In the current Seattle Mariners lineup there is a black hole that sucks up rallies and spits out strikeouts, popups and soft grounders. You’ve undoubtedly been frustrated and disappointed by this stretch in the lineup if you’ve watched even a couple games this season.

As I’m sure you know, this “black hole” includes Jose Vidro, Richie Sexson, Brad Wilkerson and Kenji Johjima in the 5-8 spots. These four are collectively hitting just .198 (59/298) with 7 HR, 42 RBI and 27 runs scored, production rivaled by just one or two hitters in other lineups.

How long will Seattle continue to let this stretch of lineup lose games? These guys shouldn’t be given such a long leash. Sexson is coming off the worst year of his career and looks to be unimproved, despite a stretch early this season when he was walking so much that he fooled everyone. Wilkerson hasn’t hit above .250 since 2004, and has never hit higher than .266. At least he used to hit home runs with the Expos/Nationals and Rangers, but this year he hasn’t hit the ball hard at all. Vidro has the power of a fifth grader and can’t hit for average without being sandwiched between good hitters in the 2-hole. Johjima should be the only guy in that stretch of four batters that is allowed to struggle like this because of his track record and the fact that he’s hitting eighth in the lineup.

Manager John McLaren took a baby step in the right direction when he allowed Greg Norton to start on back-to-back days for Vidro (albeit on the wrong day), but it will take much more than that to turn this team around. Seattle needs to try something new.  It’s been a month and it’s time for the organization to suck up some pride and make some significant roster moves.

Jeff Clement is sitting in AAA Tacoma waiting for the call. There is no reason for him to be catching down there when he could be DHing in Seattle, especially after Johjima’s contract extension. Clement has been everything Seattle has needed over his first 72 at bats, sporting a line of .384/.526/.685 with 12 extra base hits (5 HR, 7 2B), 19 RBI and just under one walk per game while hitting third in Tacoma’s lineup and playing half his home games in one of the most pitcher friendly ballparks in the Pacific Coast League. While a rookie dropoff can be expected, I wouldn’t expect Clement to struggle much. His bat has been “MLB ready” for a long time and he appears to be a smarter hitter than most, plus the ability to draw a walk will typically keep him from slumping. Seattle needs to bring this guy up ASAP, slot him in at DH (bumping Vidro to the bench) and begin teaching him first base, whether a position change makes him a wasted draft pick or not.

After Clement, Wlad Balentien is Seattle’s next Major League ready power hitting prospect, and I’m tempted to write that he should also be called up ASAP. Truth is, Balentien’s bat isn’t polished like Clement’s, and he could use more time in Tacoma. Wlad currently has a line of .228/.313/.474 with 3 HR and 15 RBI over 57 at bats. He also missed over a week with a deep bone bruise  and has only played one game since recovering (0/4). A few more weeks of games would do him good to work on making better contact and avoiding the strikeout.

The “blackhole” of Vidro, Sexson, Wilkerson and Johjima is killing Seattle’s chances at making any noise this year, and something must be done right away. Vidro should be the first to go as he’s hitting in the heart of the lineup. After that Wilkerson should be the next in line, followed by Sexson, with the reason being that at least Sexson can hit a homerun every once in a while. Once Clement has displaced Vidro, the team would also be well served to let Norton steal at bats from Sexson and Wilkerson.

This can’t go on for any longer. The Mariner starters are being forced to pitch gems each time out just to have a chance to win (and have been, for the most part), but how long can they keep that up? Without adequate run support Seattle will remain at or below .500 all season long. The time to act is now, before the division lead is out of reach. While Clement will not single-handedly put the Mariners back in the playoff picture, it is certainly another step in the right direction. Other roster and lineup shuffles will be required, but those are topics for another day.

Luckily I’ve heard recently that Seattle has been thinking about bringing up one, if not both, of Clement and Balentien in May, which just happens to be a couple of days away.  Balentien just returned from injury and has yet to find a groove, so it would make sense to call him up a few weeks after Clement.  As I noted a month ago, it makes sense that Vidro would be replaced in May so that he’s got a couple hundred at bats to play with as a reserve before his vesting option kicks in.  While Seattle outta have Clement join them in Cleveland on Tuesday, my guess as to the earliest call up date would be the 5th, when Seattle returns home and just before Tacoma goes on the road.