RealGM

Sparked by a discussion in the game thread, I thought I'd make this post. If you look at the production by position, RF (and 3B, of course) are severely under producing. Our 3B have the 6th worst OPS in the majors, but our RF position is even worse, having the 5th worst OPS (.238 BA, .294 OBP, .354 SLG).

Why? Well, take a look for yourself:

RF Production

Mench has been terrible in RF. Ever single game he's played out there has been against righties. Hart has only been slightly better.

The way I see it, unless we want to finish with one of the worst RF positions in baseball, we need to give Mench hardly any PT out there, with Gross and Gwynn getting more PT. Hart should still play quite a bit though he still hasn't hit righties at all this year; he should play every game against lefties, obviously.

Hart was surprisingly better against righties in the minors than he was against lefties, though he was still great against lefties. Hopefully, that will start to show this year in the majors.

When you think about it, it is pretty remarkable that the Brewers offense has been as good as it has considering we have the worst combined production out of 3B and RF in the majors, two key offensive positions in the game.

Hart has been hurt so that's part of the reason Mench has been out there so much. Gross was pretty shaky in the field in his last start in RF. I don't know if Gwynn has ever played over there.

I agree RF (and 3B) are our weak points right now. I hope Hart can start playing again SOON.

Hart really needs to step it up. I expected a lot more from him last year, I thought he had star talent. I'm sure he still does but he really needs to step it up.

Well Gwynn is getting the start today.

Gwynn is showing he needs to start playing 3-4 times a week. Hitting, stolen bases, throws a guy out from deep right field. This kid HAS to play more.

I would settle with a Jenkins/Mench platoon in left and a Hart/Gwynn platoon in right. Occassionally throw Gwynn into center to give Hall a day off.

Never realized Gwynn had that cannon...maybe we found our RFer?

cam2win wrote:Never realized Gwynn had that cannon...maybe we found our RFer?

Doubt it.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him play more often. He's really impressed me this year with his plate discipline. Maybe bat him leadoff for awhile and move everyone else down a spot. Or move Weeks down to 6th or 7th.

MickeyDavis wrote:Gwynn is showing he needs to start playing 3-4 times a week. Hitting, stolen bases, throws a guy out from deep right field. This kid HAS to play more.

I would settle with a Jenkins/Mench platoon in left and a Hart/Gwynn platoon in right. Occassionally throw Gwynn into center to give Hall a day off.

Sorry no way in hell do I play TG ahead of Hart, Hart played great last year given the chance and he has had a wrist injury the past 4 weeks, Hart is a 5 tool type player and FASTER then Gwynn. I am shocked more people are not on Bill Hall so far this year, his production is downright aweful. I can't imagine anyone beliving Gwynn is better then a healthy Hart, I would be willing to dump Mench in a heartbeat and have TG take his place.