Mench Held Back in Batting Order

Texas OF Kevin Mench is as well-rounded a power hitter as there is in baseball, a lefty in his prime that hits lefties well, has good plate discipline and hits to all fields. Unless Kevin Mench is traded, which the Rangers have contemplated all year, Kevin Mench will also benefit from hitting in a power-packed lineup in a hitter's park. But in relationship to Kevin Mench's full potential Kevin Mench's RBI production will be held back, in relative terms, by manager Buck Showalter's propensity to bat Kevin Mench in the No. 6 hole or lower. If Kevin Mench was switched in the batting order with 3B Hank Blalock, who is expected to hit either No. 2 or No. 5, the sky's the limit on Kevin Mench's RBI totals.