Carrasco makes the Ten Pack

Ten Pack/Hot Sheet

Now I guess Goldstein is full of crap too because he doesn’t view Carrasco’s season as an overwhelming success….

Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Triple-A Lehigh Valley (Phillies)
Carrasco entered the year as the Phillies’ top prospect, but his performance had been disappointing right up until the end of the season when he finished with a flourish. The 21-year-old Venezuelan put up a 4.32 ERA at Double-A Reading in 20 appearances, and while his ratios had been solid, he was hit hard far too often for a top prospect. Sent to Triple-A at the beginning of August, he made six starts for the Iron Pigs, and pitched very well in five of them, including 6 2/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts in his final outing of the year—giving him a 1.72 ERA in the International League with 46 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. The fact that he’s not on the 40-man roster yet makes his chances for a big-league debut this month dicey, but he’s lined up to compete for a job in the rotation next spring.

44 thoughts on “Carrasco makes the Ten Pack”

  1. Apparently you can’t let go of the fact that everyone doesn’t agree with what Keith Law says. You taking shots at people over that is almost as silly as the people who constantly whine about it.

    Like

  2. Its not that at all.

    The discourse here over the last 3 months is really making me question why I keep updating this site. I’m beginning to think maybe its best to just pull the plug.

    Like

  4. Don’t pull the plug, please, although i might get a little more work done.

    It’s a valid point, the minute something sour is written on a Phils prospect someone says ‘no one respects our prospects’. There are valid reasons most of the time.

    Either way, starting to agree with other posters that C.C.’s performance makes me wonder if something is wrong at Reading. That is an amazing transformation of a line to go through after moving UP a level. Does anyone have any other theorys? Either way good to see him turning it up a notch. I hope they throw him in the fray for a rotation spot this spring. They have at least 2 openings by my count.

    Like

  5. I’m not a commenter on this site, but as a huge Phils’ fan I read this site everyday. I hope you wouldn’t base your decision to “pull the plug” based on comments. You do great work here, and I would feel a big information vacuum without the site.

    Like

  6. i don’t think anyone said that carrasco’s season was an overwhelming success. talk about hyperbole. his numbers say that he hasn’t been a lock down stud. but he’s definitely more than a fringe prospect that Law would lead you to believe.

    his peripherals this year have been fairly good.

    Like

  7. I agree that I’d know a lot less about our prospects if this site was pulled. You and the volunteers do great work here, especially keeping on top of the prospects and changes on what seems to be a daily basis. I saw a rumor somewhere that Atlanta wanted Travis D’arnaud for Mark Kotsay and a couple years ago i would have said ya go ahead trade him. Now, from what I’ve learned here we’d be crazy to do that deal (and thank god we didnt’).

    Onto CC. I do think he gets a little bad rap and part of that may be due to his “youth”. he’s been in the system what seems like forever but he’s 21 in AAA and doing well now. He’s not of the Hamels, Madson Baumgartner mold that will just blow people away with his stuff and bust through to the majors, but that being said I do see him as a solid 2 behind Hamels hopefully as early as next year.

    Like

  8. there are things that go on with a developing player that a visiting scout has no idea about. like CC might be working on a specific mechanic a particular night. he might be working on a specific pitch and over throw that pitch. he may be doing it knowing it might get hit, but not caring. and then when he bears down, he is able to strike guys out. the coach knows about that. so does the FO. but it might look bad in his era, but it is a means to an end.

    why is that stuff not taken into account?

    Like

  9. I don’t think Law ever called Carrasco a “fringe prospect” or that anyone here called his season an “overwhelming success”. People were just confused why Law criticized Carrasco’s changeup, after reading for years that it was his best pitch. Carlos did struggle with injuries earlier this year, so perhaps Law saw him at the wrong time, like at the Futures Game, when his velocity was down. We know Law attended that game, and could’ve downgraded him based on that performance….or maybe Law’s analysis is correct. Either way, I think everyone can agree that Carlos Carrasco finished strong in AAA, and that there is a glaring hole in the Phillies rotation.

    Like

  10. an addendum: fringe isn’t the right word that i should have used. but his rankings of carrasco doesn’t justify his descriptions of him? maybe thats better.

    Like

  14. CHECK EVERY PROSPECT who went thru READING. No one progresses there. Then talk about CC’s Record. Whose ideas was it to make OUTMAN a reliever anyway.

    Like

  16. PP: Longtime reader, first time poster. You run a great site, one that is among the first I read every time I open my internet browser. I read it for the great individual and team updates, but also for the lively discussions.

    People aren’t always going to agree with you, and sometimes people are going to make stupid statements. And sometimes they will make insightful statements. I don’t know why you let the comments bother you so much. They just mean that your website is successful as a forum where people can debate, discuss, and argue freely. Maybe that’s not the website you set out to create, but it is what it has evolved into and I think it is fantastic the way it is.

    Like

  17. I am with mw. This is a site I check multiple times daily…It fills a huge void for me in following the phillies. You and all the contributors do a phenomenal job with it, and I would be among the many saddened to see you shut it down. While there are some stupid comments, there are a lot of people on here who bring intelligent discussion to the table (ex: the guy who brought up the 20-day option rule last week). If it would make you comfortable deleting comments that are bush league, talk about the blanton trade, or otherwise veer off topic, go ahead, but definitely don’t just shut the operation down. It has developed into something way too valuable for all of the dedicated readers and posters at this point.

    Like

  18. If this site was eliminated I would be very disappointed. Even though I don’t post many comments, I visit this site on a daily basis. I think we should just learn to respect each others’ opinions and move forward instead of regressing. If this site is closed, I would consider that regression.

    Like

  19. This is my first, and due to my available amount of time, likely the last post I do on your site. But with your comment above, I felt I had to respond asap.

    Don’t pull the plug due to disagreements in opinion. After all at least 20% of the population will disagree with you over any one particular point. And, given that sports fans become passionate about truly irrational things, there’s always going to be one person who jumps up and down, pounds his chest, and yells at the sky just to have his voice heard.

    Your site is the one site I visit daily, and I greatly value your opinion of our minor league players. Heck, I quickly scan through your site just to see your, and select others, comments!

    Keep up the good work, and just ignore or ban the trouble makers.

    P.s. Did you catch how well Drabeck has preformed lately?

    Like

  21. PP: So James please dont get rid of the site because of a few irritants. This is an awesome site and one of my favorite stops when I’m online…Yes Trolls are annoying but the value your creation provides far outweighs that right right?

    Its a fair eval on Carrasco. Honestly his AAA are too small to judge him on…he could have just been on a hot streak against opponents that didn’t have a book on him.

    Like

  22. I have 5 sites I visit every day. This is one of them. I have been reading since the middle of last season. You do a fine job. There are a few goof balls that monopolize the comments sometimes.

    Like

  23. Courier Lou, I think that your statement, “CHECK EVERY PROSPECT who went [through] READING. No one progresses there”, is a pretty silly statement to make. Just this year, I think that Marson, Donald, and Golson all made significant strides in their development at Reading. Also, I understand that Carrasco’s standard stats were not exceptional with the Phils this season, however, they were markedly improved over his ’07 stint with the Reading Phils, which, in my book, signifies improvement over his Reading career. More specifically, in Carrasco’s time at Reading in ’07, he pitched 70.1 innings, recording 9 HR, 46 BB, 49 SO, 36% GB%, 5.72 FIP, 4.86 era, and a 1.58 whip. In ’08, his line showed significant improvement with 114.2 IP, 13 HR, 45 BB, 109 SO, 46% GB%, 4.16 FIP, 4.32 era, and a 1.34 whip. So, basically, I do not understand how you come to the conclusion that Reading players do not advance their skills, when your one example, Carrasco, is a perfect counter-example to your argument.

    Like

  24. PP, You can’t shut this site down it’s too awesome. Yeah some people are pecker woods, but it’s definitely better than a lot of blogs out there who just spew negativity and wrongful facts. I know you get pissed but c’mon buddy this site is just too good. Plus we have a big offseason of the draft eval, prospect evals, projections for next year, That’s way too exciting not to want to sink your teeth into!!!

    Like

  25. Not to get off the subject .I was just wondering what people think about D’Arby Myers. He gets moved up and can’t hit goes back and does okay. He is only twenty can he still be a top prospect in people’s mind. Or do you think he is just another toolsy young outfield .That will never make it to higher levels.

    Like

  27. So much anger.

    I have learned a fair amount from this site that I definitely would not have gotten elsewhere. You have done a good job at combining info from a lot of different resources which i either don’t have the cash or the time to read. Having the iron pigs around made me a lot more interested to stay on top of this stuff. Hopefully you keep the site going.

    It sounds like you are letting a handful of flamers get to you. (BTW I don’t see any issue with talking about the big club when relevant, even if it is about the Blanton trade)

    Like

  28. I hope the phillies move some younger players to triple a . It is hard to follow a team filled with very few prospect. I wonder why some teams are more aggressive with there younger players and move them and challenge them. I was reading about wallace who the cardinal have already moved to double a. Does anyone remember the phillies drafting someone and moving him from the draft to double a in same year.

    Like

  33. This is a great site that I would miss if you shut down. I think it will be here tomorrow and for many years( not days)to come. I have always followed the minor league players but in the past 2 years here is where I found and read so much more information that any Phillies Phan could every accumulate. I look every day. Not just during the season but all through Eagle and Flyer time. I post once in awhile but only with decent questions or relevant information. Not my site but lets keep it that way.
    Thanks again for a great year of minors updates.

    Like

  36. PP, I love the site and check it daily (usually a couple times per day). Keep it alive!

    Courier Lou might have a point about pitchers at Reading. Look at the prospects who struggled or didn’t pitch up to expectations there this year: CC, Edgar Garcia, Drew Carpenter, Tyson Brummett, (cough) Adam Eaton. Anthony Bastardo was the only one who was pretty good. As much as Eaton may suck at the ML level, he shouldn’t have those numbers at AA.

    Like

  37. This is a terrific site for those of us who want to see what might lie ahead for the Phils; I started reading it a few months back, and then started checking out the box scores of each of the Minor League Affiliates-right, get a life! And, like a previous poster said, when D’Arnaud’s name came up in trade rumors, it was fun to know that he seems to have a great upside.
    My other passion is my alma mater’s “unofficial” blog/site which I have read and posted on for years. Relative to that, this site has a lot more rational people-its amazing how quickly people can turn on a team, etc. when they are looking through colored glasses!
    Because I enjoy this site, I ask PP, that you truly feel like you are doing this for those who enjoy your hard work (and the contributors hard work as well) and let the others roll off your back. Please also remember that there will be those posters whose purpose in life is to be negative, and want that counter-reaction, let alone the covert, meaning a Mets fan who might want to stir things up enough that you would indeed shutdown.
    Finally, its baseball-its an incredibly difficult sport to play, let alone judge talent; at the prospect level, everyone is trying to make projections on guys for 5,6, or 7( or more) years down the road! Imagine trying to project a college freshman QB as a pro, 3 years into his NFL season-physical and mental maturity is pretty difficult guesswork! Let’s enjoy the speculation, and celebrate those who do make it through, or at least get our attention with early success…

    Like

  38. I hope you do not shut down this site. I feel as though I know fifty times more about the Phillies’ minor league system now, then when I began reading your posts early last year. And the ongoing debates, while at times frustrating, are also interesting.

    Seriously, I’d rather you include ad.s or charge a nominal fee for a membership (just to make it worth your while) rather than have you shut down. Now that may defeat the entire purpose of your having this site (at least in your eyes), but there are so many of us who truly appreciate and enjoy the access and information that you provide.

    If you do shut it down, thank you again for allowing all of us to participate. It has been a lot of fun.

    Like

  39. Getting back on track, I saw somewhere on the internet that Carrasco has gone home to Venezula. Any know this for a fact? And if so, why did they send him home and not open up a spot on the 40-man for him? Seems like they’re pretty much going to recall every other big name prospect on the farm. Why not Carrasco? Not like Charlie would use him, but it would be nice to have a hard throwing RHP in the pen. Plus, it’d be an easy way to monitor innings/get him big league experience.

    Like

  40. saviordrew,

    yes he went back. I believe they mentioned it on the pre-game show last night on the radio. Amazing to me why they wouldn’t give him a shot over Kendrick, or as you say out of the bullpen. Maybe they’re worried about how he’d handle a pennant race?

    Like

  41. hot off the presses. Just got my question answer from our friend Mr Law:

    mike (NJ): Love your work Keith. Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese or Michael Taylor and Carlos Carrasco, who’d you rather have??

    Keith Law: (1:35 PM ET ) The Mets’ guys, easily.

    Like

  42. Law had Fernando Martinez near his Top 20 coming into this season I think, so thats not all that surprising, considering he’s not buying into Michael Taylor just yet.

    I think Niese is really overrated, but we’ll see.

    Like

  43. Martinez is almost three years younger than Taylor and at a higher level, and Niese pitched better than Carrasco for most of the season. Can’t really blame anybody for taking the Mets’ guys there.

    Like

  44. Niese was telegraphing his pitches last evening——could have been jitters. I have not seen Carlos yet but I have a real sense that Taylor is on his way to being special.

    Like

Comments are closed.