GrizBiz
Well-known member
Butte native Rob Johnson is a catcher in the Seattle Mariner's organization. He was drafted out of the University of Houston and is currently climbing his way through the organization. He played most of the year at low-A Wisconsin before being promoted to high-A Inland Empire. His solid defense and improving offensive skill set have him cracking most Mariner's "Top 20 Prospect" lists.
The M's drafted USC catcher Clement with the third overall pick in this year's draft and he is expected to be major league ready in a couple of years, right in line with Johnson's career path. Clement is an offensive catcher with questionable defensive skills and your humble baseball observer GrizBiz is betting that he will see significant time in a DH/catcher platoon. His left handed swing is tailor made for Safeco and his offense will be too potent to keep him down for long. He doesn't, however, throw out runners very well or block balls in the dirt at all. If Clement starts at catcher two or three times a week and spends the remainder of his time at DH, Johnson could well be the M's "other" catcher in 2007 and beyond. How sweet would that be?
BTW - Johnson is playing for Team USA in the baseball World Cup and hit a game winning two run HR in the 8th inning of game two against Australia.
Go Rob!!!
Disclaimer: GrizBiz was born in Butte and as a huge Mariner fan, is hopelessly biased on this subject.
The M's drafted USC catcher Clement with the third overall pick in this year's draft and he is expected to be major league ready in a couple of years, right in line with Johnson's career path. Clement is an offensive catcher with questionable defensive skills and your humble baseball observer GrizBiz is betting that he will see significant time in a DH/catcher platoon. His left handed swing is tailor made for Safeco and his offense will be too potent to keep him down for long. He doesn't, however, throw out runners very well or block balls in the dirt at all. If Clement starts at catcher two or three times a week and spends the remainder of his time at DH, Johnson could well be the M's "other" catcher in 2007 and beyond. How sweet would that be?
BTW - Johnson is playing for Team USA in the baseball World Cup and hit a game winning two run HR in the 8th inning of game two against Australia.
Go Rob!!!
Disclaimer: GrizBiz was born in Butte and as a huge Mariner fan, is hopelessly biased on this subject.
