Carrasco Promoted

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After Les Walrond was called up to take the place of Rudy Seanez (DL) on the major league roster, coveted prospect Carlos Carrasco was called up to AAA–Lehigh Valley and is expected to start Sunday.  Looking first at Carrasco, the 21 year old is 7-7 with a 4.32 ERA in Reading this year.  He has pitched 114.2 innings, given up 109 hits, walked 45 and struck out 109.  Opponents are hitting .254 against him and his WHIP is 1.34.  He also has given up 13 gopher balls this year in his 19 starts. Carrasco has a fastball that usually hovers between 89–93 , and has a good late kick to it. Carrasco’s “out” pitch is considered to be his change which is extremely effective. His curveball has shown improvement over the last couple of years as well. 

Walrond, 31, has been absolutely phenominal as of late with a 29 inning scoreless streak without yielding an earned run for the ‘Pigs.  Never really on the major league radar screen prior to now, Walrond who was acquired from the Cubs earlier this year has been quite a surprise for Lehigh Valley.  On the year he is 5-7 for Lehigh Valley with a 2.63 ERA in his 17 starts.  He has pitched 103.1 innings, given up 88 hits, walked 36, struck out 95 and opponents are hitting only .235 against him.  His WHIP is 1.20 and he has given up only 3 homerun balls. This is Walrond’s third stint in the majors (Cubs’06 and Royals ’03).

49 thoughts on “Carrasco Promoted”

  1. A Cubs fan told me, of Walrond, ‘He’ll pitch well enough at AAA to fool you into thinking he’s a major league pitcher’.

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  2. Who did the phills trade for this Walrond guy. Another thing I just do not get why the phills do not pitch Happ. I seen him vs the Mets he has good stuff his slider is decent he has some zip on his fastball. If you ask me he would complement Moyer who uses the conors and doesn’t throw that fast when Happ attacks the batters and his fastball tops 96 miles an hour. Tell me what you think.

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  3. Me thinks I have a better chance of throwing 96 mph than Happ does. Also, I was never a believer in starting pitchers being able to complement or work off of each other. Just do not think it happens. I would love to see Happ get a shot in the rotation, but the problem is (and this problem was created when the Phillies inexplicably traded for Blanton) that even though 4 of the Phillies 5 starters are league average or worst, there is really no one to pull from the rotation. Obviously, Hamels is not going anywhere. Moyer has been our second best starter, he is not leaving. Myers is the teams only chance of forming a legitimate 1-2 punch, I do not think he is getting exiled, at least for a little while. Blanton will not get moved (even though he probably should), especially considering the prospects we gave up for him only 2 weeks ago. Finally, Kendrick, who continues to mystify me with the amount of games he manages to win, is probably not leaving. This is the problem. Happ should be in the rotation, but can’t crack it even though the current starters are pretty bad.

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  4. Yep, the JA Happ legend is growing almost as fast as A. Cardenas.

    Happ was solid in his two starts but he certainly wasn’t throwing 96..

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  5. Seriously, Reading needs to get rid of Pat Overholt. He’s absolutely terrible.

    Escalona had a horrible outing as well. It’s going to be a rough rest of the year without Donald and Marson.

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  6. Happ has had a good year in the minors and has held his own in the majors but his fastball is nowhere near 96 mph. Hes more in the low 90’s. Hes going to get a chance to be a starter eventually, I just don’t understand that believe that hes some kind of savior.

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  7. Walrond was signed as a free agent after he was released by the Cubs organization. Walrond apparantly asked for his release because he had not been pitching in the rotation in AAA and that is where he preferred to pitch.

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  9. I have an idea: Let’s form our opinion of Blanton on one start rather than a whole season’s worth of evidence! Especially pitching at a ballpark that slightly favors pitchers.

    I really would have liked to see Happ get more of a chance to show he can start. I thought they could have picked up a similar pitcher to Blanton after the deadline if it didn’t work out. It’s just a shame that he never even had a shot.

    Glad to see Carrasco get promoted. He hasn’t had a great year but he is one step closer to being on the big league team.

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  10. “JA Happ is 7 feet tall…and if he were here he’d consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse.” 96 huh? Must be when he’s not in a Phillies uni.

    Its not as if Carrasco has been dominating at AA so the promotion is a bit of a surprise…maybe the change of scenery will motivate him…its not as if there’s much else to do in Allentown.

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  11. @ NEPhilliesPhan: Some day, JA Happ and Adrian Cardenas will meet face to face, and it will be a battle that will rock the very firmament on which we mere mortals stand.

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  12. Happ vs. Cardenas… we’ll finally know what it was like to watch Rogers Hornsby face off against Walter Johnson.

    bluethree: I have an even better idea. How about we judge him on part of one season instead of his entire career? He’s got a lower career ERA and WHIP then Brett Myers and he’s just entering his prime.

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  14. Neduol Caz Says

    That was a brilliant anaysis of the Phillies situation. Happ may be better than half the guys in the rotation, but who do you move? If Meyers gets back to what he was, he will be an effective major league #4 starter. Add that to Kendrick who is an effective major league #4 and Blanton who might be a national league effective #3, and there is no room in this lineup for an upstart kid just because he brings great numbers with him.

    This seems to sum up the way the Phllies operate. So let’s try a question here: Well two of them –

    1. What would the yankees or the red sox do in this same situation. Would they force feed Happ and let HIM decide if he is going to fit into the rotation?

    2. Isn’t the word “coveted” to describe Carrasco a bit over done? I would suggest ‘interesting’ fits better. This kid has actually be in the system a long time and he is heading for his 22nd year with parts of two years at Reading. His last five starts he had an ERA over 5.0, with a whip about 1.34.

    Well, LV is a shot for him to make his mark. He still reminds me of Gavin Floyd who despite a great start this year, has slowly sunk to the level of a #3 which is where he probably fits. Maybe Carol fits there too. If so, we can use him but it must be time for him to prove his mettle. Time waits for no man.

    See Harris has slipped. Let’s see how far back he goes. All our bright lights seem to be growing dim as the season progresses.

    Joey

    PS I hope Taylor will have a big two weeks and get himself promoted to Reading so we can see what we have in him.

    Next callup: Lou Marson. Except that they wouldn’t play him in a close race. They hesitate to play kids. Maybe next year for Lou.

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  15. “Some day, JA Happ and Adrian Cardenas will meet face to face, and it will be a battle that will rock the very firmament on which we mere mortals stand.”

    “Happ vs. Cardenas… we’ll finally know what it was like to watch Rogers Hornsby face off against Walter Johnson.”

    Hmm, seems a slight overstatement, no? I don’t think it’s a particularly outlandish idea to claim that:

    a – Happ could pitch as well as Blanton for the next two month, and
    b – Cardenas could be a solid major league contributer, and was traded without bringing back a significant upgrade in the rotation.

    Especially considering superMarson was considered untouchable in acquiring Sabathia, who is worlds better than Blanton. Blanton may pitch very well, and the prospects may not turn into anything, but it’s certainly a legitimate critique to say the Phillies handled the situation poorly.

    Nedul sums it up perfectly: too many 4-5 level starters. We didn’t need to give up a #2-3 prospect (+Outman) for one more.

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  17. I know on this site there are a lot of people who know the minor league system. Can someone explain spencer going in the trade and hitting better than ever. And weak arm, weak glove, no speed ,according to this blog cardenas playing shortstop.

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  19. bluethree: what does it matter if carrasco’s “one step closer” to the big league team if he’s not ready? this promotion is unwarranted and he should still be in AA. i can’t stand hearing things like this.

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  20. Intersting Carrasco stuff in the paper today:

    Carrasco, a 6-foot-3 Venezuelan, drew the interest of several clubs in trade discussions last month. Arbuckle said shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, both of whom are playing for the U.S. Olympic team, also drew extensive interest.

    Phils general manager Pat Gillick recently said that Carrasco projected as a No. 3 starter in the major leagues.

    “We’ve got some guys who think he’s a three or a four,” Arbuckle said. “I think he can be better than that. I think guys mature. People forget he’s only 21 and with maturity he could get better. I think he could be a legitimate No. 2.”

    Let’s hope Arbuckle is a better judge of talent than Gillick.

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  21. Looking at there drafts I would’t bet on Arbuckle. But if also could be he is limited in what he can do by the owners budject.If he has to sacifice going after some higher ceiling talent becasue of budject concerns by the owners.

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  22. First, Arbuckle’s drafts have been good.

    BTW, Walrond was interviewed upon his promotion and credits his astounding recent success (17-K game, 29 inning scoreless streak) to the addition of another pitch, a cut fastball. That can sometimes really change a pitcher’s results.

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  23. “but it’s certainly a legitimate critique to say the Phillies handled the situation poorly”

    padriac: I agree. I have no problem with rational criticism of the deal but I was responding to what I think is irrational criticism. Many people are acting as if Joe Blanton is Joe Cowley, which he’s not, and that Adrian Cardenas is Ryne Sandberg, which he’s not.

    I get it. The people who frequent this site really get attached to our own prospects. We like them. We root for them, and as a result, we probably tend to overate them. It’s only human nature. But seriously, this wasn’t the no question bone-head move many are making it out to be.

    I think Blanton is going to fit in very well on this team. I think he’s the bulldog innings eater they need now, and in the future. A rotation of Hamels-Corrasco-Blanton-Kendrick-Happ for the next several years? Sounds pretty darn good to me.

    Will we live to regret losing Cardenas? Maybe. Chances are still against him turning into a perenial all-star, but he may. I think it was a good roll of the dice. You don’t. Time will tell who’s right, but one thing’s for sure, it’s not obvious either way.

    Now to phuturephillies and everyone else, I promise this is my last post on the topic. We’re just not going to agree on it. And you know what? That’s okay. That’s why they show up and play every day.

    Sometimes you get Steve Carlton for Rick Wise and sometimes you get Bob Buhl for Fergie Jenkins. You just never know.

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  24. @shawn: Good, well-reasoned opinon and I should probably join you in not talking about this anymore. My only concern is that there are certain people here who would rather see Cardenas succeed in Oakland than see Blanton succeed in Philadelphia just so they moan about what a disaster this trade was.

    We’re all Phillies fans guys, and I’m not saying that he’s going to be a world-beater, but Blanton pitched pretty darned well last night. Can we just be happy with that?

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  25. i disagree with the premise that arbuckle hasn’t drafted well. 5 of 9 starters in the field, 3/5 of the rotation, and a couple bullpen guys are home grown. i don’t know how that compares to the whole of mlb, but i have to assume that’s a pretty good percentage. add in the fact that the team should be competetive for the division, if not more, for the next couple of years, and i think he’s done a pretty good job. i think his track record shows he may hit on 1 kid per draft in most years, but his hits are future all-stars. and i dont think those picks were gimmies. at draft time, utley couldn’t field, hamels was a medical risk, howard had a bad junior season. i dont think he’s elite, but i think he does a good job. i far prefer him running the day to day than ruben amaro, who is one of the most cocky, arrogant jerks i’ve ever met, and, without a doubt, will be a total yes-man for the cheap ownership. he’s like eddie haskel. arbuckle may ultimatley be a yes-man too, but at least i know he can build a competative team. what is ruben amaro’s track record with talent evaluation, or with working out a beneficial trade, or on anything, really. i know this is off topic, but i am very concerned about what happens when gillick leaves.

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  26. “My only concern is that there are certain people here who would rather see Cardenas succeed in Oakland than see Blanton succeed in Philadelphia just so they moan about what a disaster this trade was.”

    Much agreed with that statement. People who do that drive me nuts.

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  27. For what it’s worth, Outman has a 7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings for the A’s double A team, while Cardenas is hitting .279 with 14 Ks in 68 at-bats in high A.

    Good job by Gillick getting an experienced quality arm in Blanton without giving up key prospects. Blanton showed up big last night.

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  28. Bedrosian’s Beard I think you are not getting the point. Blanton in a lot of people’s mind wasn’t worth a number one prospect in your system.Maybe you will be proven right. but we look at what the cubs gave up for harden and its was less than the phillies gave for a lesser pitcher. If the phillies gave cardenas and carrasco for say a one or two that’s different. Blanton is a four or five. As I said maybe I will be proven wrong but that’s my opion.

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  29. How does every post get steered back to this subject of conversation? Lets talk about the big news of the day, Carrasco’s promotion. I agree, he may not have deserved it and it may be pushing him a bit hard, but sometimes certain prospects really respond to an advancement. Do you guys think Carrasco could be one of those players? The most recent example that comes to mind is Samardzija, albeit in a limited sample size.

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  30. I’d love to have Harden…but the injury risk is there and he’s a 5 inning pitcher with great K rates…he’d kill our overworked bullpen a bit more than it already is getting killed.

    Blanton is servicable hopefully and I’m gonna keep my head in the sand and hope he continues to do well.

    Back to the point of the thread, Carrasco probably shouldn’t have been promoted but it may be only temporary to give him a taste of something different and to challenge him. I can’t imagine Walrond is gonna be on the big club long term and when he’s sent back down Carrasco would also likely go back down. There isn’t that much difference between AA and AAA.

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  31. Some interesting quotes from Arbuckle on the subject; “We feel he’s ready,” Arbuckle said. “We want to see how he handles the challenge. He’s been a guy who has needed a little adjustment time as he has moved up levels. We wanted to get him to triple-A and have him make his adjustments in August, rather than out of spring training next year.” Very interesting. Sounds like they are planning to get him into the rotation next ST.

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  32. No one can say that Oakland would have preferred
    the Phillies’ Prospects that were included in the
    Blanton trade, to Chicago’s in the Harden trade.

    If you work on the assumption that they would have,
    then you as the GM must then make this decision.

    Would you take Harden and his non stop
    history of injury and flashes of brilliance, or,
    the control of Blanton and his solid league
    average innings eating.

    The key here is we do not lose a pitcher, Carrasco, who
    should out pitch Kendrick and be under our control at
    a low price, allowing the Phillies to throw 10s of millions
    of dollars at a #1 Pitcher this winter who is worthy
    of the cash outlay. There seem to be many more options
    this year than years past.

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  34. SirAlden. If the phillies go after a number one then I will be the first person on this blog. To say how wrong I was but can’t trust them to do it. All this blog has talked about its seems is the split on Carrasco. Is he a number one or two well now we will see hopefully.I hope this kid pitches lights out for the fans. We deserve to have a winner in this town.

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  35. I like the challenge to Carrasco. AAA might just bring out the best in him. The Iron Pigs have nothing to lose and the same goes for Reading.

    If Carrasco makes the rotation in ’09 he should be the #5 no matter how he fares from here. Better to think of him in AAA for 2009 and see what he does in 2010 Spring Training. If he’s a solid #4 in 2011 we’ll be lucky enough. If he is eventually a #3, it most likely won’t be until 2012 or 2013. Anything higher or sooner would be a huge boost but they should plan conservatively around Carrasco, ease back expectations and leave room for upside surprise.

    The Phillies need to sign or acquire a big name ace. Same 120 year old story.

    Cole Hamels is our #1, but the middle piece of the Big Three is still conspicuously missing. Brett Myers isn’t it. Blanton isn’t either, though he had a great start last night. Both are #4 with latent #3 potential. Moyer, Kendrick are #4. Happ a rookie automatic #5. or is it #6? LOL.

    Good luck to Carrasco and congratulations Walrond.

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  36. Isn’t it just possible that the team felt AAA was the place for Carrasco because they have something specific they want him to work on there? The difference between AA and AAA these days is mostly illusory. A lot of AAAA type guys toiling in AAA into their early thirties dominate the rosters of most AAA teams.

    But the team may feel that whomever taught Walrond a cutter may have something to teach Carrasco that he hasn’t gotten at AA. Of course, that’s assuming Walrond learned the cutter in our system, which is by no means a given.

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  37. xfactor Well said. Here’s hoping our 2012 rotation is something like Hamels, Drabek, Savery, Carassco, Sampson. We can hope!

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  38. Let’s all just try to temper our thoughts after the first outing. If he pitches well don’t put him in the hall of fame and if he struggles don’t condemn him. Remember he is 21 and still has growing to do even though he’s been in the system a while. Good luck Carlos!

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  39. 4 hits, 1 unearned run through 3. I never followed an Iron Pigs game – AAA has the gameday feature running.

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  40. AAA doesn’t seem like much of a jump (if any) from AA. Someone in another thread mentioned that the move might simply be a reaction to Marson’s departure, and wanting Carrasco to work with Jaramillo. Makes sense to me. It seems to me that the a player’s move from low-A to high-A, from high-A to AA, is certainly more significant that the move from AA to AAA.

    On another subject (and apologies for MLB talk) – Jeff noted earlier that if “Meyers gets back to what he was, he will be an effective major league #4 starter.” His constant misspelling of Myers aside, the ’05 and ’06 seasons make me think that getting “back to what he was” would put Myers at worst, a #3 and at best a #2. I think tonight’s start will tell a lot about the potential for him to return to form this season.

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  41. I know this is probably the wrong spot for this, but I’m watching some of the US olympic teams game from yesterday and Donald looks like he has a pretty good arm. I really think he could make a move to 3B.

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  47. they let him start the 7th and he let up another unearned run.

    final line

    6.2ip 6h 2r 0er 2bb 4k 102pitches 67 strikes

    the defense in the valley is leaving a lot to be desired with 3 errors.

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  48. they pulled carrasco with 2 outs in the 6th after he walked a batter, then brought in ennis and the 1st batter he faced reached on an error and then a 2 run single so he will get a no decision and both runs were unearned 6.2 ip 6h 2r 0er 2bb 4k

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  49. “For what it’s worth, Outman has a 7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings for the A’s double A team, while Cardenas is hitting .279 with 14 Ks in 68 at-bats in high A.

    “Good job by Gillick getting an experienced quality arm in Blanton without giving up key prospects. Blanton showed up big last night.”

    …and the one guy that on one even cared about in this trade was Matt Spencer, and he is hitting something like .452 with 7 doubles and 3 HR in 15 games.

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