…from what i understand, the team is working to re-make carp as a left fielder…however, he will never be a good defensive player, and he’ll be clunky no matter where he sets up…the thing is, the guy can hit…seriously, he looks like Jim Thome at the plate…he’ll start the season at Triple-A next season, where he’ll bounce between first and left field, and will be mentioned in all sorts of trade talk…i bet he’s invited to spring training, unlike last season, and he will probably be among the first players promoted mid-season to the major league roster, assuming he is still in the organization…in short, he reads like Mike Jacobs…

In August, Carp was interviewed by Mike Silva at NY Baseball Digest, which you can listen to here.

In an old article for Baseball America, Alan Schwarz wrote:

“Major league teams must protect players on their 40-man rosters within three or four years of their original signing. Those left unprotected are available to other teams as Rule 5 picks… Players who were 18 or younger on June 5 preceding the signing of their first contract must be protected after four minor league seasons.  Players 19 and older must be protected after three seasons.”

For other rules and information, check out Mets Minor League Blog, where Toby Hyde suggests only Shawn Bowman be protected, for fear of losing him in the draft to another team. 

According to Hyde, Mike Carp is not yet eligible.

In 1999, the Marlins picked up Johan Santana in the Rule V Draft, and then traded him to the Twins on the same day.  Doh!

Jon Niese was named the organization’s pitcher of the year.

For more, including who won the award for each specific level in the minor leagues, such as Mike Carp, who received the award for Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League, click here.

Speaking of Carp, in a recent post to Baseball Prospectus, prospect guru Kevin Goldstein listed Carp second to Murphy when ranking players who took a ‘great leap forward,’ while writing, “He still struggles against good left-handers, and scouts are hoping for even more power, as it’s a tough road to come up as a first-baseman without it.”

In 77 games for Binghamton this season, Carp is batting .319 with 17 doubles, 10 HR, 47 RBI and 50 strike outs in 285 at bats.

…the problem with carp, from what i can gather, is that he is just not very good on defense…anywhere…he’s listed as a DH at this point, and has been worked out at first base, third base and outfield…

On July 7, Mets Minor League Blog’s Toby Hyde will begin a three-week blogging tour of each of the team’s affiliates.

…toby has outstanding contacts throughout the minor league system, and so i am looking forward to his take on carp…

Meanwhile, the 22–year-old Parnell is 8–4 with a 4.04 ERA in 17 starts for Binghamton.

Since switching to a starting pitcher, Aguilar, 26, is 8–1 with a 2.19 ERA, including 41 strike outs in 61.2 innings pitched.

Aguilar was born in Pamona, CA, and was selected by the Mets in the 29th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

On Sunday, Carp hit two home runs with six RBI, putting him at .351 with 15 doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI in 55 games this season.

On his resurgence, he tells MiLB.com:

“It was really frustrating and disappointing the way everything worked out last year…This was a big year for me coming in. I was pressing a bit last year and was a little injury-plagued, so I wanted to take a more healthy approach to this season.”

Carp has also played leftfield this season to help keep his bat in the lineup every day, as well as to increase his versatility, adding that it’s a position he can ‘handle.’

…at the end of last year, scouts were split on carp… while some still had him listed as a top prospect, others felt he had too many holes in his swing and couldn’t hit lefties enough to play full time… well, still just 21-years old, it looks like he has answered those questions, thus far… being in a lineup with Fernando Martinez, Nick Evans and Danny Murphy certainly helps, too…

…he’s a big, imposing kid who can absolutely wallop the ball, and it seems that he has tightened up his swing… he’s also one of the most modest, soft-spoken kids you’ll meet, which makes it all the more fun to see him succeeding…

“Carp isn’t much of a fielder, but if his bat continues to develop at this pace he can be as starting first baseman in the majors. If I were the Mets, I’d leave him in Double-A until the end of June, then promote him to Triple-A on his birthday (June 30th) and see how he handles the International League. I have no idea how the Mets plan on fitting him into the lineup in the long run, but grade-wise I’m moving him back up to Grade C+ right now, and if he is still hitting like this on June 30th I will make that a B- or perhaps a straight B.”

Carp is currently batting .356 (36-for-101) with 6 HR, 7 2B and 20 RBI through his first 26 games this season with the Mets Double-A Binghamton affiliate.

…i know some fans want to rush carp to the big league level after his hot start due to Carlos Delgado’s recent struggles, but it’s too early for such a move…plus, what if carp doesn’t perform any better than delgado currently is, then what…

Vargas had spent the last week or so working out in extended spring training in St. Lucie.

Also, Rubin returns with his outstanding minor-league report, at his blog for the Daily News, during which he recaps who is hot and who is not in the team’s farm system, while speaking with B’Mets 1B Mike Carp, who says: “This year I wanted to prove to the Mets last year was a fluke.”

In 24 games in Double-A, Carp is hitting .376 with six HR, seven doubles and 20 RBI, though he has only one hit (a home run) in his last 16 at bats.

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…

First, in his blog at the Daily News, Adam Rubin talks about 1B Nick Evans, 3B Dan Murphy and 1B/DH Mike Carp, who are bashing their way through the Eastern League. Focusing especially on Evans, Rubin talked to Mets’ assistant GM Tony Bernazard about the young slugger:

“He’s a very good athlete, very good potential as a player,” Mets VP Tony Bernazard said about Evans, a fifth-round pick by the Mets in 2004 out of high school in Phoenix. “The ball jumps off his bat. He has a lot of power potential. He can hit the ball in the gaps. He’s very smart, a leader-type player. A quiet leader.”

On the season, Carp leads the team with a .435 average and five homers, and is second with five doubles and 16 RBI. Murphy sits at .426 with 13 RBI, and is tied for the team lead in doubles with six. Evans is hitting a mere .355, leading the team with six doubles, two triples and 18 RBI.

At the NY Post, Tim Bontemps profiles RHP Eddie Kunz, the 2007 supplemental first round pick whom the organization has projected as its potential closer of the future. Bernazard, being the go-to-guy for any and all minor league stories, tells Bontemps that the team would not be afraid to call Kunz up straight from Double A this year.

Bontemps also spoke to an AL scout, who gave his take on Kunz’s stuff:

“[Kunz] gets good leverage and velocity behind it, and it really explodes at the plate… A hard sinker in the low 90s like that is a pretty devastating pitch.”

The scout also liked Kunz’s slider, which hits 83-84 on the radar gun. “At times, when he would throw it right, it would just disappear. If we’re just talking stuff, Eddie’s going to be an All-Star. You only have to watch him throw a couple pitches to see there’s some pretty special pitches coming out of that arm.”

Kunz is 1-0 with three saves and a 4.26 ERA on the season, thanks to one spotty outing; he hasn’t been scored upon in four out of his five appearances. He has allowed three hits and four walks while striking out four in 6.1 innings.

According to this MySpace page, “Joe Smith is God.”

…hat tip to Steve Popper’s Amazin Stories for the link…

Next, in a lengthy – but outstanding – column for the New York Post, Kevin Kernan catches up with Dwight Gooden and his son, Dwight Jr., who is working to start a rap career with the help of his father.

Kernan writes of Gooden: “Life consists of helping Dwight Jr. with his music career, going to his daughter’s high school softball games, his sons’ Little League, AAU baseball and basketball games, helping the teams out, and his grandson’s T-ball games and staying straight…He begins each day with meditation to stay calm.”

Also in the New York Post, Bart Hubbach provides a profile of Angel Pagan, who entered the day batting .400 this spring.

In the Journal News, John Delcos writes about Jose Reyes, and the shortstop’s new, more professional approach to baseball, while talking with David Wright, Willie Randolph, Tony Bernazard and Jerry Manuel, who is quoted as saying:

“Last year was a painful time for him, but growth can sometimes be painful. He’s going to be better for it. You can see it with him now. He seems to have a renewed focus.”

Lastly, in a post to MLB.com, Marty Noble catches up with 1B Mike Carp, who is currently in minor league camp.