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If you’re a fan of B-Mets 1B Mike Carp, and support him as the starting 
first baseman for 2008, Joe from Shoffee.com has created a campaign sign which you can download and print by clicking here.
In 21 games for Double-a Binghamton, the 21–year-old Carp is hitting .420 with five HR, seven doubles and 19 RBI.
…i think it’s too early for carp…however, he is in favor among decision-makers within the organization…i think people took it as a bad thing that he was not with the team during spring training, instead working out in minor-league camp…however, from what i understand, this was because they wanted him working and hitting – not riding the bench in exhibition games…i think he’ll get a chance…i just don’t know if it he will or should get one right now…soon, but not yet…
Mike Carp would be great.
Although, the idea of playing without a first baseman entirely would also be great, given our current situation.
I know next to nothing about him, but honestly, why not give it a shot? What’s the down side?
Here’s the downside: You bring up a player too soon and when, not if but when, he struggles you’ve damaged his confidence and his value is diminished both inside and outside the organization.
I know we’re all frustrated with Delgado, but Carp is not the answer, at least not yet.
I can see the headlines when Carp struggles:
Carp? Crap!
I didnt realize Craig Brazell changed his name to Mike Carp….weird
Craig Brazell had/has ZERO plate discipline. The guy took more than 30 walks ONCE in a minor league season and that was last year splitting between AA and AAA at the age of 27.
And he led all of Minor League Baseball in Home Runs…
Yea, but he had previously been named Jorge Toca
And befoer that his name was Rico Brogna
I saw him a while back in ST and he looked good. Then got hurt last year and he faded. If he’s healthy and hitting and Delgado’s not, then maybe the time is right…or soon.
My Questions is…
Does anyone know how he defends/plays the field? This is really important to me, because let’s face it, some of our throws to 1st base need some help to find the mit.
Everything I’ve read say this kid’s a butcher with the glove though I don’t know if we necessarily need Keith Hernandez out there if the kid could mash. But as Matt says, it’s WAY too early for Carp. I would rather see Easly and Marlon for a few games and give Delgadoa blow because promoting Carp right this second has disaster written all over it.
agreed….let the kid get a few more ab’s down in Bingo…see if his early season performance is simply a hot streak, or a sign of things to come (in the sense that he is hitting well with power, and hitting against lefties…not so much the .420ba)
Re-evaluate the situation around Memorial Day
What bad throws? cough david wright.
Wright’s throws have been fine ever since Ronnie noted that he’d tell David to try aiming up the line on those throws he has time to think about.
I love D-Wright as much as the next guy, but let’s call it how it is. He has an above average glove, but his throwing is borderline unacceptable. It’s only a matter of time before it costs a game.
Matter of fact, it cost us that game in Florida that we came back in last year (on Marlon Anderson’s pinch hit base clearing triple). Bottom of that inning, he made a great diving play and threw the ball away.
Oh, I know. The game I’m referring to was last week. He hasn’t had the Knoblauch Yips since then.
The only way you bring up Carp, a young guy that can’t hit LHP is if you completely release Delgado. You would not want Carp just sitting on the bench and you could not platoon them. So I actually think Carp is step 3.
1)Move Delgado to 7th when Alou returns
2) Bring up Abreu to platoon with Delgado
3) Release Delgado and bring up Carp to platoon with Abreu.
I’m looking at Carp’s stats and it says he’s hitting .424 against lefties and .417 against righties.. am I missing something here?
look at his career numbers.
look at Delgado’s career numbers.
point proven.
How is your point proven by looking at Delgado’s career numbers? That makes no sense.
Yeah, and Church can’t hit lefties either.
I am not saying that Carp will never be able to hit LH. But you are not going to bring him up to platoon with Delgado so you would have to release him.
What’s wrong with releasing him? He’s hitting .200, has shown no signs of his previous power, and kills every single chance we get of having a big inning.
I’m pretty sure that no matter how inexperienced Carp is, he can’t put up numbers much worse than what we’re getting from Delgado right now.
I just think it’s too early to release him. Again, I would move him to 7th, then bring up a RH platoon or trade for Sweeney, then if nothing else by mid June release him. At least from the 7 spot he won’t kill us for a couple of weeks. I would like to see what he could do only playing against RH and 3-4 times a week.
And if he is putting up the same numbers as Delgado, as the opposing manager I’m pitching around the man in front of him to pitch to the rookie, because I have no fear of him. Delgado on the other hand would make me think twice because I would still fear him hitting one out. Also there is the defensive end of it, where Delgado may not be the greatest, but at least he’s not called a butcher in the field like this kid is. Defensively this kid might cost a game or two. Therealsince86 is right. Other options must be imployed before we get to the point of bringing this kid up.
Delgado has hit the ball sharp a couple times the past few games but they’ve been caught. Sure he strikes out alot but I’d rather have him hitting 7th than bring up a rookie who gets overmatched at the big league level. Howard is batting .180 and leading the league in strikeouts, should the phillies just release him too? I know Delgado is getting older but he’s still a proven MLB hitter who is in a slump right now. He’ll be a decent #7 whole hitter when Alou comes back with his .260 avg, 25-30 hr, 75-85 rbi production.
I would be happy with 18 and 70 from the 7 spot. That would still be good enough and better than the replacement would be. However, he has to show he can do that in the 7 spot 1st. If he can’t, time to go.
Bring back Jason Phillips for a RH platoon. Won’t cost any prospects, and the guy is a semi-decent defensive 1B.
/I’mjustkiddingNoI’mnot.
How would Phillips be better than Abreu?
It’s called a joke. It’s baseball, not curing cancer. Have a sense of humor.
it’s been proven time and time again on this blog….he has no sense of humor.
I would rather watch Carp struggle as he gets older and better, than continue to watch Delgado as het gets older and worse.
I’m hearing that.
Well said!
…assuming he does get better…
What about Evans or this other guy Peterson? They are both hitting well over .300 with power. I know what Carp is all about, but any idea where these 2 stand as far as their future? They all play 1B and are all playing very well.
How about going back in time and not trading Mike Jacobs?
Think we would have been one inning away from the World Series with Mike Jacobs instead of Delgado at first in 2006? But it’s a good argument today. :-)
Agreed, you can’t take away the fact that Delgado was fairly awesome in 2006. Besides, is Mike Jacobs Ted Williams and I missed it?
Mike Jacobs is younger and can still hit for power. One good year out of Delgado is not a good return on the investment.
Remember the opposite field 3-run home run he hit in Game 2 of the NLCS?
How about in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers? That day was looking pretty grim. We were a few weeks removed from Pedro. El Duque hurt himself jogging in the outfield. He tied the game in the 5th, if I recall correctly.
They guy was a player. I just think his time has passed.
Well put ollie – Monday Morning Quarterbacks shouldn’t fly here.
We were all psyched when we made that move for Delgado.
GM’ are not fortune tellers.
We trade Jacobs to win now and you can’t look back and say that was a bad trade. Jacobs had 20 hr in 2006 and only 17 last year no where near the production of Delgado even in his decline 38 hr in 2005 and 24 last year and they both hit .260 avgs. When the mets go out and sign Tex next year no one will even remember the mets traded jacobs!!
There is no way we will or should spend all our money on Tex. He will cost over 20 million. I would much rather spend it on pitching again.
Free Dan Johnson!
He would be the perfect free pick-up for the Mets. Those are the kind of moves that make great franchises.
Picking up a guy that’s been released twice by bad teams in the last month. Oh that’s how championships are made.
Amen.
It looks like he was a roster casualty, those teams had cheaper/better players at that position. We dont. Its a need for us, as long as he is not hiding an injury.
Cheaper and better player(s) for the Rays and A’s. We are not talking about powerhouses. Look at his numbers, what looks good to you>
Plays a steady 1B, takes walks and hit for a little power in Oakland which is not easy. We are not talking about giving up anything for the guy, which makes him worth it. You get depth for nothing and a player who could turn into something as he is entering his prime years.
If you are sending him just to AAA maybe. Problem is I would rather Abreu get the AB’s there.
I put Johnson a notch above Abreu. What has he done on the major league level?
How is Carp’s glove? Does he know the position well?
I bet Carp’s glove is better than under Delgado’s. Or better yet, I would say it’s probably better than off Delgado’s wrist and into right field.
:-D
lol
Ryan Church 1B, Alou, Beltran and Pagan in the OF…
Are you saying next year? Are you going to send Church down to AAA? You can’t just say, ok your playing 1B today.
worst idea ever, Church is our 2nd best outfielder
no
Actually someone yesterday mentioned Sweeny from Oakland now that Thomas is there. I dismissed it until I actually looked at his numbers. He would be a perfect platoon guy. He has only struck out 1 time in 59 AB’s wow! That is just unbelievable. That would be perfect for a #7/8 hitter.
Beane will want maximum value for Sweeney, who is VERY injury-proun…
But, I would take a chance if he could be gotten cheap.
Any news on Freddie Garcia?
Still like the idea of the Mets taking a flier on him too.
You think Beane would want that much? He released Johnson. Sweeney is a backup DH and 1B and has others that he can put in those spots.
Beane is very crafty. I just can’t imagine him handing him over without something good in exchange.
hopefully I am wrong.
If all else fails, maybe the Mets could go find Mike Piazza to platoon at 1st with Delgado.
Defensively speaking, those two combined might be
able to get to about 2 out of 10 balls…
In all honesty, Delgado has never been stellar with the glove, but lately he has looked just lost at 1st.
I think his bat has impacted his glove.
I know we are early in the year, however, in my opinion, these Mets remind me on the ‘07 Mets in September. They seem very lifeless and just going through the motions.
Feel like the Mets need something to light a fire under their arsch. I don’t know what.
Maybe Reyes or Wright getting beaned and an ensuing brawl? Or, someone being cut/fired…
Maybe just need Alou back?
Don’t call up Carp soon. Call him up now.
Mike Carp ‘08: “Change for the Mets”
Someone get to work on the presidential pins.
Mike “I’m no Carp-et Bagger” 08
“I like M-’ike’” – ‘08
this debate is similar to the one in 2003 about bringing up a young SS rather than playing aging veteran (Rey Sanchez). Granted Carp may not be Jose Reyes in terms of ability, but it’s well over a year since Delgado has lived up to his salary and/or reputation. Bring up Carp to platoon and phase him in as needed.
You can’t platoon him, he’s LH. You bring him up when you release Delgado.
Platoon doesn’t have to be based on LH/RH pitcher. Could just split playing time.
Then it’s not a platoon, it’s spliting time. Again do you really want Carp up here and only playing 2-3 days a week. If you want Carp to play, cut Delgado. I don’t think we want to do that yet but to me when Carp comes up Delgado is gone.
Did you just say “Rey Sanchez?” Haha!
i was just trying to think up a list of “stars” who have really declined while on the Mets.
At least we had one good year with Delgado, some of these others were real bums…
Carlos Baerga, Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughan, Bobby Bo, Vince “firework” Coleman, trying to think of some others…
Ventura really had only 1 good year with us !!
How dare you sir! While I’m sure there is sufficient statistical analysis to back up your point, I’m equally sure that many of us will not be swayed emotionally. Ventura was a godsend to this organization at a very dark time. He even mad rain delays awesome. I said good day!
Alomar was definitely the biggest disappointment. I have never seen a player drop off like that. He went from an MVP type player the year before to a complete waste of life. So strange.
Carp will probably get a call up soon but to New Orleans not NY. The Mets have 3 guyslisted as 1B at AA and they are all hitting 370 or better. At some point you pull a Wright and you force their hand to promote to the next level.I think Carp is doing that right now. Abreu would be the morelikely immediate call up to platoon with Carlos at first if the Mets chose to not use Easely as the platoon partner to get him some at bats.
In terms of gettingDelgado right his old friend Shawn Green needs to talk to him about beinga productive player once you lose your power. If Delgado would just go the other way on the outside pitch he would stand to get some cheap hits right away due to theshift. Then when teams adjust and stop shifting some of the balls that he pulls will find the hole because the whole opposing defense will not be there.Heck going the other way will allow him to stay in which might help him pull the ball with more authority.
The loss of power is certainly a problem, but I think the larger problem is his utter inability to hit the middle of the baseball.
Mike Carp has 16 doubles and 11 homers in AA last year with a 724 OPS. He is no where near ready for the majors. He had a good year in the Sally League in 2005 and was ok in St. Lucie in 2006. There is a reason he wasn’t drafted until the 9th round. He’s a project. One good month when repeating AA does not make a Major Leaguer.
“One good month when repeating AA does not make a Major Leaguer.”
It’s too bad that $16 and a .198 batting average does.
I think he was injured 1/2 the year
I would first move Abreu up and then move Carp to AAA. We need to let Abreu contribute now it’s not like he is a prospect.
This is the best plan, although I am not sure how you make room for Abreu on the big league team.
it would be nice to see Carp rake it in AA for another few weeks, move him up and see if he continues to have success.
on second thought, he is due to cool down with his BA that high, so do you let him ride it out in AA, let him find his way up at AAA, or watch him look overmatched in MLB.
answered my own question, keep him where he is now, let him find his level, if he gets going again in June, move him to AAA and that should tell whether he can help after the AS break or as Sept call up.
Bring him up now and law of averages says he will struggle
To answer your question, I don’t think we need Endy. I don’t know if he has options but I would trade him for a bullpen arm.
I will always honor and revere The Catch…but Endy has become the 5th outfielder, and is totally expendable
thing is i think endy is better defensivly than pagan
he is, but pagan’s bat makes up the difference (even if he regresses to his career norms). Endy does have value, but it’s as a def replacement/pinch runner–which isn’t exactly hard to replace. If omar found some team who overvalues him and we got a decent arm in return, do it in a heartbeat.
yea thats true. I like pagans bat better than endys. Unfortunatly willie likes endy ALOT. Its going to be difficult to part with him.
No doubt that Endy is a better defender but you know Alou won’t stay healthy all year. You don’t want to lose Pagan and with Delgado’s struggles I think you need a 1B. If Alou goes down and Pagan has to start again you can always bring up a Caleb Stewart type.
Look at Pagan’s statisitics every year from his first year in the minors thru last year with the Cubs. He has never been a productive hitter. He’d be passable if he was a middle infielder, but he should never be considered as a starting corner outfielder for a team that aspires to the playoffs. I think (I don’t have the numbers in front of me) that Chavez has been the better hitter.
It is way too early for Carp.
Look, if Delgado hasn’t snapped out of it by June 1, then we may do something. But you can’t rush and overreact to any player’s performance in April– you just can’t.
Now, if as of June 1 he looks like he is finished, the Mets could make a move. But it will probably be a vet rather than a rookie.
I don’t agree. How is it that the Toronto Blue Jays, who must make less money that the Mets although I don’t have revenue statements in front of me, are perfectly capable and willing to cut Frank Thomas (similar to Delgado in that they were once amazing players but now are way past their prime; although Frank Thomas was even better in his prime) and we sit on our hands with the god awful lineup killing waste of life that is Del(not even finishing typing for this piece of ….
Do you know what Thomas was doing in Toronto? Being DH. He was not playing 1B they already have one in Overby. Do you know he was even platooning DH? That’s a big difference inbetween your starting 1B in the NL and your starting/platoon DH in the AL. Cut Delgado and you really don’t have a true replacement yet. Cut Thomas and anyone can play DH.
Just like there are any number of players in our system who can play firstbase… (Abreu, Tatis, Carp, Evans, Duda) None of them profess to be wizards with the glove, but of course Delgado is brutal as hell with the glove. I would be willing to be anything that all of the guys mentioned above, save for perhaps Tatis, would slug above .300. That’s really not that difficult. Delgado is slugging .270. F$%#*^@ pathetic, and not anywhere worthy of a roster spot. NOTE: this is not a slump, ladies and gentlemen, Delgado is not driving the ball, did not drive the ball all last year, and will never again drive the ball. He weakly pokes and bloops the hits he does get, and doesn’t stand a chance doing that with any success all year given the shift, his lack of speed, and clear growing frustration with reality.
The Jays would not have cut Thomas unless they had someone else ready in the MLB to take his spot. Not this early. Besides Thomas ask to be traded or released.
sheaheykid– Amen, Amen
Also, what does it say to the rest of the players (who just have to be cringing as much as we are everytime CD comes up) that as long as you have tenure your job is secure no matter what your performance is. I think a little fear of professional extinction might help give the Mets a little kick.
Delgado is not going to snap out of it, this is not a 1 month problem, this is a season plus problem. By June 1st we may well have lost enough games to be out of it for this year. How quickly we forget last season and just how precious every opportunity to get a “W” is.
I was thrilled to get Delgado when we did, but that was then and this is now. Make the move to Carp and see how he develops by June 1, instead of watching how far Carlos has deteriorated by June 1.
At this point it does not look like anyone will run away with the division. Besides if our #7 hitter cost us the year then we have problems either way.
it is obviously way too early to think about Carp being brought up right now. if he continues to produce like he is now and maintains it for at least ha;f a season, it can revisited but it will not happen now.
so you assess the situation as it exists now and as it exists now, when Alou comes back, he will be the #6 hitter and Delgado 7th. this assumes that castillo stays in the #2 hole. I’d be willing to give delgado more time to try and snap out of this as the #7 hitter. bt it is time to start looking around the league for options in case he doesn’t snap out of it.
this was a glaring hole in the offseason that Minaya did not address. and it still exists.
yes it does still exist and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. Honestly, I can’t remember the Mets ever just cutting a player. Also as happy as I am for Carp he is doing this in AA and not in Norfolk. Unless this guy is hitting this way at July then we can consider it.
on a much smaller note, they did it to Julio Franco.
There’s no need to rush Carp, let him get his AB’s in Bing. Omar should talk to his friends in Washington and explore what it would take to get Dmitri Young. It’s worth a phone call (if he hasn’t made one already).
As a side note, with Brady Clark’s release, who’s the righty bat off the bench? The Mets may never see a RHP again this year!
I’d rather they overpay and try to get Nick Johnson. His OBP and professional approach to the game is just the fix for this lineup. We’re not going to get a replacement for 2006 Delgado, so suck it up, cut him before he ever puts a Mets uniform on again, and accept we need to move on. The Nats aren’t in a position to contend within the next couple of years, so they could possibly be swayed to start Dmitri Young and take prospects for Johnson. I for one would be more than willing to deal Kunz et al. for Nick Johnson. Anything to never see Delgado in a big spot again.
Guarantee me a healthy Nick Johnson and, yeah, sure.
When Castro comes back it may be him and keep 3 catchers, I would be ok with that or Abreu depending on the Delgado situation. Besides you have forgotten that he would have been sent down for Alou anyway.
just put a big red circle around Memorial day on your calendar.
That should be a good time to evaluate if Delgado is ever getting it back, if Carp or Evans is for real, and how Abreu is doing.
Although if Delgado keeps hitting below the Mendoza line with no pop, he may force their hand.
I like the idea of getting Abreu up if possible, although I don’t know how you fit him, with Capr potentially in a month if Dlegado gets hurt or cut.
Might as well find out what you got now.
Although the bench would be a mess since the only likely cut would be Marlon (based on position), but that ain’t happening.
You trade Endy.
As I posted earlier, I think Chavez is a little better than Pagan and, because of his hot April, Pagan might fetch more in a trade
Those thinking about the future (easy to do right now)
If I were the Mets I would do the following things next season. Let Carp play 1B or find a cheap replacement. We have some decent prospects there and there is no need to clogg it up.
Let Pagan play LF until Fmart is ready.
Do not resign any our our pending FA (including Perez) that free’s up over 50 million to spend on PITCHING.
Imagine a rotation of Johan, CC, Garland, Maine and Pelfrey. Adding those 2 would cost you about 35 of the 50. Then you still have money to fix the pen. That’s a team that would be exciting to watch.
I’m still holding out hope for Pedro’s full recovery and (relatively) inexpensive re-up.
I def agree that spending huge dollars on Ollie would be a mistake, and I’m confident omar won’t make that mistake.
cant see the yankees letting CC get away..they got too many pitching problems next yr with that rotation..same thing with tex..its gunna be a new york battle for tex
I agree…they’ve got a ton coming off the books next year, and after letting santana get away to keep a guy who’s gonna be a #3, they’ll chase CC hard.
I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see Tex stay in ATL for a few mil less. They’ve also got dough to spend next year.
Has anybody indicated how many $$$ Oliver Perez is going to be asking for?
Let’s face it… Delgado isn’t going anywhere.. even if he’s hitting .150. Mets just don’t release multi milion dollar players. It’s not a team/ownership philosophy. The only way you’ll see anybody else at 1B is if Delgado gets injured.
Ever watch Jacobs play 1B? Delgado is better. That’s all I’m saying.
Platoon with Easley, he can field and hit if playing on a platoon basis.
This has lots of merit as a stopgap solution. Easley will certainly be an upgrade defensively and probably offensively. Even the diehard Delgado supporters should concede that against lefties, at the very least, Easley is the superior player