SEATTLE (AP) -When Jeff Clement made his highly anticipated jump from the minors to Seattle’s starting lineup in late April, the Mariners still held onto hopes of salvaging a disappointing start.
Those hopes are clearly gone now with the team 22 games under .500 and holding the worst record in baseball.
But Clement returned to the Mariners on Tuesday after being called up from Triple-A Tacoma after Monday night’s game, with the intention of rectifying a sluggish debut in his first stint with the team.
“I think I had a little tension every time I stepped up to the plate trying to do to much and that’s obviously my own fault,” Clement said of his 15-game stint in late-April and early May.
Clement’s return continues the theme of changes that manager John McLaren alluded to Monday when the team fired general manager Bill Bavasi and McLaren moved Ichiro Suzuki back to right field for the first time since late in the 2006 season. Seattle optioned outfielder Wladimir Balentien to Tacoma to clear a spot for Clement.
Clement wasn’t in the lineup Tuesday, but will become the Mariners’ majority catcher, potentially catching three or four times a week. Kenji Johjima will be catch some and serve as designated hitter, and McLaren said all pitcher-catcher combos – namely Erik Bedard’s preference to have backup Jamie Burke as his catcher – are done with.
“We don’t have any combinations anymore. The combinations are done. I’m tired of combinations,” McLaren said. “We’re just going to put the best team we think we can win and that’s that.”
Clement struggled in his first stint in the majors this season, hitting just .171 with no homers and a mere two RBIs. But Clement quickly rediscovered his swing at Tacoma, hitting .287 with nine doubles, nine homers and 23 RBIs in just 23 games since May 19.
His comfort level with playing in Tacoma contributed to the quick turnaround. Now Clement’s goal is transferring the same success up the road in Seattle.
“I was really frustrated with myself for allowing things to get to me that weren’t in my control,” Clement said. “Obviously it was a good opportunity to go back down and get a little confidence and start hitting the ball better again.”
McLaren is going to try and help with the transition by catching Clement instead of using him mostly as a designated hitter, as he did in his first stint.
“We’re going to try and get him settled better, and let him catch and let his mind be on the total game than just sitting around,” McLaren said. “We’re going to try and do it a little bit different this time around.”
Add A Comment