Clement Joins Rotation
Thirty-year-old right-handed pitcher Matt Clement joins the Red Sox pitching staff, according to the Boston Globe. It is obvious that Billy Beane, Oakland’s General Manager, is wisely not dealing any of his pitchers to his potential competition in the American League, so Clement was one of the few options available. Clement came up through the San Diego Padres organization, and Theo Epstein is likely familiar with him. Despite his career ERA of 4.34, scouts recognize his pitches have natural movement, which is the source of the control issues he has had in his career. He is a primarily a ground out or strikeout pitcher, which is suitable to both the Red Sox infield defense and Fenway Park. The question is whether or not he can make the transition from the NL to the AL. Typically strikeout pitchers have an easier conversion, as witnessed by Curt Schilling. Maybe Clement can borrow Schilling’s notebook and figure out how to get those pesky 8 and 9 hole hitters that he is unused to dealing with.
