Welcome Back Old Friend, Says Tacoma

by Matthew on Mar 29, 2009 10:29 AM PDT in Bad News Comment 18 comments

As you have probably seen, Jeff Clement is going to start the season in Tacoma. This is not good news in any way, shape or form. Clement has demonstrated before that he has nothing further to learn offensively from obliterating pitching at the Triple-A level. And what's worse is that if he does founder in Tacoma, his trade profile suddenly becomes that of a catcher who cannot catch or hit rather than as a prolific offensive prospect with lingering doubts about if he can stay at catcher. In other words, it drops to nil.

Also complicating things is the sheer abundance of top-level catchers we have. Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson, Jamie Burke and Adam Moore all belong somewhere in the state of Washington and that's two more catchers than you want in that situation. Sad to say since he was fun to root for, but Jamie Burke is easily the most expendable out of this five-um.

Something is going to break this dam open soon. Adam Moore posted a 900 OPS in Double-A last season, there's no reason for him to repeat at that level. Johjima isn't going anywhere with that contract, even Rob Johnson put up an impressive 2008 campaign with an 800 OPS in Tacoma, at age 24. Retarding Jeff Clement's progress is possibly retarding both Johnson and Moore as well. They all need playing time, but they also all need to move up a level. Jeff Clement simply has to improve enough to make it back to Seattle and he has to do it quickly or else the priorities of Adam Moore may soon overshadow his.

Moving to the Seattle roster, one thing this does do is clear up any thoughts on who would be the DH. There's now nobody standing behind Griffey needing to get playing time. I pray Balentien gets the DH starts with a lefty on the mound, but now there should be no question that it's Junior's spot against all others. It's one less positional crunch on the big roster for now and that's nice at least.

Furthermore, the abadonment of the idea of the possibility of lineups consisting of Clement at DH and Johjima at C means that there is now zero justification to carry three catchers on the roster meaning that demoting Clement opens up another bench spot, making another decision easier. Still, easier decisions on who to keep and award playing time to are not enough to outweight the negatives of the roster losing some of its ceiling in the short term and that is what Jeff Clement represents. Get better, Jeff. We need you.

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Rats

by abender20 on Mar 29, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Glad I got that furious anger out. That was therapeutic.

I’m not sure what to make of this. I realize that, in all likelihood, Clement wasn’t going to get significant DH at bats in Seattle. Johjima is clearly a serious impediment based on his contract, although man did he look awful in the WBC.
As much as I’d hate to see Clement get the Adam Jones 2007 treatment, I’m going to be seriously disappointed if he isn’t back on the big league club or traded for something of value early in the season. How the organization handles Clement will be a big test, in my eyes. They’ve proved adept at stuffing the car full of clowns, but between the Sweeney decision and now Clement, I’m waiting to see if they are as good at driving it into the big top.

by abender20 on Mar 29, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Morrow news is adding another point against the FO's roster management skills

by abender20 on Mar 29, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's more of an indictment of the Bavasi regime.

Things probably would be different had they resisted the temptation to call Morrow up and use him in the bullpen in 2007.

by BrianL on Mar 29, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/3/29/814306/clement-to-aaa#13498545

It seems like Clement has to get good soon or were better off trading him.

by JI on Mar 29, 2009 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

While I'm mad at least he's getting full playing time at Catcher...

I like Clement I think he’s a lesser Piazza and he’ll probably be one of our best lefty power bats in our organization until Raben comes around.

You got slurved bitch.

by Slurvey on Mar 29, 2009 11:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The gap between the two defensively is huge.

by JI on Mar 29, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweeney could be your starting DH too.

by JI on Mar 29, 2009 11:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, the only ray of light I can see in this

is if he is being sent down to work on his D and game calling it suggests that the organization is willing to invest in him as a long term catcher. I have a hard time seeing this as a long term move, and I sincerely hope that Clement is back up in Seattle come May.

Besides, his last several months as a pro were spent getting overwhelmed by Major League pitches and striking out in a third of his PA while walking in 7. Maybe it would be good for him to regain a little confidence with the bat and behind the plate so he’s not trying to learn a dozen things at once.

I will wait to rend my garments and pour ashes on my head until I see how this plays out.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 29, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade please.

If he lights up AAA pitching as he should, his value may never be higher. I think Dave said it sometime last year that his value on the big league club is tied directly to his position, and, IMO, we’ve seen that he will never be a “great” big league catcher, in terms of defense.

We have Johjima, he’s not going anywhere. Moore is the future.

Please don’t stab me Graham.

by Omerta on Mar 29, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who would you trade him to

and for what? As you say, his value is tied to his position and if the Mariners don’t see him as a catcher why should anyone else? It’s no longer a secret that he may not stick behind the plate and it’s not like he put up the kind of numbers last year that would make a GM forget about his defensive game.

If Moore is for real then I’m all for trading Clement but I have a hard time imagining a trade I’d be happy with.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 29, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a particular person or trade in mind.

The trust this GM has cultivated over the past few months makes me to believe that Z will be able to maximize his return. Furthermore, I believe there are still some old school GMs or old school assistants who have the GM’s ears (OR old school ownership groups) that may be bamboozled into overvaluing Clement at this point. I mean, Bill Bavasi still has a job, that’s got to say something.

Honestly, I’d rather Clement would’ve just hit at the major league level and played a decent catcher. Since we haven’t seen either, I’m not surprised that this is where we find ourselves today.

by Omerta on Mar 29, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think it may be time to accept Jeff Clement isn't going to amount to much.

Top prospects bust, unfortunately. His best bet might be as a career DH. If he can mold himself into the next Edgar, losing him at catcher won’t hurt so bad. I just don’t want to see his struggles impede on others’ development, as already mentioned.

Here’s hoping Clement can at least become a solid major league hitter.

by Wilder. on Mar 29, 2009 11:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, what the hell can Clement do at Tacoma?

If he works at his defence, improves, and doesn’t hit… what?

If he’s normal Clement, his defence sucks, and he obliterates AAA pitching… what?

This is retarded

by Graham on Mar 29, 2009 1:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Silver lining?

Since so many pitchers don’t like pitching to Johjima, Rob Johnson, who can call a good game and plays the best defense of any of our catchers, might get lots of playing time. If he hits like he did last year in AAA, and this spring, he starts looking like he might reach the ceiling I think he has: Dan Wilson.

This situation makes for the possibility of enhancing both Clement and Johnson’s trade value and clearing the way for Moore next year. Teams have asked about both Clement and Johnson, and I think as much as the blogosphere thinks poorly of Johnson, there are some front offices that see the potential that I do. If Clement tears it up in AAA he might get some real value along with one of the arms we picked up this year.

by micahjr on Mar 29, 2009 1:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how crushing AAA again improves his trade value.

Clement hasn’t been able to hit major-league pitching. Other teams know he’s good enough to mash AAA, so a good performance in Tacoma shouldn’t really change anything. Giving him a few hundred more at-bats against MLB pitchers is more likely to give him a bump in value.

by Teej on Mar 29, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs