Stuff - Andrew Carpenter, USA Baseball 18U National Team Roster, Bartolo Colon, Lucas Giolito

Andrew Carpenter

There really isn’t anything wrong with having a 27-year old in your bullpen. We talked yesterday about  moving young pitchers too quickly along in the pen and we all have grown up with the wives tale that all great relievers were once failed starters.

But there is Andrew Carpenter. This is the same Carpenter that went 17-6, 3.20 for the 2007 Yankees A+ affiliate and 11-6, 3.35 for the 2009 AAA affiliate.

The problem is that the rest of his checkered professional record is littered with bad seasons, lousy injuries, and just bad luck.

He put up decent numbers this year in AAA (6-3, 3.24, 24-G, 12-ST), was called up (5.00), DFA’s and the Mets scooped him up.

Willl he still be around next year? Yeah, I think so. This was a big time pitching prospect (6-3 RHP, Long Beach State, 2^nd round 2006 – Phillies) who could fit in very nicely on the Mets new AAA affiliate, probably in the PCL. 

USA Baseball 18U National Team Roster

William Abreu, OF, Hialeah, Fla.

 Christian Arroyo, IF, Brooksville, Fla.

 Cavan Biggio, IF/OF, Houston, Texas

 Ryan Boldt, OF, Red Wing, Minn.

 Bryson Brigman, IF/OF, San Jose, Calif.

 Ian Clarkin, LHP, San Diego, Calif.

 Kevin Davis, RHP, Brewton, Ala.

 Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, San Marcos, Calif.

 Connor Heady, IF/RHP, Prospect, Ky.

 John Kilichowski, LHP, Tampa, Fla.

 Jeremy Martinez, C, Santa Ana, Calif.

 Andy McGuire, IF, Vienna, Va.

 Reese McGuire, C, Covington, Wash.

 Dom Nunez, IF, Elk Grove, Calif.

 Chris Okey, C, Mt. Dora, Fla.

 Ryan Olson, RHP, Upland, Calif.

 Carson Sands, LHP, Tallahassee, Fla.

 Dominic Taccolini, RHP, Sugarland, Texas

 Keegan Thompson, RHP, Cullman, Ala.

 Garrett Williams, LHP, Shreveport, La. 

Bartolo Colon

So, today’s top star to test positive is pitcher Bartolo Colon. Many of the beat writers have been sending out tweets lately, quoting from top players that are saying that drug testing is way up. Gee, wonder why? Here you have Colon, and Melky Cabrera, two of the most highly paid for their services ballplayers… cheating.  And, I know everyone is afraid to use the ‘L’ word, but does every one of these cheaters have to be from Latin American countries?

I’m starting to think that the problem here is the word random. There are 30 baseball teams with 25-man active rosters. That’s 750 ballplayers.

If I had an elite black-ops assault force capable of absolutely turning the tide in a county like, oh, let’s say, Syria, I would have problems asking these 750 dudes to piss in a cup once a week.

I guarantee you there are at least 5-10 more out there stealing your money. 

Lucas Giolito

Holy shit! Was there knowledge of the extent of this injury before the ink went dry? Lucas’ father is a MMs reader, but I’d never ask him a question like that. There’s no way you would go to a Doctor, be told you might need TJS, and then head to the negotiation table. No, the Nats knew there was both an injury and a risk. You know what? I still think the Mets should have picked him in the first round. Of course, I wish they would have taken Courtney Hawkins and Lance McCullers also.