42 replies to this topic

[Hairps]

BALTIMORE -- The Red Sox have recalled Chris Carter from Pawtucket. The outfielder left Charlotte this morning and is headed to Fenway Park today.

The 25-year-old is in his first full season with the Red Sox organization. Boston acquired the 5-foot-10, 210-pounder from Washington last August to complete the trade that sent Wily Mo Pena to the Nationals.

Carter is hitting .316 with 10 homers and 35 RBI for the PawSox in 56 games this season. After the Red Sox acquired him last summer, he hit .234 with one home run and four RBI in 12 games for Pawtucket.

He was devastated last September when he was told he would not be a late-season call up for the Red Sox. Now he's getting his chance to make major-league debut.

http://www.beloblog....x_recall_1.html

[Foulkey Reese]

Do we think that he can play a passable LF in Fenway?

Or would he be used as a DH?

[TedsColdHead]

I'm pretty sure that he will be used as a DH. He is defensively challenged.

[86spike]

so I guess that means Bailey is going back down.

[mabrowndog]

so I guess that means Bailey is going back down.

No need to do that. Papi's going on the DL, so Carter fills that vacancy.

[TomRicardo]

Do we think that he can play a passable LF in Fenway?

Or would he be used as a DH?

Depends what you mean by passable. I still think he will be used in LF instead of Manny.

[trekfan55]

It´s interesting that they are meaking both moves at the same time (calling up Masterson and Carter), that means that Masterson is staying up for at least another start (or that they will call up another bullpen arm after tonight´s start).

I think Bailey was only up because they needed an extra OF arm with Drew's vertigo. Now that that's gone Bailey will head down and Carter will take Ortiz's spot. That means that the Sox will still have 4 OF. But from what I read, Carter really cannot play the field so I'm guessing Manny will not be the "full time DH" for now.

[trekfan55]

No need to do that. Papi's going on the DL, so Carter fills that vacancy.

Yeah, but they are calling up 2 players today, Masterson and Carter, so someone has to go down and I also guess it's Bailey.

[86spike]

No need to do that. Papi's going on the DL, so Carter fills that vacancy.

no - Masterson was called up already today when they DLd Ortiz.

Bailey will go for Carter.

[Kevin Youkulele]

It´s interesting that they are meaking both moves at the same time (calling up Masterson and Carter), that means that Masterson is staying up for at least another start (or that they will call up another bullpen arm after tonight´s start).

I think Bailey was only up because they needed an extra OF arm with Drew's vertigo. Now that that's gone Bailey will head down and Carter will take Ortiz's spot. That means that the Sox will still have 4 OF. But from what I read, Carter really cannot play the field so I'm guessing Manny will not be the "full time DH" for now.

If Carter can play about as well as Manny in the OF, it makes more sense to keep Manny as DH so that Francona can insert Crisp for defense without losing Manny's bat. If Carter is Wily Mo-level bad in the field, though, then Manny will get to continue his quest for the gold glove.

[OCD SS]

Carter used to be an OFer, and he spent a great deal of time in ST working on his OF play. I think there were reports that he managed to greatly impress with his work ethic and improvement. Also, he only has to be better than Manny, which is not exactly setting the bar very high.

[SoxFanSince57]

I wonder if there was any thinking about this move in terms of providing an opportunity to showcase Carter so that they can package him in a trade for a RP later in the season. I gotta believe that the Sox FO is trying to position its resources so that it can add another RP this season.

[BCsMightyJoeYoung]

They may have been taking Crisp's attitude into consideration here - bringing up Moss would surely not go down well in the Crisp Camp. He finally gets a chance to play everyday and suddenly Brandon Moss is stealing ABs from him? It may also be that regular ABs will get Crisp back on track and increase his trade value for a deadline deal for the best reliever/backup closer available .

[mabrowndog]

no - Masterson was called up already today when they DLd Ortiz.

Bailey will go for Carter.

Yeah, my bad. The carrier pigeon didn't have anything about Masterson in this morning's mail.

[NYCSox]

It's also possible that they prefer having Manny play LF in Fenway. We'll see if they decide to bring up Moss at the end of the homestand.

[MannysDestination]

This move makes the most sense. As I mentioned in the papi-replacement thread, he's 25 and hitting very solidly in AAA. This is the precise reason you have guys like that on the farm. He's listed at 5'10, 210 lbs, which doesn't exactly translate to incredible range, but I suspect he's better than Manny. If Carter can replicate Ortiz's 2008 line, which is entirely possible, the team should manage just fine.

[SaveBooFerriss]

If Carter can play about as well as Manny in the OF, it makes more sense to keep Manny as DH so that Francona can insert Crisp for defense without losing Manny's bat. If Carter is Wily Mo-level bad in the field, though, then Manny will get to continue his quest for the gold glove.

If Manny starts in LF and Carter at DH, can't the Sox bring in Crisp, move Manny to DH and Carter to bench at the end of the game. I know you lose the DH if he switches to a field position, but another positional player can move to DH during a game, right?

Edited by Skins24, 03 June 2008 - 12:01 PM.

[rembrat]

The right move. Ladies and Gentlemen, this man can hit.

[BCsMightyJoeYoung]

If Manny starts in LF and Carter at DH, can't the Sox bring in Crisp, move Manny to DH and Carter to bench. I know you lose the DH if he switches to a field position, but another positional player can move to DH during a game, right?

No - to my knowledge, once a DH goes into the field the team loses the DH position .. only a DH can replace a DH

[Carroll Hardy]

Chris Carter will now become the 7th position player from the 2003 Stanford CWS runner-up team to have played in the major leagues. The others are Carlos Quentin, Ryan Garko, Danny Putnam, Donny Lucy, Jed Lowrie, and Sam Fuld. In addition, former two-time first round draft pick John Mayberry is hitting .319 for the AAA Oklahoma Red Hawks (Texas Rangers) and will probably be called up at some point in 2008. Finally, while currently struggling at AAA (.207), former Cardinal 2B Johnny Ash did hit .300 in AA in 2007 and was MVP of the 2007 Texas League All-Star Game, so he is still a possiblity for an eventual call-up.

Pretty amazing that a college team could end up with 9 position players making the major leagues.

[mabrowndog]

In his last 10 games Carter's 15-for-39 with 5 HR, 4 BB, 4 K, 10 runs and 8 RBI. Four of his last six hits have been homers.

His line over that span is 385/442/795/1237 -- and that's with him going 1-for-13 the last three games in Durham.

[Harry Hooper]

They may have been taking Crisp's attitude into consideration here - bringing up Moss would surely not go down well in the Crisp Camp. He finally gets a chance to play everyday and suddenly Brandon Moss is stealing ABs from him? It may also be that regular ABs will get Crisp back on track and increase his trade value for a deadline deal for the best reliever/backup closer available .

I doubt Crisp's feelings were a factor for the braintrust as it's not their style. I also doubt Crisp will be playing every day. Carter is coming up and not Moss due to Carter's slugging edge. The goal is to plug a power bat into the lineup in the absence of Ortiz. Carter will be in the lineup, though maybe not tonight if Tito wants him to get acclimated to MLB for a game.

[E5 Yaz]

Chris Carter will now become the 7th position player from the 2003 Stanford CWS runner-up team to have played in the major leagues.

Pretty amazing that a college team could end up with 9 position players making the major leagues.

And yet, only be the runnerup. Lousy pitching?

[Pumpsie]

Carter will be in the lineup, though maybe not tonight if Tito wants him to get acclimated to MLB for a game.

But Tito hardly ever does that.

He always plugs the new player in right away. That's been his M.O. so far. So, my guess is that Carter is in tonight unless who the opposing pitcher is comes into consideration.

[TheoShmeo]

But Tito hardly ever does that.

He always plugs the new player in right away. That's been his M.O. so far. So, my guess is that Carter is in tonight unless who the opposing pitcher is comes into consideration.

That's usually, though not always, his MO. Bailey didn't start in his first game back this time.

[LondonSox]

The right move I like Bailey but Carter is a better DH, he was basically DH insurrance and he can really hit. I hope he can show it. Bailey and Moss should be fighting to be on the bench and Crisp fighting to be kept away from the lineup

[Cuzittt]

First things first... Carter has been an OF (not a DH) in nearly all of the games he has played in Pawtucket this season, so he should be able to play OF for Boston. He may not be great... but he should be passable.

Second... I honestly don't get the move. If you want the Left-Handed hitter, Brandon Moss is better. If you want the power, so far this year, the answer is the player you just sent down in Jeff Bailey. So other than the Sox wanting to hand out a huge number of rings next year, I don't see the advantage of bringing up Carter.

[For information sake:

In Pawtucket this year:

Bailey: .318/.412/.665; 16 HRs, 10 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 27 BBs (50 games) [MLB: 0/3, 3 BBs]
Carter: .316/.372/.536; 10 HRs, 14 2Bs, 1 3B, 18 BBs (56 games)
Moss: .313/.366/.570; 6 HRs, 7 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 11 BBs (33 games) [MLB: .286/.318/.571, 2 HR, 1 BB - 21 ABs]
]

Does this mean I think this is a bad move? No, I think Chris Carter will be fine in Boston. I'm just not sure he is any better at this time than Jeff Bailey (who you put on the 40-man roster 4 days ago) or Brandon Moss.

[E5 Yaz]

Does this mean I think this is a bad move? No, I think Chris Carter will be fine in Boston. I'm just not sure he is any better at this time than Jeff Bailey (who you put on the 40-man roster 4 days ago) or Brandon Moss.

I thin we're watching Community Auditions. This initial 4-6 week period w/o Papi is the perfect time to see what these three guys can do. I think they have a line on Moss already, so now it's a matter of looking at Carter and Bailey and seeing if either or both can help them on the major league level.

They're evaluating in case Ortiz is lost for the season, and have to decide whether these three guys can help them enough to avoida having to spend trading chips on a hitter at the end of July.

Edited by E5 Yaz, 03 June 2008 - 01:46 PM.

[Noah]

Carter's not in the lineup today

Edited by Noah, 03 June 2008 - 03:03 PM.

[Harry Hooper]

First things first... Carter has been an OF (not a DH) in nearly all of the games he has played in Pawtucket this season, so he should be able to play OF for Boston. He may not be great... but he should be passable.

Second... I honestly don't get the move. If you want the Left-Handed hitter, Brandon Moss is better. If you want the power, so far this year, the answer is the player you just sent down in Jeff Bailey. So other than the Sox wanting to hand out a huge number of rings next year, I don't see the advantage of bringing up Carter.

[For information sake:

In Pawtucket this year:

Bailey: .318/.412/.665; 16 HRs, 10 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 27 BBs (50 games) [MLB: 0/3, 3 BBs]
Carter: .316/.372/.536; 10 HRs, 14 2Bs, 1 3B, 18 BBs (56 games)
Moss: .313/.366/.570; 6 HRs, 7 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 11 BBs (33 games) [MLB: .286/.318/.571, 2 HR, 1 BB - 21 ABs]
]

Does this mean I think this is a bad move? No, I think Chris Carter will be fine in Boston. I'm just not sure he is any better at this time than Jeff Bailey (who you put on the 40-man roster 4 days ago) or Brandon Moss.

While I am a dedicated member of the Moss bandwagon, I have to admit Carter has shown more slugging ability over his minor league career than Moss or Bailey in theirs. The Sox want to see what Carter can do, and now he can DH and avoid hurting the team defensively.

[satyadaimoku]

I think there were reports that he managed to greatly impress with his work ethic and improvement. Also, he only has to be better than Manny, which is not exactly setting the bar very high.

My bet is, as a 25 year old getting his first real opportunity to play for a major league team, he's probably hungry to prove himself enough that effort will make up for some of his defensive shortcomings.

I generally prefer to see Manny at DH.

[TheYellowDart5]

My bet is, as a 25 year old getting his first real opportunity to play for a major league team, he's probably hungry to prove himself enough that effort will make up for some of his defensive shortcomings.

I generally prefer to see Manny at DH.

Because grit and determination are always more than enough to make up for an inability to read fly balls correctly or get a good jump on balls.

It's true that Manny is a borderline disaster in the field, but please, let's be realistic about Carter.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Another thought here....but if you've got a guy like Papi out for a short amount of time (hopefully) don't you want to show some confidence in your depth (specifically Coco and Casey) and give them the majority of those AB's? I guess I'm wondering how a guy like Casey feels if you give the bulk of Papi's AB's to a guy like Carter. Obviously, the Sox are in the business of winning games and putting the best guys out there but if it's a short term thing I think showing confidence in these guys and giving them the opportunity to play could be beneficial in the long run, although of course I don't have any stats behind that.

Ultimately, Coco and Casey may not have as high an upside as a Carter or an outside the organization move (Dunn, Griffey, whatever) but it's probably the safe and right move.

[bellyofthebeast]

If Carter can replicate Ortiz's 2008 line, which is entirely possible, the team should manage just fine.

I can't believe this thought has gone without additional comment for 22 hours now. I thought I was the incredibly optimistic one around here.

If Carter can replicate Ortiz's 2008 line, wouldn't he shock the baseball world?

[Buzzkill Pauley]

I can't believe this thought has gone without additional comment for 22 hours now. I thought I was the incredibly optimistic one around here.

If Carter can replicate Ortiz's 2008 line, wouldn't he shock the baseball world?

Why would hitting an .839 OPS shock the baseball world? SSS caveats of course, but Moss did that in his callups, and Lowrie is just a hair lower, as well. As I understand it, Carter is supposed to be a more polished hitter that's shown more power in his milb career than either of those guys, but hasn't gotten a chance coming up in the NL due to a rep as a butcher defensively and being blocked by the studs in Arizona's system.

[BCsMightyJoeYoung]

I can't believe this thought has gone without additional comment for 22 hours now. I thought I was the incredibly optimistic one around here.

If Carter can replicate Ortiz's 2008 line, wouldn't he shock the baseball world?

I believe he was referring to Ortiz'a .839 OPS .. I don't think the baseball world would be too shocked if Carter managed that.

[ctsoxfan5]

Why would hitting an .839 OPS shock the baseball world? SSS caveats of course, but Moss did that in his callups, and Lowrie is just a hair lower, as well. As I understand it, Carter is supposed to be a more polished hitter that's shown more power in his milb career than either of those guys, but hasn't gotten a chance coming up in the NL due to a rep as a butcher defensively and being blocked by the studs in Arizona's system.

Ortiz is also 3rd in the AL in HR and 3rd in in the AL in RBI. I assume bellyofthebeast meant that it would be a "shock" if Carter was able to put up HR and RBI at the same pace.

[bellyofthebeast]

Why would hitting an .839 OPS shock the baseball world? SSS caveats of course, but Moss did that in his callups, and Lowrie is just a hair lower, as well. As I understand it, Carter is supposed to be a more polished hitter that's shown more power in his milb career than either of those guys, but hasn't gotten a chance coming up in the NL due to a rep as a butcher defensively and being blocked by the studs in Arizona's system.

From Lurker snowmanny:
Ortiz' 2008 line is .252/.354/.486. The PECOTA on Carter for 2008 was .261/.326/.400, with a 10% chance of a line of .293/.362/.460. So according to those projections, Chris Carter is likely to be significantly worse than the last two months of David Ortiz (one of which was the worst month of Papi's Red Sox career) and there's a 1 in 10 chance, if we're really lucky, that he'd be almost as good.

In addition, Ortiz's .839 OPS currently ranks him 15th in the AL. Can we really expect Carter to become one of the most productive hitters in the league upon arrival?

[Harry Hooper]

I guess I was wrong, Theo says Carter called up over Moss because they didn't want Moss not playing:

Epstein said the Sox preferred Carter at this stage to Moss - who hit three home runs Saturday night and was International League Player of the Week - because Moss has been playing for just a couple of weeks since recovering from an appendectomy and they'd like him to get regular work at first base rather than have him sit on the Boston bench.

GEAB

I don't get it. If Carter is going to get only limited ABs, wouldn't Bailey be more useful to have around as a PH versus LHP?

[saintnick912]

I don't get it. If Carter is going to get only limited ABs, wouldn't Bailey be more useful to have around as a PH versus LHP?

I think the issue with Moss is that they want him to get defensive reps at 1B, where in Boston he'd be blocked by Youkilis and Casey. They don't mind having Carter split time at OF and DH, so they brought him up instead. At least that's how I interpreted the quote.

[TomRicardo]

I don't get it. If Carter is going to get only limited ABs, wouldn't Bailey be more useful to have around as a PH versus LHP?

Who are you going to pinch hit for against LHP? Drew and Ellsbury? This team crushes lefties and has a harder time with righties. I rather have the LHH hitter Carter up for the longer amount of time. Especially as DH.

Edited by TomRicardo, 04 June 2008 - 02:26 PM.

[Everybody Loves Rey Quinones]

Epstein said on the pregame show on WEEI yesterday that they also wanted a LH bat in Carter.

[geoduck no quahog]

I don't get it. If Carter is going to get only limited ABs, wouldn't Bailey be more useful to have around as a PH versus LHP?

I also think - given Carter is essentially a DH - what better opportunity to call him up? Might as well take advantage of it to see what he brings. Of course that's moot if he doesn't get meaningful ab's.

Edited by geoduck no quahog, 04 June 2008 - 03:14 PM.