 years is HEALTH.  My position?  Every single decision about Sweeney's PT should be focused squarely and completely on one (and only one) variable -- HEALTH.  He doesn't have platoon splits, (never has).  He isn't beyond his prime and done (like Griffey).  He isn't a head case (like Bradley).  He's likely the best hitter in the entire Ms organization at the moment - with one monumental weakness  -- which is ... er ... weakness (specifically, his back).
If the team loses track of that and gets "greedy", thinking he can play 3 games a week at 1B -- he's going to tweak the back (guaranteed) -- and either hit the DL, (the GOOD consequence) -- or, more likely, will attempt to play thru it, and hit like Ronny Cedeno for a month while not allowing his body to heal.
Personally, the fact that Wak DID keep him out of a couple of games after he got hot to me is the best sign in the world.  I read that as the proper focus -- that Sweeney is frail - and that if you want him for the 100 games he might give you, you're gonna HAVE to hold him out of any game where he's not feeling 100%.