Team: Seattle Mariners Burning Question Jeff Clement had an up-and-down first full season, being hampered by injuries yet still reaching Triple-A. How close is he to being big-league ready and are there any plans to figure out how to get him into the lineup, considering Kenji Johjima is there in Seattle? More than likely, Clement will be back at Triple-A Tacoma to start the season. And as farm director Frank Mattox pointed out, it's only 30 miles down the road. That being said, Clement still has much to work on, both offensively and behind the plate. Because of injuries, he really didn't get to develop his game-calling and other defensive skills as everyone would have hoped in 2006. That will be a focus this spring and on into the season. Unfortunately, a bruised finger has held him back from playing in camp. Assuming he can stay healthy, it sounds like the clock will be ticking and he just needs some playing time to show he's ready. "We won't hold him back," Mattox said. "When he's ready, we'll make sure he has the opportunity to play." But where? Mattox says there is no plan to have him work at another position. Besides, even if the Mariners had him play first base, Richie Sexson is there. So for now, he'll work on becoming a better all-around catcher, though some feel he's destined to become a very young DH. "The plan is to develop him as a catcher, and that's it," Mattox said. "If it changes, we'll let him know. My goal is to get him ready for when he does get the call. He's very driven and focused. We want to put him in a position that's best for Jeff Clement and for the Mariners." Other News of the Day No one is more excited to be in camp than Juan Sandoval, who's been with the Mariners since signing in July 2000 out of the Dominican Republic. Sandoval missed all of 2006 after a freak accident back home. He was sitting in a restaurant and a shotgun went off, hitting him in the eye. He's now legally blind in his right eye and spent all of 2006 recovering and relearning how to pitch. He's just happy to be able to play baseball and he was able to work a scoreless inning in an early Cactus League game. ... Rob Johnson sometimes gets forgotten because of the presence of Kenji Johjima in the big leagues and Jeff Clement alongside him. But he's really come a long way and his hard work is starting pay off. While Clement has been thought of as bat first, glove second, Johnson is the other way around. He's always had some strength, but he came to camp ready for his offensive game to catch up to his defense. He seems more comfortable in big-league camp and the M's think his offensive game will start coming in 2007. #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #4C8CA8;border-left:1px solid #4C8CA8;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
Five Questions with Bryan LaHair MiLB.com: If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why? BL: Probably Michael Jordan. Just the way he competed, he's a champion. You can't beat that guy. MiLB.com: What is your greatest accomplishment on or off the field? BL: Beating Cuba in Cuba to qualify for the Olympics. It was an undescribable experience we had as a team. Winning in that atmosphere was amazing. MiLB.com: Who is the most unusual character you've come across and why? BL: I'd have to go with Matt Rogelstad. He's one of those guys who brings a lot of life and energy to the field and clubhouse. He's just crazy. MiLB.com: People would be surprised to know that I ... BL: That I bowl. We started bowling a lot. On a good day, I'll bowl around 175. MiLB.com: You've played for Team USA on three different occasions. Why do you keep accepting their invitations? BL: Up until this point, Team USA has been a great experience. I've gotten to play with a great group of guys, travel the world and, best of all, win. I'd have a hard time saying no. Lasting Impression At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, outfielder Michael Wilson looks like he should be able to punish a baseball. In his first big-league camp this spring, the 2001 second-rounder has shown that in this case, looks are not deceiving. Those in the player development department have known about Wilson, who hit a career-high 21 home runs across two levels in 2006, though his average dropped 70 points after he was promoted to Double-A. A switch-hitter when he first entered the system, he's hitting only right-handed now and the Mariners feel he's just getting started. "He's opened up the eyes of some people who haven't seen him at the big-league level," Mattox said. "He needs to cut down on his strikeouts, but he's just scratching the surface of what he can do as an offensive player." Wilson's ears must have been ringing. On the day of MiLB.com's visit to the Peoria complex, the Mariners held their first intrasquad game. Wilson promptly hit a ball over the 32-foot high fence in straightaway center field for what was estimated to be a 500-foot home run. Parting Shots Jeff Clement isn't the only one who'll likely be playing in Tacoma while looking up at an established veteran in his spot in Seattle. Center fielder Adam Jones got his feet wet last year at age 20 (he turned 21 on Aug. 1), but with the addition of Jose Guillen, Ichiro will move to center and Jones will be back learning the nuances of the game in Tacoma. Of course, Guillen is not exactly a sure thing in terms of staying in the lineup, so Jones likely will have his travel bag at the ready at all times. "If we had questions about the hurdles he would have to overcome by sending him, maybe we wouldn't have sent him," Mattox said. "He's confident. He knows what he needs to work on. Sometimes guys get a cup of coffee, then get sent back down. They get so worried about the next call, they forget to keep working." The Mariners are not worried about that with Jones, nor are they concerned about Bryan LaHair continuing to work. While he hasn't had a big-league callup yet, he's had plenty of big-time experience with Team USA and he's coming off a big 2006 during which he hit .309 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs across two levels. He, of course, has Richie Sexson in front of him (through 2008), but so far, hasn't let that bother him. "He's focused in his first big-league camp," Mattox said. "His power is coming and he's got inner confidence." While the situation can be frustrating for prospects at times, Mattox is thrilled. The Mariners system hasn't developed all that much homegrown talent, so the fact they have three upper-level bats almost ready to break through means things are heading in the right direction. "It's a luxury to have prospects behind players on the big-league club," Mattox said. "We need to keep the prospects in line with what they need to work on. They can't control what happens at the big-league level. Our job is to help them mature mentally and make sure they come to the park ready to play every day. Even though it's frustrating at times for them, I wish we had nine of them." Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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