Jeff Clement

[PeaveyFury]

I didn't want to clutter up the 2005 Draft Coverage Thread with this question, so I figured I'd start a new thread.

 

Great work on the catcher profiles as always, Colby.

 

I think Jeff Clement might be one of my early favorites for the Brewers' pick. Just a few questions about him: You said that his question mark was his defense, but that he threw out base stealers at a good rate. Which part of his defense, then, is causing the most concern? If it's blocking and footwork, that can probably be corrected in the minors, but if its concern about game calling, that's a little more complicated.

 

Again, great work. The time you put into the draft stuff is simply amazing, and I hope that your coverage keeps gaining you and the site recognition.

[colbyjack]

Thanks for the kind words Peavey.

 

When I spoke with Clement for my interview with Perfect Game, I also had the opportunity to briefly talk with some people that are involved with USC's baseball program, and they think a lot of what is made out of Clement's defense is overblown, and you can tell that Clement gets asked the questions about his defense quite a bit. Baseball America doesn't help, as they keep bringing up little blurbs that Clement may be an AL-only player, although Allan Simpson has stated in a recent chat that Clement is a full-time catcher.

 

But your guesses are correct. There aren't any issues with his arm. The concerns surrounding his defense focus on his game-calling skills and some intangible aspects of the game.

 

Here's a nice thread that talks about Clement in greater detail, along with a link to my interview with the USC backstop. He's really a nice, down to earth guy, and probably my most favorite interview target to date (along with Roy Clark, scouting director of the Braves).

 

p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...=705.topic

 

I just have a gut feeling that Clement will be our pick come June. I'm not trying to jinx it, because Clement isn't necessarily my favorite player available, but he just seems to make sense for the Brewers.

[UWRyan428]

Colby, I know it is a bit too early to predict but why do you see us taking Clement over someone like Alex Gordon? I don't mean it to sound like I'm a pessimist, actually quite the opposite. I was born in Long Beach, but my parents divorced when I was 5 and I was transplanted in Green Bay. Thus, Clement's trip from the lonely Iowa cornfields to the sunny beaches (and the most beautiful women) of SoCal...I'm envious. Oh wait....what was I saying??? Oh yeah, GO CLEMENT!!! Seriously, his power bat with Brad Nelson, Nelson Cruz, and Corey Hart manning the outfield, Fielder and Weeks... We could easily afford to have Hardy's #8 bat and stellar D. So again I ask, can we PRETTY PLEASE trade for Dallas BEFORE he wins ROY??? Like I alluded to, always the optimist.

[colbyjack]

Colby, I know it is a bit too early to predict but why do you see us taking Clement over someone like Alex Gordon?

 

Because if Gordon continues to play anywhere close to how he's played over the last year, he won't be available at #5.

[UWRyan428]

In my estimation, considering we loaded up on arms early in last year's draft and we are limited early this year witht he signing of Damian, we are most apt to take

1. Gordon

2. Clement

3. Maybin

I know you like Hochevar and Romero, but we need to fill out our infield for the foreseeable future and this is probably the simplest way. And considering that I automatically have tabbed the Diamondbacks as taking Mr. Upton, if not for his immense upside, then for the fact that they still have yet to sign Stephen Drew and I don't see him signing, and the fact that, as you point out, this draft is deep in advanced pitching, how could we not have our pick of those 3? The Royals grabbed a 3rd baseman last year with their first pick (and one need look no further than the Rockies to show that 3rd base is the last infield position you want to stockpile) and traded for 3rd baseman Mark Teahan(OAK) and catchers Justin Huber(NYM) and John Buck(HOU). The Mariners would be best served to find some outfield prospects, but also have a tendency to stockpile pitchers. The wildcard is the Washington Nationals. The days of having one of the top minor league systems in the game are over. What's left is a few pitchers and some marginal prospects. More than likely, they'll take the best "high upside" player who fits a need and comes reasonably priced. But I just don't think Washington will go infield position player. My guess is a continued attempt at a serviceable future rotation, leaving us with Gordon or Clement.

[BillScottCanRake]

This might be the wrong thread, so I apologize a bit for hijacking it. But...

 

How many teams draft for "need" as opposed to taking the "best player available?" Or maybe a better question, is do teams out there draft for need?

 

I know that the best players aren't always drafted in order (due to signability issues, differences of opinion, etc), but do teams still take lesser talent to fill needs early in the draft?

 

The reason I ask is that Ryan said in his post that Milwaukee "need(s) to fill out (their) infield for the foreseeable future" and he suggests doing so via the draft. Given the difficulty projecting players, doesn't it just increase the risk when you take a player to fill a need? I can understand using it as a tie-breaker of sorts, but not as any other criteria for making a selection. Needs can come and go and come back again in the time it takes a player to make his way thru the system, and taking the best player available seems to make the most sense.

 

And, just as a disclaimer, I'm not suggesting Ryan is saying Milwaukee should reach to fill a need... just that one sentence made me wonder how most teams operate.

[colbyjack]

Chris already touched upon this, but teams really don't draft for need Ryan. As much as it may look as though the D-Backs, Royals and Mariners are set at third base (with the Nationals being the wild-card as you pointed out), they're not going to pass on someone of Gordon's talents just because they may have immediate needs elsewhere. While I don't like calling the draft a crap-shoot, because I don't believe the process is ONLY chalked up to dumb-luck, anything can and will happen to these players between the time they're drafted and the end of their professional careers. That may mean some never make it to the big-leagues, some never make it past AA, some only have a cup of coffee, and some may not play the position they were originally drafted at.

 

That's where the best player available philosophy comes in. That's why the Brewers drafted Prince Fielder when Richie Sexson, Corey Hart and Brad Nelson were already in the organization. Trying to piece together a future lineup through the draft is how the Brewers struck out drafting Ken Felder, Antone Williamson and Chad Green.

 

It's possible that Gordon falls to us, but no matter how you try to look at it, at this point in time it's not very likely.

 

And while it would be nice to shore up the rest of our lineup/infield, you can never have too many pitchers.

[UWRyan428]

I think both of you completely missed what I was trying to say. I wasn't speculating as to who would be available, as to just expounding my excitement over who is going to be there for us to pick from. And while I would love to get Gordon, I was also showing that even if he gets plucked early, the teams in front of us also don't have the glaring hole in their respective clubs at the catcher position. I say that we have a "need" in our infield, but only so far as to suggest that possessing the fifth pick, in a draft where there are 3 PREMIUM infield prospects (UPTON!!, Gordon, Clement) who should be cornerstones for their respective clubs, is a very advantageous position to be in. Also, I am never AGAINST taking a pitcher, in the simple hope that he becomes a Josh Beckett/Barry Zito-type. However, a pitcher is a bigger crapshoot than a position player. Seriously, I am just so excited over the future of the club. NO LONGER WILL I HAVE TO ENDURE THE RIDICULE OF MY FRIENDS FROM CINCINATTI!!!

[UWRyan428]

Oh! And before someone criticizes me for putting Upton in there, I don't think there's any chance, outside of a freak injury (Nick Adenhart who??), that BJ's little brother will be fast-tracked by Jack. But I do share Colby's vision of us challenging the Captain with a USC alum (I'm advocating this as I'm wearing my USC hoodie). And we have some great tutors in our ranks right now, with Borders and Miller hopefully on board for next year (I know Miller is signed but Borders is minor league contracted only this year I believe). As I've said many times before, I would much rather see us TRADE for a 3rd baseman than draft our future at that position. Scott Rolen... Aramis Ramirez...(though I think he is in need of a Helms-like diet) A-Rod... All of them were traded to their respective teams, and have since reaped rewards, even though A-Rod's rewards have been frequent criticism from Torre and Steinbrenner. Catchers, conversely, should be homegrown so that they can grow with the pitchers, allowing Clement to learn how to work the future throwers of our system. Our "own" Mike Matheny, upon being signed by the Giants, immediately requested tape of all their teams' pitchers to allow him to better call the games.

[colbyjack]

wasn't speculating as to who would be available, as to just expounding my excitement over who is going to be there for us to pick from.

 

10-4 Ryan, and I agree. I like the possibilities for our first-rounder. Even if Gordon isn't there, we should still have a good shot at a really good player. And while I brought up the possbility of a pitcher, I do believe the Brewers' pick will be a positional prospect.

 

Although with all of the talk of a college hitter, outside of Maybin and Upton, it's important to remember that the Brewers under Jack Z. have taken a HS player four out of five years in the first round. I think Justin Bristow makes a lot sense for our pick as well.

 

Back to Clement, one thing that has been bothering me lately, and actually has been during his career at USC (and his stints with Team USA), is his inability to hit for a higher batting average. He has the power, no doubt, and he has the plate discipline, but he hasn't hit .300 during his first two seasons, and he still is hitting under .300 to begin this year. Yes, there is plenty of time left during this season for him to turn that around, and I know he has been getting pitched around an awful lot so far this year, but so is Alex Gordon, and he has adjusted to that. I guess I wanted to see Clement get off to a fast start this season, although he has had a few big games. With all of the questions about Clement's D' I think Clement's bat may have some serious questions as well.