MVN - Most Valuable Network

Vargas will join Z’s

The New York Mets announced today that they have signed righthanded starting pitcher Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract. Vargas will report to extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, FL before joining the New Orleans Zephyrs in Louisianna.

Vargas, now 29, went 11-6, with a 5.09 ERA, in 29 games, out of which 23 were starts. Claudio also complied a save to his stats. In 134 innings with the Brew Crew, he let up 54 walks, and sat down 107 strikeouts. Claudio was released by Milwaukee March 25th, during Spring Training. Vargas is 6′ 4″, and 238 pounds, so he has some beef on him, me, I don’t like my pitchers to be over the 220-225 mark. Being a Yanks fan, I am not so gittery with Brian Bruney, 235, so Vargas is over that mark as well. Should he be 1st base? *laughs*.

Vargas has had some injuries, like a strained back, and a throwing arm injury, that kept him out 33 games in ‘05. Vargas has played with Montreal, Washington, Arizona, Milwaukee, and now joins his brother in Flushing. Vargas has a 43-38 win-loss record and a 4.95ERA while pitching in the NL.

When Vargas puts on a Zephyr jersey in the next week or so, it will be the 2nd time in his career. Vargas rehabbed with the Zephyrs while a member of the Washington Nationals in 2005, and went 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in five starts.

Vargas can crank the heat up on his 97-m.p.h. fastball, plus he throws a decent curveball. When he gets ahead in the count, he’s almost unhittable. But,  he tends to hit a wall in the seventh inning. His quality fastball lacks movement, which leads to a lot of home runs. Must throw less, pitch more. He is more of a decent mid-rotation starter, or a decent reliever.

Note to Writers:

Just want to let you know, all Bobby’s and I’s writers, sorry for the lack of updates. Things haven’t been going so well, a pet close to me has died, my baby turtle who I have nurtured for over six months, and family issues, just and all around bad time. Bobby has forgot the login in url.lol. So I will try to get that to him next time I talk to him. Sorry for the inconvience and the lack of updates. To make me feel better, baseball has arrived.

Tommorow, in Mets Minor League Opening Day Series: A Great Success, I will cover the Zephs, B-Mets, and Sand Gnats first series of the new 2008 campaign.

Thank You.-~Jeff C.~-

Player Profile: Mike Carp

Name: Mike Carp
Birthdate: 6/30/1986
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
College: N/A
Height/Weight: 6′ 2″ / 205
Bats/Throws: L/R
Team: New Orleans Zephyrs
Career: Carp played 97 games with Binghamton, before he had an injury that interupted his season. Now he is with New Orleans, and hopes to reach the big apple, once Carlos Delgado’s contract expires. Carp managed 90 hits, 63 were singles, 16 doubles, and 11 home runs. His 11 home runs equaled 48 RBIs. He had 39 walks and crossed the plate 55 times. One of his big problems however, are strikeouts. He helped pitchers hang up 75 K’s on the board, about one every 5 at bats. Mike Carp, 21, finished with a .251 average.

Batting and Power: Carp’s power numbers dipped a season which was interrupted with injuries. When healthy, Carp has the tools to be a viable power threat anywhere from the third to sixth spot in the order while hitting for a good average in the minors. He has become a more complete hitter over the past year or two, able to drive the ball to all fields and hit for greater contact, rather than the streaky power he portrayed in the past. As he moves nearer to the big leagues, his average may move further away from .300, but he can still be a large presence at the heart of the order.

Base Running and Speed: Carp is a fairly average runner with appropriate speed for his position. He may swipe a bag when an opportunity arises, but he will not be any sort of consistent threat. He runs with smarts and will not put himself in a position to cost his team an out on the base paths.

Defense: With more experience came greater reliability and consistency at first base over the season. He has respectable range and is able to move quickly to be sides with a knack for picking balls both hit and thrown to him. He cleans up well for his infielders with good mobility around the bag.

Projection: Carp missed significant time in the early part of the season and troublesome aches slowed him throughout the summer as he completed a season in Binghamton below scouts and his own expectations. There are concerns about his drop in power numbers, especially after his underwhelming performance in the Arizona Fall League, but a healthy, productive season should turn that all around. Nonetheless, confidence still exists that he can be a valued addition in the five or six-hole in a big league order.

ETA: 2009. Although Carp struggled at times in Binghamton, those issues should not hold him back from cracking the Triple-A roster in 2008. With no one standing in his way of becoming the future first baseman of the Mets, it is his position to lose. The organization will patiently allow him to develop as Carlos Delgado heads towards the expiration of his contract after the 2008 season. That will give Carp the opportunity to play the entire upcoming season in New Orleans before breaking in with the Mets as they open up Citi Field in 2009.

Note- Power and batting, baserunning and speed, defense, projection, and ETA are all from Zephyrs.com

B-Mets Spring Training Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Time
March 14th	Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins)	Jupiter, FL	1 PM
March 15th	Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 16th	Camp Day	Port St. Lucie, FL	N / A
March 17th	Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 18th	Jacksonville Suns (LA Dodgers)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 19th	Jacksonville Suns (LA Dodgers)	Vero Beach, FL	1 PM
March 20th	Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 21st	Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 23rd	Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 24th	Camp Day	Port St. Lucie, FL	N / A
March 25th	Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins)	Port St. Lucie, FL	1 PM
March 26th	Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis)	Jupiter, FL	1 PM
March 27th	Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals)	Viera, FL	1 PM
March 28th	Carolina Mudcats (Florida Marlins)	Jupiter, FL	1 PM
March 29th	Jacksonville Suns (LA Dodgers)	Vero Beach, FL	1 PM