TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

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TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

Post by StormZ_23 » Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:59 pm

To Menne, or Not To Menne, that is the question.

With the Hamlet reference aside, we at the The Vancouver Times have struggled with this question. What do you do with Rashardo Menne III? We imagine this question has plagued the mind of GM Taylor Bettencourt since he took the reigns in the 2036 off-season. The Mounties have a young star on their hands that can be a cornerstone of this franchise through a potential playoff run in the near future. The problem is that at the presumed opening of that playoff window, Menne will be owed some money. We don't know how much he will command, but you have to assume it will be a hefty price tag, and deservedly so. Let's see if we can find an answer to this question.

To Menne:
There are many positives to keeping Menne and allowing him to potentially become a Vancouver legend. First off, he is a fantastic contact hitter, one of the better hitters in the league. Two seasons ago, Menne hit for a .327 AVG, accumulating 4.7 WAR in 101 games. Those are some insane numbers. This season he is been consistent as the team's lead off hitter, hitting for a .287 AVG as well as stealing 45 bases. It's the end of June and Menne is tied for the league lead in stolen bases. The highest amount of stolen bases for Menne in a season? 47. That was last season in 122 games. Menne is also at the top of the Frick League in triples. He walks a decent amount and does not strike out much. Clearly, Menne is becoming an elite lead off hitter, something very valuable for a playoff hopeful. Something that is great to see is Menne's sustained durability this season. He has missed only two games, meaning his days of consistent injuries could be behind him. Of course, you can never know for certain. As for his popularity, the city of Vancouver loves him. He is instantly recognizable around the city, especially considering his amazing mustache. The fans would be distraught if the team traded him, or even worse, let him walk in free agency. Keep in mind that Menne is only 23, so he may have lots of untapped potential to unleash. Menne is the current face of a rebuilding franchise, but he has the talent to be a key component on a playoff team. Menne is incredibly valuable to this franchise and its future.

Not To Menne:
Despite the positives, negatives are always in the back of the mind. Menne enters free agency at the end of the 2040 season, meaning this is the last season that the Mounties have to get close to peak trade value for Menne. This is what makes this decision difficult. If the team waits until next season's trade deadline, he will be treated like a rental. He may be 23 years old, but the other GM's in this league are ruthless. So, if there was a time to trade Menne, it would be before this season's trade deadline. It probably wouldn't be a king ransom like it would have been a season or two ago, but it should still be a substantial price to pay. As for Menne's skills, there is little to criticize Menne for at the plate other than his lack of power. However, there is much to criticize about his defense. Last season, Menne committed 20 errors. Keep in mind that he only played 121 games. This season he has committed 8 errors in 79 games. His zone rating is not great either. Poor defense has been a consistent theme throughout Menne's career. So, despite his cannon arm, Menne does not have great range at third base, hindering his value. Next, we have to talk about his injury history. While he has been healthy this season, we cannot ignore the extensive injury history. This does put a question mark on Menne for the rest of his career. He is one serious injury away from regressing before he reaches his peak. It's scary to give so much money to an injury prone player, something the organization is definitely keeping that in mind. Can the team afford to bet on Menne staying healthy for the majority of a season? On the other hand, can the team risk waiting to make a definitive decision?

There are probably some positives and negatives that we forgot about that could influence the decision. But, for the most part, it's a very difficult decision. The timer is running out for Taylor Bettencourt. If Menne is still on the team after the trade deadline, we can assume his decision has been made.

The rebuild continues. Thanks for reading!
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Re: TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

Post by RonCo » Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:35 pm

That's why they pay you the fake bucks.
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Re: TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

Post by 7teen » Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:01 pm

The way I see it, Portland is coming into the division soon so there is no playoff window for Vancouver.

Might as well keep Menne and enjoy his services.
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Re: TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

Post by StormZ_23 » Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:24 pm

7teen wrote:
Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:01 pm
The way I see it, Portland is coming into the division soon so there is no playoff window for Vancouver.

Might as well keep Menne and enjoy his services.
Yeah I'm real scared of an expansion team :P
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Re: TVT 2039.5 - To Menne, or Not To Menne

Post by handaspencer » Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:39 pm

These are extremely tough decisions for a rebuilding team.

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