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Cease to Exist, Given My Goodbyes: Clement Demoted

Richard Griffin reports that Matt Clement has been assigned to minor-league camp, leaving three men in the running to break camp in the Jays' rotation:  Brad Mills, who pitches Thursday, Ricky Romero, who threw reasonably effectively yesterday against the Reds (nice John Lennon reference there, Wilner!), and Scott Richmond, who Griffin feels is the odd man out.  I'm not so sure about that myself, and neither is Wilner. 

Clement has not yet decided whether he will accept the minor-league assignment: 

"Trying to give you any insight would be premature," Clement said, with resignation in his voice.

I think two things.  First, I'm not sure there is another team that gives Clement a better chance than the Jays of pitching his way into the rotation.  Second, even though I haven't been too optimistic about Clement pitching effectively in the majors again, I hope he sticks around.  He hasn't been great this spring, but other than his last outing he hasn't been terrible.  We don't know how Janssen's progress will go or when, for different reasons, he, McGowan, and/or Cecil will be ready to pitch in the majors.  If the Jays go with Mills and/or Romero, neither one with much of a track record, and they flame out, we have Richmond, but I'd much prefer Clement as an option to Brian Burres or Mike Maroth.  Clement hasn't pitched in an incredibly long time, so it's worth a little more time to see if he can put his game back together.  Even if he's not pitching well in the minors, I'd much rather throw him into the rotation than have a struggling Romero, Mills, or Cecil trying to pitch at the major league level or a batting practice arm out there. 

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I wonder if Clement would be beat out by Wade Miller....

In a month or so when we might be looking at replacing the 4th or 5th guy? Though I guess it has been a long time since he was a productive major league pitcher.

by Tom Dakers on Mar 24, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions  

Music Geeks and Baseball Fans

Great Pixies reference, so long to Clement. At least it’s now instead of 6 weeks into the season a la Victor Zambrano. Great post.

by LandOfTheLeaf on Mar 24, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions  

yeah!

always great when someone gets a reference. Welcome to the site and stop by anytime!

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Mar 24, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

O's...

will gladely take him. We have nothing for the 3-5 spots and 1-2 isn’t even that great, he’s welcome in balmur!

by wiggitywhales on Mar 25, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions  

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