Angels Possibly Interested in Mench

[Mass Haas]

To cover Garret Anderson's injury -- nothing concrete, speculation:

 

www.latimes.com/sports/ba...;cset=true

 

Among the players the Angels are believed to be interested in are Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins and outfielders Brad Hawpe and Jeff Baker, outfielders Kevin Mench (Milwaukee), Jacque Jones (Chicago Cubs), Pat Burrell (Philadelphia) and Emil Brown (Kansas City), and third basemen Morgan Ensberg (Houston) and Edwin Encarnacion (Cincinnati).

[berniebrewer4life]

Anybody have any realistic idea as to what we could get for Mench?

[sbrylski]

At this point, I'd really rather not trade him. What are we going to get for him that would help us more than he can as Jenkins compliment?

[pogokat]

ya know, Mench has cooled off a ton in the last couple weeks..his OPS around .750

 

if ned continues to play him against righties, then i'd rather not have him...platoon jenks with vinny rottino or drew anderson...or whoever, just get rid of mench before he turns into absolutely nothing...

[UWRyan428]

Sign me up for Adenhart.

[Oldcity]

Maybe just a bullpen arm. I guess Rottino would be the right-handed side of the platoon then?

[dadofandrew]

Doug would not break up the team right now, especially with Vinny R as the next platoon option.

[MoneyballMan]

Absolutely. Jenkins would play full-time before we'd see a platoon for Rottino. Rottino is just an overachieving utility player. Could be valuable as a bench player, but certainly not a candidate to platoon with Jenkins.

[Bert55]

When your winning it is tough to make a trade that would greatly effect your outfield rotation. But after watching the Tony Gwynn Jr play, I would not have a hard time letting him play more. Yes I know, we would have 3 left handed outfielders. But Gwynn is exciting and, well, Mench is not.

 

Jenks should play full time anyway. He deserves that with his hustle and that fact that he is a lifetime Brewer. ANd that means something to me.

 

Brewers lack speed on the base paths and TGJ is a speed burner. Plays a great defence.

 

Also, you have Nix in the wings.

[jackalope02ca]

Why break up the team now. Besides who are we going to play when Jenkins takes his annual nose dive? No don't fix what's not broken.

[aracko]

There is something to be said for Chemestry - and this team has what seems to be perfect Chemestry. I keep it as is unless they offer scott shields.

[Oldcity]

Quote:

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Jenks should play full time anyway.

---

I'm a Jenkins fan, but I don't even think that's true. He really can't hit lefties anymore. He's 2-14 against them this year, and his OPS the last three seasons against lefties is .675.

[sbrylski]

There is something to be said for Chemestry - and this team has what seems to be perfect Chemestry. I keep it as is unless they offer scott shields.

 

Who would have thought during ST that at this point we'd be saying that we can't move Mench because it'll mess up team chemistry?

[aracko]

Doesnt make much sense that they would be seeking out a RH bat to replace the LH hitting Anderson. More than likely I think they might be interested in one of the Killer G's - Gwynn, Geoff, and Gross. And if its not Scott Shields who I really dont see us getting in return, I would want eric Aybar.

[endaround]

Look at that list. It ranges from very good (Ensberg) to not good at all (Brown). Which means if the Angles really are looking they aren't going to be offering anything of value and are hoping to get a salary dump. So no on Mench being a trade posability.

[JohnBriggs12]

"it ranges from the very good...to the not good at all (Brown).

 

Brown posted back to back seasons with OPS's over .800 and over 80 RBI for the worst team in baseball.

 

He's a decent player but expendable, just as everyone on this list who have all been rumored to have been shopped in the past few months.

[endaround]

When your carry a career OPS of 737, you're a bad outfielder.

[dadofandrew]

Well, average is 770ish for a LF/RF. If you are able to play solid defense, you'll have a nice career with a 730 OPS.

[rluzinski]

Well, average is 770ish for a LF/RF. If you are able to play solid defense, you'll have a nice career with a 730 OPS.

 

A number 5 outfielder, sure.

[saget]

Mench for Santana!

[dadofandrew]

Tons of corner guys with an OPS in the 730 range, mostly weaker starters and platoon guys. If 770 is what the league average is, 730 is only worth a win or so over the course of a full season, so there are obviously a bunch.

[DHonks]

I'd trade Mench at this point. He's rebounded from last year, but we know the club would like to commit more playing time to Gross and Hart, and it would also open up a roster spot for Nix in the near future.

[dadofandrew]

Nix is another lefty. There's little doubt they do not want that.

[rluzinski]

Tons of corner guys with an OPS in the 730 range, mostly weaker starters and platoon guys.

 

Corner outfielders with at least 400 PAs, 2006:

 

LF

 

RF

 

Only 5 out of 40 OFers with at least 400 PAs had an OPS below .750. Two were rookies and one has no business even being a corner outfielder (Pods). In 2005, there were 4 guys, includings Pods again. Generally, a .730 OPS isn't going to get you in the lineup regularly if you are a corner OFer. You're lucky to stay on the team, really. Average does not equal "average starter".

 

If 770 is what the league average is, 730 is only worth a win or so over the course of a full season, so there are obviously a bunch.

 

Where are you getting that .770 OPS average?

 [b] LF RF[/b] 2006 .818 .806 2005 .789 .794 2004 .829 .798

You can sort team stats by position on ESPN.

[AJ Love]

I'd prefer to keep Mench all season unless Hart just completely starts raking at a .850 OPS rate or we get an offer we cannot refuse for Mench