What to Think of Jeff Clement

One of the many stories of the spring has to do with the education of Jeff Clement. Clement, a former catcher, has been working at first base to learn the position as the team feels that might be the best place for his bat. As a catcher he was not much of one, but at first base he might be able to play serviceable defense.

The reports seem to show that Clement is picking up the position fairly well, but until we see him in any games, we really don't know. That tends to the be case with defense, it is not until you see all the myriad of possibilities that can happen in a game, that you know if they can play defense.

To me that thinking of Clement's defense is the issue is somewhat off. What do we even know about his bat? Granted he was a former high draft pick that was highly regarded, but will it really matter if he turns into a gold glover at first base, but cannot hit.

Take a look at his statistics from the minors:

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
408	1761	1526	248	431	109	7	67	276	3	5	187	314	.282	.370	.495	.865

Those are stats from over a five year period in the minor leagues. There is a good deal to like there from the raw power to a rather decent batting average. The plate discipline is not all that out of whack either. Looks like a pretty good prospect.

Then look at it compared to this brief major league numbers over 2 seasons:

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
75	243	219	21	52	11	1	7	26	0	1	18	66	.237	.309	.393	.701

Now those don't look to be numbers that would get anyone really excited. The power is still there, but the guy turns into quite the hacker in the major leagues. The pitching clearly took a step up from the PCL.

Looking at what he has done in the major leagues, there is no reason to think that he is capable of being a major league caliber hitter. If anything we might get a good dose of power, but at what cost defensively, as well as offensively when the power is not there?

I leave with one final thought. If Clement is good enough offensively, as seems to be the assumption as we only need to find a position for him, why did he not play at DH in Seattle? There is a position where he only needs to use his bat, but yet the Mariners did not think enough of that bat to put him there. Instead they trotted out Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Sweeney.

If the assumption is that defense has kept Clement out of the majors, then why could he have not played a position where that is all that is required. It looks like he may be a lot more than a work in progress.