The outfielder, acquired from Texas along with Francisco Cordero and two Minor Leaguers on July 28, had a three-hit, three-RBI night on Saturday that raised his average to .295 since the trade, with one home run and 11 RBIs in 12 games.
Before coming to Milwaukee, all 1,806 of Mench's career at-bats came as an American Leaguer, and, like Carlos Lee two seasons ago, Mench is facing a mostly new stable of opposing pitchers. Watching extra video can help, and so can talking to veteran teammates, but it's not the same as seeing a John Smoltz slider coming at you.
"Scouting reports only take you so far," Mench said. "You actually have to go out there and see guys for yourself, because every [pitcher] is different. I was [in the American League] for five years, and I was still learning guys."
Lee, who was sent to Texas in the trade along with outfield prospect Nelson Cruz, made the same transition at the start of the 2005 season, after he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox. Lee hit .215 in April with only three home runs, then absolutely raked in May and June, hitting .300 with 19 homers over those two months.
"Some guys adjust quicker. Carlos adjusted quick," manager Ned Yost said. "I've seen guys come over and it takes them a full year to get adjusted. I know that [Mench] can hit, and I know that he's going to hit."
The rest of the season could be a springboard for Mench. Starting Monday in Pittsburgh, 26 of the Brewers' remaining 45 games are against NL Central opponents.
'Hall' of a future: Bill Hall remains on pace for one of the stranger seasons in Brewers history.
Entering Sunday's game, he was hitting a solid .273, but 57 of his 104 hits -- 55 percent -- were for extra bases. Hall had 27 doubles, four triples and a team-high 26 home runs, including a Major League-best 18 as a shortstop.
But Hall continues to bat relatively low in Yost's lineup (fifth on Sunday, though he seen more at-bats lately hitting sixth or seventh) because of his high strikeout total. He had 118 strikeouts, the fifth-most in the Majors, and a so-so .332 on-base percentage.
"He's still learning, and it has to do with offensive discipline," Yost said. "He's made huge strides from two years ago in terms of learning plate discipline. Now he has to learn hitting discipline, the discipline to stay within yourself, to be successful."
Yost is confident that Hall, still just 26 years old, will make that adjustment. The key is to "shorten up" his swing.
"He could go out and hit 30 to 35 home runs without even trying," Yost said. "He's got that type of strength, that type of quickness and bat speed. ... But there's times when you get feeling good and you really want to hit it four miles, and all of a sudden, you're fouling off balls you should crush. That's what he falls into."
Old stomping grounds: Reliever Dan Kolb caught up this weekend with some former Braves teammates, including injured closer Chris Reitsma. Kolb struggled badly after being traded to Atlanta before the 2005 season, going 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA and seven blown saves.
"It's nice here. There's nothing wrong with playing here," said Kolb, who returned to the Brewers in a trade last winter and negotiated a discounted contract for 2006. "It just didn't work out for me here."
False alarm: Yost admitted that he was concerned in the fourth inning of Ben Sheets' outing on Saturday night, when Sheets appeared to experience discomfort in his right pectoral muscle. Pain in that muscle had forced Sheets from his previous start after one inning.
"He threw a pitch and walked off the mound, and he called [catcher Damian] Miller out," Yost said. "He was just itching a spot on his arm. He wanted to change the signs. But everybody jumped up and was looking to make sure he was all right."
Sheets' next pitch was a 95-mph fastball, Yost said, so they figured he was OK. Sheets went on to pitch seven solid innings, though his final line was inflated after the Braves' first three hitters reached leading off the eighth inning and eventually scored.
Last call: Second baseman Rickie Weeks left during Sunday's game for a flight to Phoenix, and he will see Dr. Don Sheridan for a pre-op checkup on Monday. Weeks will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday to repair a loose tendon in his right wrist. ... Yost started Jeff Cirillo at third base on Sunday because of David Bell's career struggles (.158, 6-for-38) against Braves starter Tim Hudson. ... Saturday's win ensured the Brewers' first season series victory over the Braves, but Yost was unimpressed. "I'm not going to have a plaque made," he quipped.
On deck: On to the Brewers' house of horrors. Milwaukee is 0-4 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park this season and 15-34 since the place opened in 2001, and will try to buck the trend when it begins a three-game series there on Monday at 6:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Dave Bush will work the series opener for Milwaukee against former Brewer Victor Santos, who returns to the Pirates' starting rotation in place of injured right-hander Shawn Chacon.