Minors: AFL Wrapup
The Mets sent several players to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League, which ended last week.
For a full statistical rundown, go to MiLB.com.
However, here is a wrapup of how some of the Mets players performed.
Mike Carp continued his down season by struggling in the AFL, though he 
did come on late, hitting .315 in his last ten games.
Overall, the 21-year old first baseman, who struggled and missed time with a hand injury during the summer with Double-A Binghamton, hit .243 in 107 at bats for the Scorpions. He had nine doubles, but no home runs, and drove in 16 runs.
Recently in Baseball America, who dropped him from its Top Ten Mets Prospects List two weeks ago, a scout was quoted as saying of Carp…
“I don’t believe in the power at all. He doesn’t make good, hard contact, he’s inconsistent in his approach and swings and misses too much. And he’s not going to play anywhere else but first base.
“His performance here defines what he is for me.”
…carp’s stock has no doubt taken a hit after two strong seasons in a ball…how much the hand injury has to do with it remains to be seen, as those types of injuries are often the hardest for hitters to deal with, especially power hitters…and given his strong power displays in the two previous seasons, it’d be understandable if the injury played a significant part in his struggles…
…the Mets have no clear successor for Carlos Delgado at first base, so if carp is not traded this off-season and can re-establish himself, he still has a chance to be at Opening Day at Citi Field in 2009… chances are slim, however, at this time
The Scorpions did, however, get a surprisingly strong offense performance from 25-year old OF Caleb Stewart. After hitting just .252 with 16 homers at Binghamton, Stewart put up a .318 average in Arizona, with a pleasant-surprise six homeruns.
…he’s probably nothing more than a fourth outfielder given his age and double-a performance, but he’s always hit, and could be a nice, smaller chip in a trade later this winter given that he no doubt opened a few eyes down in arizona…
The Mets’ supplemental first-round pick Eddie Kunz was in the bullpen for Scottsdale, and he continued his pro struggles. In nine games he put up a 10.13 ERA, allowing 15 hits, eight walks and 12 earned runs in 10 innings pitched.
…kunz struggled down the stretch for Oregon State, as well, so he hasn’t pitched well in quite some time… still, Baseball America has him in their top ten, and his hard, at times dominant stuff is still present… it’s just his command that he’ll have to harness if he wants to stay on the fast track the Mets hope to have him on…
More encouraging was the pitching of lefty Adam Bostick, whom the Mets acquired from the Marlins last off-season.
After a subpar year in Triple-A New Orleans (5.66 ERA in 21 games), Bostick was 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA in six starts for Scottsdale.
He threw 23 innings, and while he walked 13 batters, he punched out exactly one batter per inning.
…he’ll be 25 on opening day, and at this point should be ready for a big-league role, probably somewhere in the bullpen…
…the Mets need bullpen help, so it could be in New York, or elsewhere, given the number of people he had to have impressed in the AFL… again, another nice surprise that could bolster the Mets hopes of having enough young talent to make a deal…
