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cougar

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What a Mench
« on: December 09, 2005, 07:35:16 am »
Well, looks like the Astros want another leftfielder, this time one who actually plays it full time.  Article from the LackeyChron  here.   May raise questions about Bagwell's future, since you have to find a place for Berkman.  Speaking of, the notes at the bottom of the page contains an amusing quote from Fat Elvis about why he wants to represent our country in the World Baseball Classic.  Here's a hint: it isn't patriotism.
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jasonact

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2005, 09:56:21 am »
Although Mench isn't exactly the kind of impact player I was hoping they would go after (low RBI totals), he's still young and could still develop into a good RBI guy, I guess. I'm still hoping they'll be able to get a solid 90+ RBI guy. We'll see what happens. I was also interested to see that they were interested in talking with Jarrod Washburn and Scott Elarton. Washburn isn't a surprise; I figured once the Angels didn't offer arbitration to him and the Astros didn't offer to Roger that they'd at least inquire about Washburn. I am a bit surprised, however, to see Elarton's name there. When he was traded to Colorado, I thought they essentially gave up on him. While he's been decent with Cleveland, he hasn't really shown he's any better than the pitcher they traded in 2001. Might this be an example of how Purp and the Hun differed on players? I can't imagine that he'd be a significant upgrade over the potential starters we alrady have.

On a side note, I guess I haven't been to the Lackey Chron's website since they changed the look. I like it. The old web format looked cheap and poorly done. I hope it's an indication that they're trying to improve other areas of the paper as well.  
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T. J.

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2005, 10:36:52 am »
Quote:


On a side note, I guess I haven't been to the Lackey Chron's website since they changed the look. I like it. The old web format looked cheap and poorly done. I hope it's an indication that they're trying to improve other areas of the paper as well.  



You seem to be the only one who likes the change, judging from the comments here:  The Link

The old one was ugly, but in my opinion, it was a lot easier to find what you were looking for.  The new one's drop-down navigation bugs me.  "Blogs" are the first thing under "News"?
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jasonact

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2005, 10:50:32 am »
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I do like it. It looks much better, and I think it's actually much easier to navigate, but that's just me.

I do find it ridiculous that Blogs, Forums, and Columnists are the first three items under the "News" menus. That may be because those are probably the more frequented areas of the website. It could be for convenience, but it probably should be "News" first under the "News" tab.
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Fredia

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2005, 10:53:35 am »
what pisses me off is it is so hard to get to dear abby now.. they need to do somethiing about that
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Cheo

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2005, 11:20:39 am »
Mench?  C'mon Pup, you can do better than that...you've got the same player in Lane.....so why would you want his clone who just happens to play in a hitter friendly ballpark?

I also heard that they really want to resign Lamb. Garner loves the guy. This tells me that they'll won't be too hot & heavy after some OFs.....where would you play them?  They are also enamored with Lane as well..... Geez...

I say make a huge run at Tejada and sign/trade for a starting pitcher.....my Christmas list for today....
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S.P. Rodriguez

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2005, 11:52:18 am »
Actually, Mench is one of those guys who does the little things well. He plays all out.  They knock him because he gets hurt or visits the DL for a couple weeks but it's only because he leaves it all out on the field.  Having lived in Dallas, Mench, Young, and Blalock are the players that can be the cornerstone of a team.  I refuse to refer to another player for he employs, or is in the employ, of SATAN....  but he's good too.

I seriously doubt that if any FA would accept the Rangers money whether they'd even consider trading Mench.  As it stands, they can't get anyone to take their money to pitch so Mench is available.  It would explain why they landed 2 OF's in the trade with the Nationals when they really didn't need any OF help.
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OldBlevins

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2005, 03:37:18 pm »
I doubt the Astros want to invest a lot of money in a left fielder precisely because Berkman might wind up there.  They want someone cheap who, if necessary, can play either corner as a fourth outfielder or can start if Bagwell cant' play.  Mench fills that bill.  I don't understand why they'r hot to get a right-handed hitter, though, since they only have one left-handed starting position player.
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Browneye

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2005, 02:22:42 am »
Quote:

I doubt the Astros want to invest a lot of money in a left fielder precisely because Berkman might wind up there.  They want someone cheap who, if necessary, can play either corner as a fourth outfielder or can start if Bagwell cant' play.  Mench fills that bill.  I don't understand why they'r hot to get a right-handed hitter, though, since they only have one left-handed starting position player.



Wouldnt Burnitz fill that role just as well? He wanted to come to Houston last year, He is from Conroe(I heard) and hell, his name starts with a "B". The best thing about it is that you dont have to trade to get him. IMO that would be just as good as Mench.
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strosrays

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2005, 11:28:07 am »
Quote:

what pisses me off is it is so hard to get to dear abby now.. they need to do somethiing about that




Absolutely.  If more people read Dear Abby, the world would be a better place.

You should e-mail them about this.  You really should.

Hey Comical, three lashes with a wet noodle!  Take that!
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Col. Sphinx Drummond

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2005, 12:24:16 pm »
Quote:


On a side note, I guess I haven't been to the Lackey Chron's website since they changed the look. I like it. The old web format looked cheap and poorly done. I hope it's an indication that they're trying to improve other areas of the paper as well.  



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OldBlevins

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2005, 12:49:32 pm »
Quote:

Quote:

I doubt the Astros want to invest a lot of money in a left fielder precisely because Berkman might wind up there.  They want someone cheap who, if necessary, can play either corner as a fourth outfielder or can start if Bagwell cant' play.  Mench fills that bill.  I don't understand why they'r hot to get a right-handed hitter, though, since they only have one left-handed starting position player.



Wouldnt Burnitz fill that role just as well? He wanted to come to Houston last year, He is from Conroe(I heard) and hell, his name starts with a "B". The best thing about it is that you dont have to trade to get him. IMO that would be just as good as Mench.



He would, except his salary last year was around $4.5 million and he may not want to sign if he could wind up as a fourth outfielder.  He'd be good, though.
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pravata

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2005, 12:54:10 pm »
The Toronto Sun reports that trade talks between the Jays and Rangers regarding outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench have "dried up."

"We're not going to be getting either of them," Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told the Sun. "The price is too steep. I think it's extremely tough for us to get one of them at this point. Right now, Wilkerson's off the market."
The Link

Kevin Mench and Brad Wilkerson are of particular interest to a number of teams, and the Rangers, from all indications, are demanding a significant starting pitcher in return.
The Link
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2005, 01:15:19 pm »
Quote:

Although Mench isn't exactly the kind of impact player I was hoping they would go after (low RBI totals), he's still young and could still develop into a good RBI guy, I guess. I'm still hoping they'll be able to get a solid 90+ RBI guy.



I think focusing so narrowly on the player's RBIs is one of the worst ways to decide whether to acquire him.  Look at whether he hits for average, for power, whether he draws walks -- heck, you can even look at how he hits with runners on and in scoring position, i.e., RBI situations.  But defining his impact by whether he's "a solid 90+ RBI guy," especially when you're looking to insert him into a different line-up and perhaps a different place in the line-up, possibly with different playing time -- I don't see how you can just look at his RBIs and make that analysis.
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jasonact

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2005, 01:56:33 pm »
Quote:

Quote:

Although Mench isn't exactly the kind of impact player I was hoping they would go after (low RBI totals), he's still young and could still develop into a good RBI guy, I guess. I'm still hoping they'll be able to get a solid 90+ RBI guy.



I think focusing so narrowly on the player's RBIs is one of the worst ways to decide whether to acquire him.  Look at whether he hits for average, for power, whether he draws walks -- heck, you can even look at how he hits with runners on and in scoring position, i.e., RBI situations.  But defining his impact by whether he's "a solid 90+ RBI guy," especially when you're looking to insert him into a different line-up and perhaps a different place in the line-up, possibly with different playing time -- I don't see how you can just look at his RBIs and make that analysis.



I didn't mean to imply that at all. I don't know nearly enough to say whether or not I think they should get him. My only point is based on the belief that another good RBI producer was the primary missing link in the 2005 offense. I hoped that the Astros would get someone who, among other things, might be able to drive in some runs. They still might, whether it's a marquee name or not. I also understand that the dynamics of a particular team affect the RBI totals of an individual player.

I didn't mean to narrow down my criteria to a single statistic. I only mentioned that as an example of what I hope the Astros add, whether that's in the form of a single player or the development of a number of players. I completely understand that there are plenty of other factors, statistical and otherwise, that go into the evaluation of a player.
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2005, 04:22:29 pm »
Quote:

I didn't mean to imply that at all. I don't know nearly enough to say whether or not I think they should get him. My only point is based on the belief that another good RBI producer was the primary missing link in the 2005 offense. I hoped that the Astros would get someone who, among other things, might be able to drive in some runs. They still might, whether it's a marquee name or not. I also understand that the dynamics of a particular team affect the RBI totals of an individual player.

I didn't mean to narrow down my criteria to a single statistic. I only mentioned that as an example of what I hope the Astros add, whether that's in the form of a single player or the development of a number of players. I completely understand that there are plenty of other factors, statistical and otherwise, that go into the evaluation of a player.



I'm not sure I can square this:

"I also understand that the dynamics of a particular team affect the RBI totals of an individual player"

with this:

"My only point is based on the belief that another good RBI producer was the primary missing link in the 2005 offense."

Was the hole in the offense because the Astros didn't have another good RBI producer, or was it because the dynamics of the team affected the RBI totals of the individual players?

The best hitter on the team, over the full season, was Ensberg, who drove in "only" 101 runs. But even Berkman was just on pace to drive in 100 runs in 162 games (he drove in 82 runs in 132 games).

You can look at this meaning that the Astros need another RBI producer. Or you can look at the Astros' offense, 13th of 16th in the National League in OBP, and consider whether the number of runners on base might be a bigger part of the question.

Take the Astros, Dodgers, Giants and Nationals, the bottom four in the National League in OBP, and establish a leader board in RBI, and here's what you get:

Kent, LA, 105
Ensberg, Hou, 101
Wilson, Was, 90
Berkman, Hou, 82
Feliz, SF, 81
Lane, Hou, 78
Guillen, Was, 76
Johnson, Was, 74
Biggio, Hou, 69
Castilla, Was, 66
Alou, SF, 63
Saenz, LA, 63

Only three 90+ guys there. So, either the Astros should be thinking of getting another RBI man, or they can consider whether getting players on base more often might turn some existing players into better RBI men.

In a high-traffic offense, Ensberg, Berkman and Lane could all drive in 100+ runs. But it's going to be difficult for any of them to get substantially beyond that when the team OBP is among the lowest in the league.
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2005, 04:29:10 pm »
I screwed up in my previous post. The teams ranked with or behind Houston in OBP were the Nationals, Mets and Giants, not the Nationals, Dodgers and Giants.

Here's the leader board again, but we'll throw in the White Sox, Tigers, Royals and Mariners, who also finished tied or below the Astros in OBP:

Sexson, Sea, 121
Wright, NY, 102
Ensberg, Hou, 101
Konerko, Chi, 100
Floyd, NY, 98
Wilson, Col, 90
Ibanez, Sea, 89
Monroe, Det, 89
Everett, Chi, 87
Beltre, Sea, 87
Dye, Chi, 86
Brown, KC, 86
Sweeney, KC, 83
Berkman, Hou, 82
Feliz, SF, 81
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pravata

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #17 on: December 14, 2005, 04:37:16 pm »
Quote:

I screwed up in my previous post. The teams ranked with or behind Houston in OBP were the Nationals, Mets and Giants, not the Nationals, Dodgers and Giants.

Here's the leader board again, but we'll throw in the White Sox, Tigers, Royals and Mariners, who also finished tied or below the Astros in OBP:

Sexson, Sea, 121
Wright, NY, 102
Ensberg, Hou, 101
Konerko, Chi, 100
Floyd, NY, 98
Wilson, Col, 90
Ibanez, Sea, 89
Monroe, Det, 89
Everett, Chi, 87
Beltre, Sea, 87
Dye, Chi, 86
Brown, KC, 86
Sweeney, KC, 83
Berkman, Hou, 82
Feliz, SF, 81



Dont know if this is a trend, but last season White hit much better with risp than he did with no one on.  BA RISP .364, no one on .301.  Further, in the 99 abs he had with runners on he got 41 rbi.  Last season, at least, he made the most of his opportunities.  Maybe he is an rbi guy.
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #18 on: December 14, 2005, 05:55:58 pm »
Quote:

Dont know if this is a trend, but last season White hit much better with risp than he did with no one on.  BA RISP .364, no one on .301.  Further, in the 99 abs he had with runners on he got 41 rbi.  Last season, at least, he made the most of his opportunities.  Maybe he is an rbi guy.



Hits for decent power and gets on base OK.  Earned $3.25 million last year.  I think he'd make a good addition to fit in as needed along with Lamb and Palmeiro. Here's his splits for the last four years plus over his career:

      ----None On-----  ---Runners On---  --Scoring Pos---
Year   Avg   OBP   Slg   Avg   OBP   Slg   Avg   OBP   Slg
----------------------------------------------------------
2005  .301  .330  .512  .327  .368  .461  .364  .417  .525 
2004  .275  .349  .498  .265  .325  .406  .322  .401  .488
2003  .264  .316  .472  .315  .366  .504  .286  .351  .496
2002  .237  .300  .386  .242  .275  .370  .210  .250  .304
----------------------------------------------------------
Car   .288  .337  .493  .289  .349  .446  .283  .354  .431


Any word on his shoulder?
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pravata

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #19 on: December 14, 2005, 06:19:37 pm »
Quote:

Quote:

Dont know if this is a trend, but last season White hit much better with risp than he did with no one on.  BA RISP .364, no one on .301.  Further, in the 99 abs he had with runners on he got 41 rbi.  Last season, at least, he made the most of his opportunities.  Maybe he is an rbi guy.



Hits for decent power and gets on base OK.  Earned $3.25 million last year.  I think he'd make a good addition to fit in as needed along with Lamb and Palmeiro. Here's his splits for the last four years plus over his career:

      ----None On-----  ---Runners On---  --Scoring Pos---
Year   Avg   OBP   Slg   Avg   OBP   Slg   Avg   OBP   Slg
----------------------------------------------------------
2005  .301  .330  .512  .327  .368  .461  .364  .417  .525 
2004  .275  .349  .498  .265  .325  .406  .322  .401  .488
2003  .264  .316  .472  .315  .366  .504  .286  .351  .496
2002  .237  .300  .386  .242  .275  .370  .210  .250  .304
----------------------------------------------------------
Car   .288  .337  .493  .289  .349  .446  .283  .354  .431


Any word on his shoulder?



Nothing recent.  The surgery, torn rotator cuff, was successful.  He had a physical in Houston before he left. The information I presented earlier about the shoulder and surgery doesnt look to be accurate, see

(well... maybe it was, "Rondell sits: When Rondell White suffered a sore left shoulder earlier this season, he said it felt like "a little man was sitting on my shoulder." When asked about his sore right shoulder earlier this week, he said it felt like the little man had a knife he was putting into his shoulder."  The Link He didnt have surgery on his right, throwing, shoulder though.)

"White pulled himself off the field on July 14 after a game against Kansas City in which several Royals baserunners successful ran on him. His arm strength had been an issue for several weeks. Though White's arm will never be considered powerful..."
The Link

But this guy just sounds like an Astro,

"Chris Shelton credits a lot of guys on this team for helping him learn what it takes to be a Major League hitter, but one name he's mentioned repeatedly is Rondell White for teaching him the mentality of driving in runs. Rondell is probably as far away from in-your-face as you can get, but he's a positive voice and a role model whose effect can be seen in Shelton, Nook Logan and even Curtis Granderson."
The Link
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Arky Vaughan

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Re: What a Mench
« Reply #20 on: December 14, 2005, 06:27:04 pm »
Quote:

Nothing recent.  The surgery, torn rotator cuff, was successful.  He had a physical in Houston before he left. The information I presented earlier about the shoulder and surgery doesnt look to be accurate, see

"White pulled himself off the field on July 14 after a game against Kansas City in which several Royals baserunners successful ran on him. His arm strength had been an issue for several weeks. Though White's arm will never be considered powerful..."
The Link

But this guy just sounds like an Astro,

"Chris Shelton credits a lot of guys on this team for helping him learn what it takes to be a Major League hitter, but one name he's mentioned repeatedly is Rondell White for teaching him the mentality of driving in runs. Rondell is probably as far away from in-your-face as you can get, but he's a positive voice and a role model whose effect can be seen in Shelton, Nook Logan and even Curtis Granderson."
The Link



He seems to be in the mold of player that the Astros need, both from an attitude perspective, and also from an interchangeability perspective.  A significant fact about this team is that there are a lot of very large unknowns and other facts that preclude it from being assembled as eight certifiable starting position players who will play every day.
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