3/27/10

Ex-Mets: - Mike Carp, Scott Kazmir, Jay Payton, Kris Benson... and Carlos Gomez

Mike Carp:

It's a move, but it's not a move that answers any questions you might've had about the roster. Unless your question was, "will Mike Carp get cut on March 25th?" Then it does answer a question, and the answer is, yes. Carp, who's only 23, is best known for being in that class of Mariner players who are way younger than you thought they were, along with Matt Tuiasosopo and Ryan Feierabend. There are more rings around our DH than there are around those three guys combined. - lookoutlanding

Scott Kazmir:

Angels trainers detected the tightness and advised Scott Kazmir against playing, but the injury was not deemed serious enough to warrant an MRI test. “It’s not a cause for concern,” said Kazmir, who was slowed earlier in camp by a hamstring injury and has made only two exhibition starts. “It’s not like anything is hurt.” Kazmir hopes to throw an aggressive bullpen workout this weekend and start Tuesday against Milwaukee. If he throws 75 pitches against the Brewers, he’ll have one more start April 4 in a camp game in Arizona to get to the 90-pitch mark and be ready to open the season with the Angels. If Kazmir were to open on the disabled list, right-hander Matt Palmer probably would be the team’s fifth starter - ben

Jay Payton:

Veterans Jay Payton and Paul Lo Duca both said they would accept minor-league assignments if they don’t break camp with the Rockies. The odds are they won’t, despite turning heads with their play and professionalism. The Rockies would have three catchers in Triple-A — Paul Phillips, Mike McKenry and Lo Duca. Phillips and Lo Duca also can play first - more ben

Kris Benson:

Right-hander Kris Benson starts Friday in a minor-league game. He remains unlikely to make the Diamondbacks Opening Day roster but is in the mix to be the No. 5 starter. The club doesn’t need a fifth starter until April 17. - ben fest

Carlos Gomez:

Carlos Gomez played outfield for the Minnesota Twins in 2009. Over the winter, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired him in a trade. Gomez, with over 1000 plate appearances under his belt, has yet to generate any significant offense. Among players with at least 1000 PA since 2007, Carlos owns the fifth lowest OBP and the eighth lowest slugging percentage. That being said, Gomez scores runs at a decent rate for the times he’s on base, mostly due to his speed. He’s a good base stealer, successful in 59 of 80 attempts, 74%.

When a player is that poor offensively, he needs to be a great defender to keep his job. Carlos made up for his negative offense, by saving more runs than he cost at the plate in two of his three seasons. He needs to be hidden at the bottom of the order, so his plethora of outs are kept at a minimum so his superior defense can keep his contributions a net positive.

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