Howie

Clark

Clark, in Jays camp as a non-roster player, wouldn’t have had much of a chance of making the team if healthy. Mike Bordick and Dave Berg are set as the team’s infield reserves.

''For now I am,’' Tosca said regarding his choice to go with Howie Clark and Reed Johnson in right, and Frank Catalanotto and Dave Berg in left. Clark and Catalanotto, lefties, will get the bulk of the at-bats.

The 32-year-old Clark gets to return to the majors despite being in the midst of one of his weaker years in Triple-A. He was hitting .276/.374/.362 in 163 at-bats. Clark can be an adequate 25th man, but the Orioles again would have been better off calling up Luis Terrero.

Clark has cooled quickly after a fast start and is now batting .222. The Jays have the right idea by making Reed Johnson a platoon player, but Clark isn’t the guy who should be splitting time with him. Sending him down and bringing back Simon Pond would make a lot of sense.

Clark isn’t a bad 25th man, and there’s a good argument to be made that he should be kept on the roster over Frank Menechino. Still, sending him down in favor of Pond looks like a clear upgrade.

Clark should take over Dave Berg’s usual role during Eric Hinske’s absence. He won’t have any fantasy value.

Clark, who spent last season with Triple-A Indianapolis and last appeared in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2004, is batting .330/.418/.513 in Mexico. He’s fourth in the league in average and fifth in OBP.

It’s surprising the Jays didn’t want another legitimate shortstop with Royce Clayton hurting. Instead, they opted for the veteran utilityman Clark, even though he was hitting only .246/.317/.431 in 14 games for Syracuse. He might last as a 25th man if the Jays decide to send down Adam Lind at some point.

The move was made to clear roster space for Hector Luna, who Toronto claimed off waivers from the Indians. Clark lasted quite a while as a bench bat, but figures to rack up some more minor league at-bats.

This should mean that third baseman-outfielder Simon Pond has won a job. Dave Berg will be the lone backup at the middle infield positions, but the Jays could put Frank Catalanotto at second base in case of an emergency.