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Posted: **Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:35 pm**

I noticed that Balentien had a 3 homer game the other day. Clement is hitting well, and improving behind the plate. Meanwhile, the Mariners are suffering from poor bat production at the DH, C, and RF positions, arguably losing a few games already this year from lack of production in these areas of the lineup.

Are we going to be too "Mariner conservative" again here? Do we wait until potentially falling 7-8 games back in the standings before we address our need for more bat in the lineup?

WTF! It's getting close to the time where we have to give these guys a chance to produce for us up here, if it hasn't come already.

Sometimes the effing Mariners sit on their hands too long when their is a potential solution at their behest.

Posted: **Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:39 pm**

It's gotta be really pressing to hold off on Balentien before September, given Wilkerson's floundering. I'd call him up soon. Clement, I'd hold off on until next year, when I give him the starting catcher job from Opening Day on, using Johjima as the primary backup and Jamie Burke as the third catcher/pinch hitter.

Posted: **Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:17 pm**

PhilipNelsonFan wrote:It's gotta be really pressing to hold off on Balentien before September, given Wilkerson's floundering. I'd call him up soon. Clement, I'd hold off on until next year, when I give him the starting catcher job from Opening Day on, using Johjima as the primary backup and Jamie Burke as the third catcher/pinch hitter.

Wow! I'm thinking like next week for both of them. :lol:

Posted: **Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:05 am**

Well, apparently both were out of the lineup for Tacoma tonight, so...

Posted: **Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:09 pm**

Why did we re-sign Johjima? Honestly? Should have just traded him away and called up Clement, making him the full-time catcher. I'm tired of seeing him waste away his time in the minors.

As for Wlad the Impaler, he has struggled a bit this season but I would definitely like to see him get his cuts in place of Wilkerson. He produced fairly well at the end of last year.

Posted: **Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:09 pm**

Well they were brought up today. That takes care of that.

Posted: **Thu May 1, 2008 2:01 pm**

And they went a combined 3-for-5 with a home run in their first game. If they can just do that in every game we're in good shape.

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 3:18 am**

Ex-hippie wrote:And they went a combined 3-for-5 with a home run in their first game. If they can just do that in every game we're in good shape.

Well, that hasn't really happened...

I think Clement's showing progress though, and when Balentien gets ahold of a pitch he just kills the damned thing. That home run he just hit in Texas was pretty impressive.

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 4:30 pm**

Anybody know if Balentien has any experience playing first base? Just looking ahead to next season, if the M's pursue Griffey and are able to bring up someone like Michael Saunders, it's going to be a crowded outfield.

Also, speaking of outfielders in the minor league system, has anybody noticed that an old friend is on an absolute tear down at Tacoma?

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 5:13 pm**

Is there really a logjam, though? If Ibanez walks after this season, the Mariners could theoretically have an OF of Griffey*/Ichiro/Balentien with Saunders taking over Griffey

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 5:52 pm**

I assume Ibanez will re-sign. When he came back from exile in KC he said that Seattle was the only place he wanted to be, and he signed back-to-back hometown discount deals in the $5 million range. If they can just sign him for a couple more years in the same price range, I won't call it a "discount" anymore, but he'll be worth it.

If Bavasi trades anything nearly as valuable as Balentien or Saunders -- or for that matter, trades anything valuable -- for what's left of Griffey, I may well be finished with this team.

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 6:33 pm**

At this point...I am unsure why the team wouldn't think about calling Reed up, DFA'ing Cairo, and maybe then putting Reed in LF while moving Ibanez to DH would be detrimental.

I guess that does leave the question of where to put Clement...I doubt his future is at catcher any more right now, so I'm guessing he's going to get some reps at 1B sometime. Or put Ibanez at first...doesn't really matter to me.

Posted: **Tue May 13, 2008 8:10 pm**

Ex-hippie wrote:I assume Ibanez will re-sign. When he came back from exile in KC he said that Seattle was the only place he wanted to be, and he signed back-to-back hometown discount deals in the $5 million range. If they can just sign him for a couple more years in the same price range, I won't call it a "discount" anymore, but he'll be worth it.

If Bavasi trades anything nearly as valuable as Balentien or Saunders -- or for that matter, trades anything valuable -- for what's left of Griffey, I may well be finished with this team.

I don

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 4:51 am**

We've got to somehow parlay the expiring contracts of Vidro, Sexson, Washburn, and Ibanez into something to give us a few kicks in the arse at the plate next year.

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 2:51 pm**

Bulltalk wrote:We've got to somehow parlay the expiring contracts of Vidro, Sexson, Washburn, and Ibanez into something to give us a few kicks in the arse at the plate next year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I think Washburn has one more year after this?

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 3:33 pm**

Well, looks like we

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 5:36 pm**

Clement's numbers don't sparkle, and the end result of many of his plate appearances was a strikeout, but he was seeing a lot of pitches in his at bats and showing a lot of patience. And it seemed like he was finally starting to get going in Texas...then he rode the bench, and got demoted.

Calling up Reed was a good idea. After all, the team's lack of bench outfield options was apparent the other day when Cairo had to play left field.

But going back to Vidro...have we learned nothing? Why not put Reed in LF and Ibanez at DH? I'm 100% certain that Reed will hit better than Vidro has, while giving us a clear defensive upgrade in LF.

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 5:47 pm**

Sweezo wrote:Clement's numbers don't sparkle, and the end result of many of his plate appearances was a strikeout, but he was seeing a lot of pitches in his at bats and showing a lot of patience. And it seemed like he was finally starting to get going in Texas...then he rode the bench, and got demoted.

Calling up Reed was a good idea. After all, the team's lack of bench outfield options was apparent the other day when Cairo had to play left field.

But going back to Vidro...have we learned nothing? Why not put Reed in LF and Ibanez at DH? I'm 100% certain that Reed will hit better than Vidro has, while giving us a clear defensive upgrade in LF.

Stop being so logical. Your type isn't welcome around here.

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm**

Clement's numbers don't sparkle, and the end result of many of his plate appearances was a strikeout, but he was seeing a lot of pitches in his at bats and showing a lot of patience. And it seemed like he was finally starting to get going in Texas...then he rode the bench, and got demoted.

My issue is: why call him up in the first place, burning one of his options, if this is how you

Posted: **Mon May 19, 2008 7:57 pm**

Basketball Jesus wrote:Because this team is stupid and it

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Clement and Balentien: How Much Longer Can We Wait?

Clement and Balentien: How Much Longer Can We Wait?