Posse prospect Clement promoted to majors

Out goes the GM, up comes Clement....coincidence, I think not.

The Seattle Mariners have recalled catcher Jeff Clement from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned outfielder Wladimir Balentien.

Clement is making his second appearance with the M's this season, as he went 8-for-48 (.167) with two doubles, a triple and two RBI in 15 games with the club from April 30-May 18.

Down on the Farm: Friday June 13th

Star of the Day:
Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
Jason went 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a stolen base. He also scored a run and moved his numbers to .328/.383/.492. Very good numbers in a primary pitcher friendly park.


AAA:
Jeff Clement - DH - Tacoma Rainers
Jeff has been only hitting at a .237 clip over the last 10 games, but he made contact for a couple base it today over 5 ABs. Both hits were for singles and he scored once.

Down on the Farm: Tuesday June 10th

Star of the Day:
Neftali Feliz - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Neftali has a dominating appearance over five innings. He gave up only one run after allowing six runners on base. The highlight of the game were his nine strikeouts. On the season he has thrown 63 innings, allowing 43 hits, 21 walks and striking out 72. Opponents are only hitting .198 against him.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacoma Rainiers
Clement went 1 for 5 with his 14 homerun of the season. On the season in Tacoma Clement is hitting .364/.484/.746. Makes you wonder when Seattle will give him a full breakfast to go with his recent cup of coffee.

Low A:
Matt Dominguez - 3B - Greensboro Grasshoppers
Dominiguez is on a roll as he got his 3rd consecutive multi-hit game on the year. After being a first round draft pick in 2007 and then hitting .158/.183/.246 in short season ball, Dominguez is showing his true talent. He is hitting .333/.403/.467. This strong defensive youngster needs to start showing some power.

Jordan Walden - SP - Cedar Rapids Kernals
Jordan had a solid start going 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. On the season he is has pitched 69.2 innings, allowing 55 hits, 20 walks, and has struck out 56 batters. Walden has only allowed 3 homeruns on the season.

Hank Conger - C - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Conger has his second multi-hit game in a row. He went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and 3 RBI's. He is now hitting .273/.306/.455 on the season.

Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Burgess went 1 for 3 with a double, a run, a RBI and a walk. He has struggled the last 10 games by only hitting .219 but has supported that with 6 walks over 32 ABs and 5 of his 7 hits being for extra bases.

Down on the Farm : Wednesday June 4th

Star of the Day:
Jordan Walden - SP - Cedar Rapids Kernals
Walden tossed a great game today, going 7 innings and allowing only 1 hit and 2 walks in a complete game shutout. He struck out 9.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacome Rainers
Not a typical night for Jeff, but he did go 1 for 4 with an RBI.

AA:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
This list is becoming a common occurance for this red hot player. Maybin goes 2 for 4 with a walk tonight. He got his 5 extra base hit in the last three games with a double. Cameron also added a run and 2 more RBI's.

Japan:
Yu Darvish - SP - Nippon Ham Fighters
Darvish threw another strong complete game for the Fighters, but took the loss as he did not get much support. Yu went 9 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 7. He allowed 5 of his 6 hits in 2 innings to give up 3 runs.

Down on the Farm : Tuesday June 3rd

Star of the Day:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Maybin gets the star of the day for the second day in the row. Today he went 3 for 5 with his fourth triple and 10th homerun for the year. He supported that by scoring 2 runs and driving in 2 others.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacome Rainers
Clement had another good night going 2 for 4 with his 11th homerun on the year. He also scored a run and drove in two.

Down on the Farm : Monday June 2nd

Star of the Day:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Cameron has all the talent in world but needs to make more consistent contact. Today was probably his best game of the season as he went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI's and 2 homeruns. Both his homeruns were off a very good pitcher in Jake McGee.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - DH - Tacome Rainers
Not sure why the Mariners are playing Jose Vidro and Richie Sexson over this Clement...he just keeps raking. Clement went 2 for 4 with a run scored in what would be an okay game for Clement in 2008.

Low A:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberJacks
Another great start for Beavan who should be considered for a midseason promotion to High A. Beavan went 7 innings giving up 6 hits, one walk and a lone strikeout.

Down on the Farm: Monday May 26th

Star of the Day:
Chris Marrero - 1B - Potomac Nationals
One day, Posse management see Marrero in either left field or at first base. With Barry Bonds retiring soon, an opening will be available soon but Chris must have more days like this. Marrero went 2 for 3 with three runs scored, two RBI's, a double, a homerun and two walks.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacoma Rainers
What a surprise, Jeff Clement! Clement went one for three on the day hitting a 2 run homerun to give him nine on the season. He also showed his patience by adding another walk to his season total.

Jeff Niemann - SP - Durham Bulls
Every start Jeff has had this year he has been lights out. In his sixth start of the season, Niemann tossed five innings allowing only an unearned run while giving up four hits, one walk and striking out two. On the season he has tossed 26.1 innings in AAA, allowing 18 hits, eight walks, and striking out 22.

AA:
Cameron Mayin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Maybin went 2 for 4 with two runs scored, and one RBI. He showed his patience/power/speed combination by walking for his 31st time this season, he hit his 7th homerun, and he stole two bases to give him twelve on the season.

Low A:
Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Burgess went 2 for 5 today with two runs scored, two RBI's, a double and a stolen base. This was Burgess' second consecutive multi-hit game and fourth in the last five games.

Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Beavan may be the most consistent pitcher of a very strong Posse pitching farm. He threw another six innings, allowing only four hits and striking out four. On the season he has thrown 31 innings, allowing 26 hits and only one walk!

Down on the Farm: Friday May 23rd

Star of the Day:
Matt Dominguez - 3B - Greensboro Grasshoppers
After struggling in late 2007 and then starting this season fighting mono, Dominguez has a huge "second" night in 2008 by going 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Posse management hope that one of Josh Vitters or Matt Dominguez will be ready to replace Aramis Ramirez in a few years.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacome Rainers
Another day, another homerun for Jeff Clement. Clement being on this list is a common occurrance as he went 2 for 5 today with a solo homerun, his eighth of the year. We expect Jeff to be in the majors soon, but this time for good.

AA:
Chris Volstad - SP - Carolina Mudcats
Volstad did not have a great game at all, but it still made this list. Chris tossed five innings, giving up nine hits and two walks. The one positive is that he struck out six batters. Volstad was looking like he was knocking on the major league door, but his last two starts may mean this will not happen until next year.

Low A:
Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Another name that has been consistently on this list the last few weeks is Michael Burgess. Michael struggled at the beginning of this season, but tonight he went 3 for 4 and got his second triple of the season. He scored one run and knocked in three.

Down on the Farm: Thursday May 22nd

Star of the Day:
Blake Beavan, SP, Clinton Lumberjacks
Blake was late starting with Clinton this season, but has been spectacular since he has taken the mound. Today's start was the best of his young career as he went five shutout innings of one hit ball. Beavan struck out three, while walking none. Beavan is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA on the season.

AAA:
Jeff Clement, C, Tacoma Rainers
This is becoming common practice for the AAA catcher. Jeff homered in his third consecutive game, knocking out his seventh via the solo variety. Clement also walked in the game, another common practice.

Low A:
Michael Burgess, RF, Hagerstown Suns
Not sure this is a positive thing, but Burgess went 1 for 5 with a run scored and 4 strikeouts.

Dellin Betances, SP, Charleston RiverDogs
Dellin had some control problems today as he walked six batter over 4.1 innings, but he also did not allow many hits, two, and therefore few runners, two, to score. Betances has now thrown 55 innings, allowing only 37 hits but 40 walks and 64 strikeouts.

Down on the Farm: Wednesday May 21st

Star of the Day:
Jeff Clement, DH, Tacoma Rainers, AAA
For the second day in a row, Clement makes are "Down on te Farm" report. This time he went 1 for 3 on the night, with a homerun, 2 walks, 2 runs scored and 4 RBI's. If Jeff continues these hitting ways he should be back in the majors shortly and playing a role at catcher, first base and designated hitter with the Posse.

High A:
Chris Marrero, 1B, Potomac Nationals
Chris was one of the fast risers in 2007 for the Posse franchise, but has been struggling in 2008 hitting just .245/.335/.419. On this day Marrero had a strong day going 2 for 3 with a homerun, walk, two runs scored and an RBI.

Low A:
Michael Burgess, RF, Hagerstown Suns
The Posse franchise does not have much power potential in the minor league system, and the ones that do hit for power have predominately struggled this season. Michael Burgess is the third power hitter to make this list today as he went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Japan:
Yu Darvish, SP, Nippon Ham Fighters
Yu has had an amazing year, or should we say career, in Japan. Today was a bad line for Yu as he went 7 innings, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. All hits were singles as he allowed 2 runs in the game. Yes, that is a bad line for Darvish!

Down on the Farm: Tuesday May 20th

Star of the Day:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats (AA)
Cameron has struggled this year to keep his batting average up and much of that is due to his ability to be patient. He improved his average to .247 by going 2 for 5 with a homerun, stolen base and 2 runs scored.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacoma Rainers
A torrid start to the season for Clement gave him a promotion to the majors where he struggled bad. Back in AA now, Jeff went 1 for 4 with a double.

High A:
Jeremy Hellickson - SP - Vero Beach
Jeremy has been unbelievable the last one plus years, but had a bad start yesterday. He went 5 innings allowing 7 hits, no walks and struck out 3. He still picked up the win to go 5-0 with a 1.92 ERA on the season.

Low A:
Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
Jason continues his consistent ways going 2 for 5 with 2 singles and a run scored. He is hitting .329 on the season and probably will see a mid-season promotion from the constantly losing Rome franchise.

Prospect Report - Jeff Clement

Jeff Clement had an up-and-down first full season, being hampered by injuries yet still reaching Triple-A. The big question is how close is he to being big-league ready?

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."