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« Mailbag: Lopez, Colon, Cano | Main | Kazmir Too Pricey For Rays? »
Matt Clement Rumors
FROM 12-31-07 at 11:20am: Wuerz says Clement balked at the idea of a minor league deal with the Cardinals.
FROM 12-30-07 at 12:26pm: John Perrotto believes Clement is leaning towards the Pirates or Indians, partly because of a new home he built in Butler, PA (same place he was born).
FROM 12-30-07 at 2:10am:
Here's a rumor I missed from a couple of days ago. Scott Wuerz of the Belleville News-Democrat, a Southern Illinois newspaper, indicated in his blog that the Cardinals were close to signing Matt Clement. Haven't seen recent buzz about this in the Post-Dispatch, but maybe Wuerz has the scoop.
Other teams previously linked to Clement: the Royals, Mariners, Blue Jays, Rockies, Pirates, Indians, and Phillies. The Astros pulled out and the Padres seem full. Clement underwent rotator cuff surgery in September of 2006, with his agent comparing the procedure to that of Drew Brees.
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New here in Taiwan is reporting that Chin-Hui Tsao (former top ROckies prospect and pitched for the Dodgers this year) has signed a minor league deal with the Royals.
seems like a good low risk high reward move for the royals.
Posted by: Yu Hsing Chen | December 30, 2007 at 03:40 AM
a weak attempt from the cardinals to get a #4 or #5 starter
Posted by: hawkeyes12990 | December 30, 2007 at 07:55 AM
I wouldn't call it a weak attempt.
He had pretty good stuff when he pitched for Boston in the MLB...http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=136725
Posted by: Positive/Negative | December 30, 2007 at 08:45 AM
Matt Clement is horrible and and I wouldnt put him on my team even if he was free of charge.
However at this point anybody can pitch in the NL so I can see why they would gamble even on a loser like Clement.
Posted by: slashieboy | December 30, 2007 at 09:11 AM
He should fit right in with the rest of the M*A*S*H unit.
Posted by: plh903 | December 30, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Positive/Negative~ luckily for the cardinals they don't play in the AL East. If you look at his NL Central numbers he's a .500 pitcher who averaged 195 innings with an ERA around 3.8.
At this point why wouldn't the Cards take a chance on him. Is Clement gonna make them worse?? I doubt it, but he could make them better. Time will tell, but I think he's worth the chance.
Posted by: muidomi84 | December 30, 2007 at 11:25 AM
At danger of overhyping damaged goods - Clement has always had very plus stuff and was regarded very highly in the minors after the Pads converted him from a position player. Sickels called him a top-5 pitching prospect in all of baseball '98 and '99. Neither here nor there, and pitchers coming off shoulder injuries scare me much more than Tommy John guys, but it's worth saying that Clement is (was) very talented. I still like him, but don't know anything of his physical condition.
BTW, Sickels's lists:
1999
Rick Ankiel - Cardinals
Brad Penny - Diamondbacks
Bruce Chen - Braves
Matt Clement - Padres
Ryan Anderson - Mariners
1998
Carl Pavano - Expos
Kerry Wood - Cubs
Matt Clement - Padres
Scott Elarton - Astros
Kris Benson - Pirates
Posted by: Comma8 | December 30, 2007 at 11:50 AM
i still think its a weak attempt..his velocity will be down..id rather take an attempt on someone like kris benson who can get people out with high velocity
Posted by: hawkeyes12990 | December 30, 2007 at 12:23 PM
i still think its a weak attempt..his velocity will be down..id rather take an attempt on someone like kris benson who can get people out without high velocity
Posted by: hawkeyes12990 | December 30, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Wow - what would the list for 2007 look like?
Hughes
Chamberlin
Buchholz
Lincecum
Bailey
Looking at lists of other top prospects helps keep proper perspective when looking at current talent. Out of all of 98 and 99 only one pitcher has really done well - Penny. The others have been (1) injured or (2) under-performed.
Posted by: bjsguess | December 30, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Clement would be a good four starter in the Central.
BJ's Guess:
"Wow - what would the list for 2007 look like?
Hughes
Chamberlin
Buchholz
Lincecum
Bailey"
Chamberlain wouldn't even be on the list. The 2007 list would be Hughes, Buchholtz, Kershaw, Lincecum, and then either Bailey or Lester.
For Joba Chamberlain analysis go to http://ultimatebaseball-cGouds.blogspot.com
Posted by: C-Gouds' UltimateBaseball | December 30, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Hughes and Lester Aren't rookies anymore. And Baily is way better than Lester.
Posted by: Joe | December 30, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Chamberlain should be on the list, too.
Posted by: Joe | December 30, 2007 at 01:55 PM
uh in case any of the you guys who are saying Joba Chamberlain wont dominate as a starter were wondering
Joba stats in the minor as a starter were 9-2, 2.45 era, 88.1 innings 135 strikeouts with only 27 walks. opponents hit .198 off him. if thats not a major league calibar ace stuff..then i dont know what is
Posted by: hawkeyes12990 | December 30, 2007 at 02:39 PM
To me this is like the Prior signing. I think that if healthy he can contribute, and possibly have a good year. I am assuming this is an incentive laden contract. I don’t think this is a bad signing unless the contract is for more than 2 years and has a lot of guaranteed money.
Posted by: Bleacher_Buddha | December 30, 2007 at 03:14 PM
hawkeye,
I know that Joba sounds like he could be an ace but there are lots of guys who tore up AAA and didn’t pan out in the Bigs. I am not doubting Joba but I am just saying that for every even Kevin Millwood there are many more Scott Elartons.
Posted by: Bleacher_Buddha | December 30, 2007 at 03:19 PM
C-Gouds...I do not see how that is analysis...Just your blog...Complaining about not being able to buy Maine's jersey at Modells...
Posted by: RedSoxHater3 | December 30, 2007 at 03:27 PM
I think Clement is going to have some solid innings in him the next couple of years. In Boston he was an All-Star pitcher before he got hit in the face with a line drive. After that he wasn't mentally ready and it showed in his pitching.
After sitting out the year and tweaking his mechanics to be better prepared to defend after he releases, I think he'll be ready to go and be a good #3 starter in the NL.
Posted by: NGGriffey | December 30, 2007 at 04:57 PM
C-Gouds' UltimateBaseball ~
the colors on your blog makes my head hurt. maybe tone it down a bit?
Posted by: stlredbirds | December 30, 2007 at 05:19 PM
i agree on the millwood scott elarton thing
i guess no one is correct really until we see joba start in the bigs
Posted by: hawkeyes12990 | December 30, 2007 at 05:30 PM
"In Boston he was an All-Star pitcher before he got hit in the face with a line drive. After that he wasn't mentally ready and it showed in his pitching."
Don't you love how if a sports reporter says it enough times people believe it? Clement got pretty pissed off after a while when so many people were questioning his mental toughness. When he finally went in for surgery the doctors said it was amazing that he would even try and compete in a local softball game, let alone in the big leagues.
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | December 30, 2007 at 07:38 PM
ARodsucks: Not sure if you are contesting the All-Star level or if he was shaken, but as for being shaken.... I watched every inning Clement pitched while he was a RedSox. EVERY one. The line drive shook him up - no doubt about it. He was also injured for what could have been over a year before it finally gave way, which may have made him seem more "shaken" than he was... but watch his release and compare pre and post. Post you will see his arm came down to fast/far, his back angle at release was about 3 or 4 degrees higher and his chin stuck to his shoulder.
Posted by: PhillySox | December 31, 2007 at 01:43 AM
So Indians would be one possible destination?
That would be awesome, for all the other teams in the AL that is!
There is no way any GM in the AL would even look twice at this bum at this point. He is finished and maybee he can hack it in the minors (NL) but no way a contender like the Tribe would look at Clement. That has to be taken completly out of the air.
Posted by: slashieboy | December 31, 2007 at 06:57 AM
Thanks for all the constructive criticism on my blog guys. I'll try to make it better and less biased in the future.
Posted by: C-Gouds' UltimateBaseball | December 31, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Matty Clement put up 4 good starts in a row starting 2 starts after he got hit.
Posted by: aklaft | December 31, 2007 at 11:45 AM
For what it's worth, MiLB.com's annual survey of scouts, which was done after the 2007 season, ranks pitching prospects this way:
Clayton Kershaw
Joba Chamberlin
Clay Buchholz
Homer Bailey
Adam Miller
Hughes and Lincecum have too many innings pitched in the big leagues to qualify.
The list is at http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/news/top50/y2008/
Posted by: GoPhils | December 31, 2007 at 02:10 PM
Don't make too much of Clement getting hit in the head. Certainly, it affected him, but he had a similar drop-off in the second half of 2004, and he wasn't hit during that season.
He had a great first half of 2005, and an otherwise pretty mediocre career: lifetime 87 wins and 86 losses (would definitely be better if he got more run support in some of those seasons.) That said, I think he is a decent option for a team looking for a low-cost starting pitcher.
Posted by: zed | December 31, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Matt Clement's value to the Indians is almost nil at this point & proves the Cardinals signing of Matty is out of desperation. I'd rather see the Indians take a flyer on Brian Anderson before considering a bum like Matt Clement.
Adam Miller's spring training could be crucial to just how much he contributes to the Indians in 2008. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to see him during the season out of the pen as well as getting spot starts. When he's been healthy, he's got the tools to be a top of the rotation flame thrower. What say you?
Posted by: EIi | January 04, 2008 at 10:10 PM