Half Shoe Mench

Kevin Mench entered Thursday night's game against the Seattle Mariners with zero RBIs in his first 10 games. Why? Perhaps because his shoes were too small.

The Texas Rangers right fielder has missed five games this season because of a sprain in the second toe of his right foot. He's had two cortisone injections into the toe, the latter coming last Saturday. Rangers team podiatrist Dr. John Crates sent Mench to see a Dallas-area orthotics specialist.

The specialist determined the sprain was caused by Mench's shoes being a half size too small.

Since changing his shoe size, he has been red hot hitting 5 homers, with 16 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .672.