Carp

Frayed Knot
Jun 09 2008 07:55 PM

Kevin Goldstein, the minor league guru over at Beaseball Prospectus, takes stock of Mike Carp:

In a system running quite low on prospects, at least Carp continues to enjoy the best rebound in the system. Last year, he was one of the organization’s biggest disappointments, batting just .251/.337/.387 at Binghamton, but in his defense, he was just 20 years old at the start of the season.
This year he returned to the B-Mets, smacked a home run on Opening Night, and has never looked back since. On Friday night he had a strange game, going 4-for-4 with a double yet somehow not scoring or driving in a run. He made up for those counting stats on Sunday by slugging two home runs (driving in six), which helped raise his season averages to .351/.404/.553 on the season.
The Mets have tried to increase his value even more this year by trying him some in left field, but scouts have characterized that as something of a disaster. Offensively, though, he’s a smash hit who could get a shot at being a cheap replacement for Carlos Delgado in 2009.

smg58
Jun 10 2008 05:41 AM

I think he's earned the right to play the second half of the year in New Orleans. I wouldn't ask him for more than that right now. As for next year, let's wait and see.

AG/DC
Jun 10 2008 06:08 AM
Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 10 2008 06:16 AM

Half the other Bingo hitters have raked as well.

Interesting that mid-season promotions could create some log jams at the top of the system, while the big team is struggling to find offense.

I wouldn't be too surpised to see them let Michel Abreu go, but he's just now getting going (12-36, .333 over his last 10 games, with two homers and five walks) and after a seasoon off, that's not too surprising.

MFS62
Jun 10 2008 06:09 AM

He has been making me a proud adoptive poppa this year.

Later

Farmer Ted
Jun 10 2008 06:32 AM

He appears to be blossoming into another Mike Jacobs. Hmm, who did we trade him for?

Vince Coleman Firecracker
Jun 10 2008 06:41 AM

AG/DC wrote:

Interesting that mid-season promotions could create some log jams at the top of the system, while the big team is struggling to find offense..

Well, there would be room for Carp in New Orleans if they promoted Pascucci!

In Maury Finkle voice: C'mon Omar, promote him. Do it, do it.

Frayed Knot
Jun 10 2008 07:14 AM

smg58 wrote:
I think he's earned the right to play the second half of the year in New Orleans. I wouldn't ask him for more than that right now. As for next year, let's wait and see.

I concur.
A nice half-season so far but it's just that, half a season.
Repetition in the minor leagues to build up ABs or IPs is something our young, promising players haven't been getting enough of (Milledge, Pelfrey, Humber, Gomez - and even back to Reyes).

Frayed Knot
Jun 13 2008 02:41 PM

Carp also getting some love from Baseball America who stick him on their 'Hot Sheet' for this week:

Mike Carp - Binghamton - Age: 22
Why He's Here: Hit .522/.560/.913 (12-for-23), 4 R, 9 RBIs, 3 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K.
The Scoop: Yes, he's limited to first base, though the Mets have tried him in left field. And yes, he's not particularly good at either position. But Carp sure can hit, as his .361/.415/.562 line in 219 at-bats would indicate. The Carp bandwagon started go grow after his 2006 season with high Class A St. Lucie, when Carp hit .287/.379/.450 in 573 plate appearances in a pitcher-friendly league. Last year took away a bit of Carp's luster, as he hit .251/.337/.387 in 412 plate appearances with Binghamton after missing the first seven weeks of the season with a broken right finger. Now the bat seems to be back, making Carp one of the Eastern League's most dangerous hitters—perhaps the most dangerous.

Then, in a related Q&A session, BA writer Ben Bedler fields a question on 'How Soon?' by adding:
At the beginning of the season I was skeptical of Carp, but I'd rather him at first base right now than Carlos Delgado. Now maybe he cools off a bit down the line, but right now based just on true talent and not name recognition, I think Carp is the better player.

Maybe if they're looking for a "shake-up" this isn't such a crazy idea after all.

Benjamin Grimm
Jun 13 2008 03:16 PM

Yeah, maybe not.

I'd still keep Delgado around in case Carp isn't ready, but bring him up, let him play some, and give him the opportunity to steal Delgado's job.

At this point, why not?

Frayed Knot
Jun 13 2008 03:20 PM

See, if I were going to want a Delgado caddy to play alongside of him I'd tend to NOT bring up a youngster like Carp. I'd rather see him play everyday down at AA or AAA than once a week plus the occasional PH here.

But if they're want to try something radical and dump/trade Delgado then maybe you call him up and throw him in the deep end of the pool.

Benjamin Grimm
Jun 13 2008 03:55 PM

I'd have him come up and play three or four times a week. Not once a week/PH.

Frayed Knot
Jun 13 2008 05:58 PM

If we were to reduce Delgado's ABs by that much I'd just as soon get rid of him and play Carp full time.
They also don't make an ideal platoon pair seeing as how both hit lefty and aren't good fielders.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Jun 13 2008 06:34 PM

I believe I conceived this harebrained scheme first.

Nymr83
Jun 13 2008 07:54 PM

Right now I'm tempted to see if Carp can handle AAA.
I wouldn't call him up to the majors at age 22 unless there was a dire need or 4 starts a week for him (which there aren't if he can't play the corner outfield spots.)
If the Mets contend, call him up in September to help the bench.
If the Mets give up on this year (and I'm not saying its near that time yet)give him the every day job, might as well see what he can do at that point.

Rockin' Doc
Jun 13 2008 08:06 PM

Nymr83 - "If the Mets contend, call him up in September to help the bench. "

Lord this is depressing. Nymr is obviously more optimistic than I am. If the Mets contend,? You must have drank more than I have tonight.

Mex17
Jun 14 2008 07:29 AM

I envision the Mets in 2009 going with a big money free agent at one of either first base or leftfield and cheaply and internally at the other.

Ideally, I would want to see them go hard after Mark Teixiera for first base (which would then place Carp in the mix for leftfield along with Evans, Pagan, Chavez, Tatis, Anderson, and maybe even Nixon now if Trot endears himself here) with the backup to that being Adam Dunn for leftfield (which then puts Carp in the mix at first with Evans, Anderson, I would think Tatis. . .why can't he play there??. . .and whoever else).

Either way, contingent on Carp doing well in AAA during the 2nd half and picking up LF well in spot duty the rest of the season and more intensively during the winter either at Instructional Camp or the Arizona Winter league, I see him with a pretty significant role in the majors next season.

attgig
Jun 14 2008 09:34 AM

I don't see the mets heavily investing in a LF'er with Martinez coming up possibly towards the end of next year.

He's been too hyped for them to sign a big FA lf'er, unless of course, Omar decides to trade away yet another prospect...

Benjamin Grimm
Jun 14 2008 09:46 AM

At this point, we can't be so sure that it will be Omar making those off-season decisions.

Mex17 wrote:
I envision the Mets in 2009 going with a big money free agent at one of either first base or leftfield and cheaply and internally at the other.

That seems reasonable. I think a starting pitcher will also be in the mix, too. Remember, only Maine, Santana, and Pelfrey are locked up for next year. Perez and Martinez will need to be resigned or replaced. And right now, I'd be surprised to see either of them return.

Maybe they chase after Sabathia, pass on Teixiera, and go with Carp and Fernando Martinez?

I can easily see the Mets and the Yankees dividing up Sabathia and Teixiera.

vtmet
Jun 14 2008 06:55 PM

I don't know if anyone has the MLB Extra Innings package & watches Arizona D'Backs games on their channel...but it could be interesting if we traded him to the D'Backs...that way, not only could the fans yell "CAR" every time that a manager/PC made a trip to the mound; but they could also yell "CARp" every time that Carp came up to bat or made a good play in the field...