Daily Archives: October 23, 2007
The Arizona Fall League released its East and West rosters for its second annual “Rising Star” showcase game, and Mike Carp and Carlos Muniz, two of the seven Mets’ prospects playing for the AFL’s Scottsdale Scorpions.
The League’s press release described the game and the selection process, stating…
“It places as many top prospects as possible on one field at one time. It’s a natural way to showcase the tremendous talent rising in baseball…
“Scouting and minor league directors of every organization had the opportunity to complete a ballot to select the players for Friday’s game. Most roster selections were based upon their input.”
Meanwhile, the article explains that “strong performances in the AFL are a nice bonus, but not a requirement for being invited to play in this game. Rather, these are rosters filled with players believed to have the most upside potential and are thus ‘on the rise.”
Carp, a 21-year old first baseman who battled injuries while in Double-A Binghamton this season, is hitting .256 with three doubles, no homers and seven RBI in 39 Fall League at bats. In 359 Binghamton at bats this past season, he hit .251 with 16 doubles and 11 homers, missing time with a broken hand and then struggling thereafter.
Muniz, a 26-year old right handed reliever who served as Binghamton’s closer this season, is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in four appearances for the Scorpions, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks, in 5.2 innings thus far. He has struck out five, while surrendering two homers. Muniz saved 23 games for the B-Mets this year, putting up a 2.45 ERA in 58.2 innings over 44 appearances. He walked 17 and struck out 62.
Tagged Mike Carp, Minors |
In a recent chat for Baseball America, the site’s all-things expert, Jim Callis, discusses the value of Johan Santana, acknowledging that a swap with the 
Dodgers for Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw and Andy LaRoche would be fair, though, “The Twins might want more established players.”
According to Callis, the Yankees would have to part with one of Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, along with Melky Cabrera and a prospect such as Ian Kennedy or Jose Tabata.
…i’d be very interested to know how most Yankees fans feel about that offer, because it’s eye-poppingly steep to me, yet also realistic…
…at any rate, in Mets terms, that reads like John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Lastings Milledge, and i’m not even sure that is a correct comparison, but it’s as close as the Mets can get…again, like i wrote a few hours ago, in my opinion, if the Mets are going to make this sort of swap, i’d prefer they lessen the offer and aim towards the bay…
…thanks to chris b for the link…
At Sabernomics.com, J.C. Bradbury explains why he believes Alex Rodriguez will opt out of his current contract and eventually sign a new seven-year, $244 million deal.
Additionally, Bradbury is soliciting your predictions, with the winner getting a free copy of his book, The Baseball Economist.
At MLB.com, Mets beat writer Marty Noble answers a collection of ‘unique’ questions ranging from whether Joe Torre can replace Omar Minaya to why Willie Randolph does not use a set batting order.
Noble begins his mailbag by writing…
“Before the weekly Q&A, please allow this: I’ve been deluged with e-mails - more than 1,650…I can’t get to all of them…e-mails written in the King’s English, with proper spelling, syntax and punctuation, and with names and addresses are more likely to prompt responses than those written in e-mail shorthand. Your e-mails aren’t being graded, but a few border on unintelligible.”
…i will always enjoy the wit and sense of humor in marty’s writing…it cracks me up…
…fortunately, i don’t think he’s joking here…
…towards the end of last month, Dana Brand had a Launch Party 
for his book, Met Fan, at a bar in New York City…a variety of my fellow bloggers were in attendance, including Kranepool, Zoe, Mike, SNK, and Coop, among others…
…though i was unable to attend, please note that dana’s book is a must read, and will make a great holiday gift…it’s easy, very quick, and contains tiny essays that are equal parts nostalgia, comedy and insight…good stuff…
In the Daily News, citing ‘Yankees sources,’ Mark Feinsand writes 
that the Yankees will soon offer C Jorge Posada a three-year, $40 million deal.
…i think you’d be hard pressed to find any person who does not think posada will eventually re-sign with the Yankees…that being said, as a Mets fan, i would have no interest in bringing him to queens on a four-year deal, which is what it will most likely have to be…i mean, he’ll be 40 years old entering that final season, playing in the National League…
…just take your pinstriped money, jorge, and get it over with…
…for the Mets, if Paul Lo Duca is not re-signed, i still suspect his replacement will be acquired via trade, not as a free agent…
According to JapanBall.com, 68 players from Japan have declared for free agency, including 30–year-old OF Kosuke Fukudome, RHP Masahide Kobayashi and RHP Hiroki Kuroda, who is rumored to be in Los Angeles this week to determine if he needs elbow surgery.
Last May, in a Rumblings & Grumblings report for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark quoted an MLB team official as saying of Fukudome…
“He’ll be a big name all winter. There may be more teams on him than were in on Hideki Matsui, because it was nearly a foregone conclusion Matsui was going to the Yankees. I don’t have any sense there’s a favorite team with this guy.”
…from what i can gather, he plays very hard; he’ll be strong defensively in left field and right field, where he has a great arm, very similar to Ichiro; he will not be a big home run threat, though he’ll hit a lot of balls in the gap; think a better version of Tadahito Iguchi during his rookie season for the White Sox, i.e., .290, 15 HR, at least 30 doubles, 10 SB, 100 K’s, etc…the early buzz from baseball expects him to ask for at least a three-year deal, while the Red Sox, Padres, Rangers, Mariners and Giants will likely show interest…
