Speaking of Clement

This may be the most obvious statement ever made on Rattler Radio...The Pirates have plans for Jeff Clement.

Two hours before the Pittsburgh Pirates begin their daily workouts, infielders coach Carlos Garcia puts Jeff Clement through a special series of drills.

On a half-field tucked away in the back of the spring training complex, a spot half-hidden by a fence and the looming batter's eye of an adjacent field, Clement scoops grounders, charges dribblers and knocks down hard-hoppers.

The Pirates want Clement to be their Opening Day first baseman -- no small chore, considering he's never really played the position.

"He's my project this spring," Garcia said. "I'm happy with his progress. Hopefully, when we break camp, he'll be able to become our first baseman."

Clement was a Timber Rattler in 2005.