Comments on: Johjima & Clement

By: Vidya

Vidya — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:53:50 +0000

I think Zduriencik is just giving his manager as many options as he can. In the end it will be up to the players to make the decision. Both will get a chance in ST and at the start of the regular season.

I’m not assuming “Z” will sign either Dunn or Griffey. Right now my bet is on Clement to get the most starts at catcher in 2009, but it is not a bet with real money.

Getting another player as a primary DH certainly does mean that Burke is likely to be traded or released, but not until late March.

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:33:17 +0000

Yes, that’s the whole problem that the Jeff Clement debate is centered around. If he can manage to improve his defense and stay healthy behind the plate, he projects as a great hitting catcher. However, that same offensive production would only be about average from the first base position.

Now, you can get away with that if you’ve got some major offensive production from a position that is typically weak hitting, like 2B, SS or CF, which Seattle could have in Gutierrez and Lopez (not to mention guys like Triunfel and Halman), but we’ll see.

I would love for him to get the majority of the starts behind the plate next season for better or worse, but obviously Kenji’s presence throws a big wrench into everything.

By: Walrus

Walrus — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:48:10 +0000

Stranded,
I wish I had your optimism, but …
I think the best we can hope for is that Z gets good trade value for Clement now.
I highly doubt that Clement EVER hits enough to be as “good” as Branyan, let alone an effective and productive 1B / DH type.
Oh how I hope that I am wrong.

By: Stranded Mariner

Stranded Mariner — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:39:30 +0000

I don’t think Jeff Clement is a lost cause who should be traded to clear this horrible logjam at catcher. His defense certainly needs to improve, particularly with respect to throwing out baserunners. If he does not improve enough, or if his knees are an issue/concern, I would really like to see him moved to first base.

Regardless, let’s not give up on him! He’s a power-hitting lefty — perfect for Safeco. And while his overall numbers were not good last year, we cannot forget that he really started coming on in the final months before his surgery, hitting .325 in August with over half of his RBI’s for the whole season. He struggled for his first few months, but lots of rookies do.

I just know that if we trade him now, it will have been too early and he’ll go on to great things with another team.

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:34:50 +0000

A lot of you are awfully optimistic about being able to move Johjima, but where are you moving him to? (I’ll add that the Johjima-for-Lugo idea I had awhile ago doesn’t seem all that realistic the more I think about it. Boston is smart enough not to make that deal.)

Also, I like Jaime Burke in the Crash Davis role as some of you have mentioned, but Rob Johnson has nothing left to prove in AAA. He’s not expected to become a starter, so there is no reason for him not to be the backup at the big league level if there’s room. I love Burkey as much as the next guy, but it is unnecessary.

By: Walrus

Walrus — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:42:39 +0000

Unfortunately, I think the die is cast for Clement.
2 knee surgeries in 3 years, and he still needs a lot of work – but his knees can not take the pounding.
Clement needs to be traded, if Z can still get anything good for him. I just hope there are teams out there that view Clement still as a catcher.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:33:08 +0000

The bad news is this is kind of a rock and a hard place.

The good news is, I think we all can feel much more comfortable with whatever GM Zoinks will do than what Bavasi would’ve done during his tenure.

I think last year was a down year and Kenji should be given a good look this year to see if he’s feeling 2006, or 2008. If the former, Clement should/could get some good time at DH/1B depending on signings and what happens in the end with Lopez. If the latter, I see no reason as to why he doesn’t deserve benching. He may be making a ridiculous paycheck to ride the pine, but at least his riding the pine in this situation would be helping a lot more than him actually playing (and sucking.)

By: BoiseM

BoiseM — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:20:27 +0000

I think you start the season with a straight platoon of Clement and Johjima. Clement gets the lion’s share of playing time…occasionally getting a start against back of the rotation lefties.

Meanwhile you do anything/everything possible to move Johjima while still saving face for him…as much as that is possible…include him as a throw in on a deal and quietly eat some of his contract.

Sign Burke to a major/minor leage contract, start Johnson in Tacoma and give Moore a ST invite and send him to DoubleAA to start the season where he gets more PT.

Clement gets until the ASB to prove that he deserves to stick or doesn’t.

At that point you make the decision between Moore and Johnson as to whom is the future backup/replacement for Clement.

Burke serves as “Crash Davis”/insurance against injury or a complete flop by Clement and Johjima.

By: chris d

chris d — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:38:00 +0000

I believe that Clement has always hit poorly when he first arrived at a minor league level, AAA included. He should have had more DH time last year instead of Vidro, how ridiculous. Same for Balentine, more playing time. Making the jump to ML level is very very difficult and both need some time to adjust.

By: raffish

raffish — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:28:30 +0000

Johjima needs to go, and if someone wants to give us any $$ for him, great. We’ve suffered with two really bad years of Miguel Batista (ok, one of them is coming up), for about the same money. We can lump another wasted investment.

Johnson should back up Clement in Seattle, with Moore in AAA. Clement sees the bulk of the starts with Johnson spelling him. On his off days, Clement should DH when it makes sense, giving the full time DH, (whomever we pick up), a rest.

Clement shouldn’t go to waste. Let’s find out what he can do. If he can’t cut it at catcher, we trade him to someone who believes they can.

Then we usher in the Adam Moore era.

By: bakomariner

bakomariner — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:06:56 +0000

First off, let me preface this by saying that Kenji did a great job, and it was exciting to see the first Japanese import catcher in MLB history not only play for the Ms, but play well…

But I think he’s done…Sexson, Vidro done…so here is what I would do…

While he is off playing with Team Japan, I tell him to head back to the island with them when it’s over…I would either sell/trade him to a team in Japan, or just eat the money and cut him…he’s done a good job, but his contract wasn’t on Z’s watch and he shouldn’t have to deal with it…

Next, you resign Burke to be the back-up to Clement…Jeff starts against righties, Burke against lefties…you might say a platoon would hurt Jeff’s development, but with the bad knees, the days off would be good in the long run…

You leave Moore and Johnson in the minors for fine-tuning…if one proves he is ready, you call him up at the all-star break and then either demote Burke to keep around for injuries, or if he doesn’t want it, trade or release him…

We have a lot of GOOD catchers, and one BAD one in Kenji…why keep him around?

Love the site…it’s been added to my daily reads with USSMariner and Prospect Insider…keep up the great articles…