What are the M's doing with Jeff Clement?
As predicted, the M's are nearing .500 before the break. When you look at the schedule, it's not hard to see this is the time they can gain back lost ground. The fact they are doing it is again not that surprising- we KNEW Beltre wasn't a .200 hitter, or Sexson, we KNEW Ichiro wasn't a .240 hitter etc... and the offense has indeed come around and is carrying the club.
Are they a playoff caliber team? Plenty of teams have started off slow and then picked it up the second half. There is no reason the M's can't do it again. Remember '95? Sure we don't have 3 HOF players on the club, but they are worth watching again!
But on to Clement. I find it curious the team is fast tracking our best catching prospect.
To date, Jeff Clement signed with the M's roughly one year ago. In that time he handled himself well in the minors, and his bat looked to be as advertised. We were told his defense needs some serious work, but he still has a chance at least to remain behind the plate.
Starting the year off at AA, Clement played decent before injuring himself. Now that is is healthy again and ready to play, he suddenly is promoted to AAA.
What's up with fast tracking a guy just coming off an injury?
It seems odd to rush a star player in your system when you don't have a glaring need on teh big club. We have a catcher already in the majors who's signed for 3 years. We have a player in Clement who needs time before he catches in Safeco. Clement is at least one year away before you'd even think of making him an everyday player at the major league level.
So, what to make of this promotion? While Johnson is out with personal problems, that's no reason to rush a star player, so I dismiss this as a factor completely.
Upon further review, it seems like the team is giving themselves flexibility. If Clement plays well this month, he might make himself attractive to teams looking to make a trade. The M's have little to nothing they are willing to move on the big club, so perhaps this gives Bavasi options come the trade deadline.
It is possible Kenji could be dangled, but again Clement is no where near ready, so I doubt this is an option.
They could move Everett, but you don't bring up Clement just to DH. He'd lose all opportunity to work on his catching.
If they do indeed bring up Snelling, and move Ibanez to DH where he belongs, then this also rules out bringing him up for his offense.
I don't know, it just seems strange to me to rush Clement to AAA when he still has plenty to learn in an easier environment.
Perhaps the club has looked at his abilities and simply feels he is so talented he wasn't being challenged in AA.
That would be the best reason of all.
As predicted, the M's are nearing .500 before the break. When you look at the schedule, it's not hard to see this is the time they can gain back lost ground. The fact they are doing it is again not that surprising- we KNEW Beltre wasn't a .200 hitter, or Sexson, we KNEW Ichiro wasn't a .240 hitter etc... and the offense has indeed come around and is carrying the club.
Are they a playoff caliber team? Plenty of teams have started off slow and then picked it up the second half. There is no reason the M's can't do it again. Remember '95? Sure we don't have 3 HOF players on the club, but they are worth watching again!
But on to Clement. I find it curious the team is fast tracking our best catching prospect.
To date, Jeff Clement signed with the M's roughly one year ago. In that time he handled himself well in the minors, and his bat looked to be as advertised. We were told his defense needs some serious work, but he still has a chance at least to remain behind the plate.
Starting the year off at AA, Clement played decent before injuring himself. Now that is is healthy again and ready to play, he suddenly is promoted to AAA.
What's up with fast tracking a guy just coming off an injury?
It seems odd to rush a star player in your system when you don't have a glaring need on teh big club. We have a catcher already in the majors who's signed for 3 years. We have a player in Clement who needs time before he catches in Safeco. Clement is at least one year away before you'd even think of making him an everyday player at the major league level.
So, what to make of this promotion? While Johnson is out with personal problems, that's no reason to rush a star player, so I dismiss this as a factor completely.
Upon further review, it seems like the team is giving themselves flexibility. If Clement plays well this month, he might make himself attractive to teams looking to make a trade. The M's have little to nothing they are willing to move on the big club, so perhaps this gives Bavasi options come the trade deadline.
It is possible Kenji could be dangled, but again Clement is no where near ready, so I doubt this is an option.
They could move Everett, but you don't bring up Clement just to DH. He'd lose all opportunity to work on his catching.
If they do indeed bring up Snelling, and move Ibanez to DH where he belongs, then this also rules out bringing him up for his offense.
I don't know, it just seems strange to me to rush Clement to AAA when he still has plenty to learn in an easier environment.
Perhaps the club has looked at his abilities and simply feels he is so talented he wasn't being challenged in AA.
That would be the best reason of all.
posted by Tom at
11:23 AM
