Comments on: The Mets Should Trade for Kevin Mench http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/comment-page-1/#comment-54090 Paul Moro Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:40:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/#comment-54090 Actually, non-tendered doesn't mean that he's a free agent. After non-tendering a contract, the Brewers have ten days to trade Mench. If this doesn't happen, THEN he becomes a free agent. And I talk about why (if the Mets are interested) they shouldn't wait for those ten days to pass in the post itself. It's highly unlikely that Mench would want to sign with a team that won't guarantee him many at-bats. So trading for him gives him no choice, really. Actually, non-tendered doesn’t mean that he’s a free agent. After non-tendering a contract, the Brewers have ten days to trade Mench. If this doesn’t happen, THEN he becomes a free agent. And I talk about why (if the Mets are interested) they shouldn’t wait for those ten days to pass in the post itself. It’s highly unlikely that Mench would want to sign with a team that won’t guarantee him many at-bats. So trading for him gives him no choice, really.

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]]> By: double d http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/comment-page-1/#comment-54089 double d Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:59:59 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/#comment-54089 A trade for Mench isn't really applicable. Mench will be non-tendered Wednesday and become a free agent. A trade for Mench isn’t really applicable. Mench will be non-tendered Wednesday and become a free agent.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/comment-page-1/#comment-54088 Paul Moro Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:27:15 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/#comment-54088 Glad you brought this up, Blastings. And Simon is right to an extent. I've read arguments from both sides of the sabermetric field as to whether or not platoon splits are "real". But the vast majority of studies done on the subject indicate that it IS in fact real. Simon's first two points - the human side of the argument - is something that we can only make conjectures about, and I acknowledge the strong possibility that Mench would object to such a role when I talk about how the Mets should not wait until he hits the open market. And I do agree with Simon on his point about plate appearances. Ideally, you'd like at least 2000 of them to work with before analyzing. But it's not like 400 PAs is entirely worthless. Sure, there's still quite a bit of standard deviation that needs to be taken into account. But I do think it's enough of a sample size to consider the possibility. Simon's third point - that it's hard to do - is one that we're going to just disagree on. Even in late-game situations, it's just as difficult as any other pinch-hitting situation. And I completely disagree with you that using Easley or Johnson would prove better than paying Mench $3mil. To me, Ben Johnson looks like a 4A guy. Besides, it's not like he's been tearing up the PCL either the last two years. Just not impressed at all. As for Easley, last year he OPSed .824. The last time he had done so was in 1997 when he hit 22 dingers. No one can rationally expect Damion Easley to repeat his 2007 success. And regarding the contract, $3 million should give small market teams some pause. If the Mets are concerned about spending that much to potentially winning one or two more games, then the Mets simply aren't taking advantage of their financial stature. Glad you brought this up, Blastings. And Simon is right to an extent. I’ve read arguments from both sides of the sabermetric field as to whether or not platoon splits are “real”. But the vast majority of studies done on the subject indicate that it IS in fact real. Simon’s first two points – the human side of the argument – is something that we can only make conjectures about, and I acknowledge the strong possibility that Mench would object to such a role when I talk about how the Mets should not wait until he hits the open market.

And I do agree with Simon on his point about plate appearances. Ideally, you’d like at least 2000 of them to work with before analyzing. But it’s not like 400 PAs is entirely worthless. Sure, there’s still quite a bit of standard deviation that needs to be taken into account. But I do think it’s enough of a sample size to consider the possibility.

Simon’s third point – that it’s hard to do – is one that we’re going to just disagree on. Even in late-game situations, it’s just as difficult as any other pinch-hitting situation.

And I completely disagree with you that using Easley or Johnson would prove better than paying Mench $3mil. To me, Ben Johnson looks like a 4A guy. Besides, it’s not like he’s been tearing up the PCL either the last two years. Just not impressed at all. As for Easley, last year he OPSed .824. The last time he had done so was in 1997 when he hit 22 dingers. No one can rationally expect Damion Easley to repeat his 2007 success.

And regarding the contract, $3 million should give small market teams some pause. If the Mets are concerned about spending that much to potentially winning one or two more games, then the Mets simply aren’t taking advantage of their financial stature.

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]]> By: Blastings http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/comment-page-1/#comment-54087 Blastings Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:32:53 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/#comment-54087 You should read this: http://www.amazinavenue.com/story/2007/12/10/23651/448. In it, Eric Simon brings up the same point. However, he argues that platoon splits are largely an illusion and we cannot count on Mensch to maintain his .200 OPS split or whatever, and his "true" platoon ability is probably a lot smaller. The same goes for Church, with less emphasis, as Church has a larger ML sample-size. He also makes the point that even if you start the lefty vs. the righty or vice-versa, you will only get the advantage 2/3rds of the time (as long as the starting pitcher is in). The Mets are better suited using Damion Easley or even a guy like Ben Johnson (not the 16th century English poet), rather than pay Mensch $3 million. You should read this: http://www.amazinavenue.com/story/2007/12/10/23651/448.

In it, Eric Simon brings up the same point. However, he argues that platoon splits are largely an illusion and we cannot count on Mensch to maintain his .200 OPS split or whatever, and his “true” platoon ability is probably a lot smaller. The same goes for Church, with less emphasis, as Church has a larger ML sample-size.

He also makes the point that even if you start the lefty vs. the righty or vice-versa, you will only get the advantage 2/3rds of the time (as long as the starting pitcher is in).

The Mets are better suited using Damion Easley or even a guy like Ben Johnson (not the 16th century English poet), rather than pay Mensch $3 million.

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]]> By: Danny O http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/11/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/comment-page-1/#comment-34677 Danny O Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:10:27 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-mets-should-trade-for-kevin-mench/#comment-34677 Can't comment on the true pedigree of the Cleveland name but I remember reading about Sockalexis in SI many years ago. He was a fantastic player, but he was also an alcoholic and really liked to party. He hurt himself at a brothel and his career went downhill from there. Kind of a tragic story. Can’t comment on the true pedigree of the Cleveland name but I remember reading about Sockalexis in SI many years ago. He was a fantastic player, but he was also an alcoholic and really liked to party. He hurt himself at a brothel and his career went downhill from there. Kind of a tragic story.

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