Kevin Mench Anyone?

[CubfaninCA]

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

 

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy.

 

4th OF? I think you're selling him short. His .797 ops from last year places him 12th amongst rf's in 2005. Yes, nothing great, but he's shown that he can go over .850 which would place him 6th in 2005.

 

He'll only be 28, so he can improve. .. Not a bad gamble for Williams, who may end up in the pen anyway. Mench is far from option #1 tho.

[donobr]

Doubt anyone will pick up Burnitz,would Cubs and fans like him off the bench if cheap enough?

[CuseCubFan69]

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

 

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy.

 

4th OF? I think you're selling him short. His .797 ops from last year places him 12th amongst rf's in 2005. Yes, nothing great, but he's shown that he can go over .850 which would place him 6th in 2005.

 

He'll only be 28, so he can improve. .. Not a bad gamble for Williams, who may end up in the pen anyway. Mench is far from option #1 tho.

 

Isn't Texas a hitters park? Could that skew the numbers?

[rawaction]

Doubt anyone will pick up Burnitz,would Cubs and fans like him off the bench if cheap enough?

 

Nope. Too much temptation to start him from Dusty.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

 

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy.

 

4th OF? I think you're selling him short. His .797 ops from last year places him 12th amongst rf's in 2005. Yes, nothing great, but he's shown that he can go over .850 which would place him 6th in 2005.

 

He'll only be 28, so he can improve. .. Not a bad gamble for Williams, who may end up in the pen anyway. Mench is far from option #1 tho.

 

Isn't Texas a hitters park? Could that skew the numbers?

 

here's his '05 splits:

 

home: .273/.340/.486/.825

away .254/.317/.452/.769

 

the amount of 2B, 3B, and HR are pretty much equal away/home.

[CubfaninCA]

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

 

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy.

 

4th OF? I think you're selling him short. His .797 ops from last year places him 12th amongst rf's in 2005. Yes, nothing great, but he's shown that he can go over .850 which would place him 6th in 2005.

 

He'll only be 28, so he can improve. .. Not a bad gamble for Williams, who may end up in the pen anyway. Mench is far from option #1 tho.

 

Isn't Texas a hitters park? Could that skew the numbers?

 

Yeah, but Wrigley's a hitters park too. Looks like his numbers are alright on the road and he has played a large number of games in Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle, all pitchers parks.

[YearofDaCubs]

I like Kevin Mench but he is no Brian Giles and wouldn't make an impact as much as Giles either. If Giles can't be had Mench would be a good backup plan.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'll ask again, how is this guys defense? If he is above average that would be great but if he is a butcher like Huff I would have to say no....let's have the Cubs go after Glenn Allen Hill if that's the case.

[JeffH]

If Giles can't be had Mench would be a good backup plan.

 

Yes, but get Mench first so, when Giles doesn't sign until January or February, we don't wind up with Jose Macias as our everyday RF.

[CuseCubFan69]

If Giles can't be had Mench would be a good backup plan.

 

Yes, but get Mench first so, when Giles doesn't sign until January or February, we don't wind up with Jose Macias as our everyday RF.

 

You get 30 lashes by toothpick for saying such a thing!!!

 

I think having Mench would almost guarantee Macias staying around unless Giles or another quality OF is signed or traded for. Also, until the Cubs sign or trade for a backup 3rd baseman Macias may stay. I understand that Cedeno or Perez may be able to play 3rd but who knows how Hendry feels about this.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I'll ask again, how is this guys defense? If he is above average that would be great but if he is a butcher like Huff I would have to say no....let's have the Cubs go after Glenn Allen Hill if that's the case.

 

here's what Baseball Prospectus has to say:

 

He already has a tremendously powerful stroke, pretty decent plate discipline, and an uncanny ability to adjust the head of his bat in mid-swing. He reminds me of Troy Glaus offensively. Defensively, he reminds me of Ben Grieve or Greg Luzinski. (Jamey Newberg, BP)

 

---------

He was considered the best prospect in the organization in 2001 (by BP) and then a wrist injury (and subsequent surgery) caused him to delay his MLB debut.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'll ask again, how is this guys defense? If he is above average that would be great but if he is a butcher like Huff I would have to say no....let's have the Cubs go after Glenn Allen Hill if that's the case.

 

here's what Baseball Prospectus has to say:

 

He already has a tremendously powerful stroke, pretty decent plate discipline, and an uncanny ability to adjust the head of his bat in mid-swing. He reminds me of Troy Glaus offensively. Defensively, he reminds me of Ben Grieve or Greg Luzinski. (Jamey Newberg, BP)

 

---------

He was considered the best prospect in the organization in 2001 (by BP) and then a wrist injury (and subsequent surgery) caused him to delay his MLB debut.

 

Thank you M&PM!

 

So he's a bull in a chinashop in the OF. Would you be happy if the Cubs have a starting OF of Murton, Wilson and Mench? With ARam, Furcal, Perez, Lee and Barrett in the infield? This is Hendrys dream team IMO.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

i'd be happy with murton in LF, giles in CF, and mench in RF. :lol: forget stellar defense in the OF.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

So he's a bull in a chinashop in the OF. Would you be happy if the Cubs have a starting OF of Murton, Wilson and Mench? With ARam, Furcal, Perez, Lee and Barrett in the infield? This is Hendrys dream team IMO.

 

sounds more like a nightmare to me. :(

[USSoccer]

Mench would make a nice backup OF, I think. Aquiring him would also ive us some leverage in other trade/FA talks for a better OF, so it makes a little sense to go after him.

[CuseCubFan69]

i'd be happy with murton in LF, giles in CF, and mench in RF. :lol: forget stellar defense in the OF.

 

I pity Raush then in that case!

[Backtobanks]

I agree that if we can get Mench cheap (for Rule 5 players), then I would go for it. Not only does he give you another option in the OF and a pinch hitter with power, but adds to the depth of our trade bait. You put him in with Walker, Patterson, Rusch/Williams, and prospects or Rule 5 players and you ought to fill in one or two holes that could be left after the free agents sign.

[YearofDaCubs]

I do know that in 2004 Mench had the 2nd most homers per amount of ABs. First being Bonds.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Mench==A younger Burnitz. Yuck. Let's move on.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we sign Furcal and traded for Mench and Bradley, I think we would have the makings of a good line-up.

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Bradley cf

Mench rf

Murton lf

Barrett c

 

It's not a murderers row, but I think it's a line-up that could score some runs.

[CuseCubFan69]

If we sign Furcal and traded for Mench and Bradley, I think we would have the makings of a good line-up.

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Bradley cf

Mench rf

Murton lf

Barrett c

 

It's not a murderers row, but I think it's a line-up that could score some runs.

 

You think the Cubs can make those two deals and not have Walker be part of them?

[USSoccer]

If we sign Furcal and traded for Mench and Bradley, I think we would have the makings of a good line-up.

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Bradley cf

Mench rf

Murton lf

Barrett c

 

It's not a murderers row, but I think it's a line-up that could score some runs.

 

You think the Cubs can make those two deals and not have Walker be part of them?

 

Whoa, board broke.

 

I think you could, but it depends on how many of the better P prospects that you're willing to part with.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we sign Furcal and traded for Mench and Bradley, I think we would have the makings of a good line-up.

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Bradley cf

Mench rf

Murton lf

Barrett c

 

It's not a murderers row, but I think it's a line-up that could score some runs.

 

You think the Cubs can make those two deals and not have Walker be part of them?

 

With the cash we have to spend, yes. We could take Lowe back from the Dodgers and probably get by sending marginal players there. We could then eat some of Lowe's contract and offer him to the Rangers.

 

I haven't really thought through the specifics, but yes, I think that we could.

[nilodnayr]

Im pretty sure Ice isn't out of options. Also, Im sure Daniels, the new GM in Texas knows the only way his team is going to challenge its to load up on sinkerballers. Mitres is pretty darn nasty, thats why he'd be a good fit for the Rangers. Also, hes not in our plans for a rotation spot. Welly doesn't induce the ground balls (at least he hasnt in the majors). I'd offer Mitre and a decent prospect and nothing more. Definitely not worth give up walker as mench will provide similar offense, similar quality defense, and similar price for a significantly more offensive position.

[JeffH]

Im pretty sure Ice isn't out of options.

 

Ice = Leicester? If so, then let me assure you that he is out of options.

 

Rostered in November 2002.

 

Optioned in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

 

He's out.