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Carter's callup keeps PawSox guessing |
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Friday, 13 June 2008 |
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Remember the days when your parents would promise a trip to the toy store if your grades were up to par? Chances are you spent many a night cracking the books, hoping all the due diligence would result in the parental units honoring their word.
Apparently the Boston Red Sox have a taken a page from your carefree days. Theo Epstein may not load up the organization’s minor leaguers in the company van, the GPS programmed for Toys “R” Us, but the BoSox general manager can dangle something just as eye-catching: a call-up to the big leagues.
Every player who comes through McCoy Stadium shoots for the same star. They hope to hear PawSox manager Ron Johnson say to come by the office; his message containing news to get up to Fenway Park, pronto. When asked during spring training what his favorite part of his job entails, Johnson responded “telling someone to be there for batting practice or to meet [the Red Sox] in a certain city; that’s what it’s all about.”
One PawSox Johnson recently had the pleasure of delighting his day falls in line with the merit system the Red Sox are swearing by, that being Chris Carter. Even Carter admitted he was pleasantly surprised, which probably sums up the thoughts of Red Sox Nation.
“I was surprised because you usually get the call the night before, not the morning of,” said Carter of the events of June 3, when is the day he put on a big-league uniform for the first time. “I was shocked; I didn’t expect it at all and had no idea.”
When David Ortiz landed on the disabled list, the knee-jerk reaction was to believe Brandon Moss would take the slugger’s place on the active roster. After all, Moss was just days removed from belting three home runs in a single game (May 31 in Durham). Not to mention Moss opened the season with the parent club in Japan.
What was perceived to be a slam dunk quickly morphed into a brick. Instead of Moss, the Red Sox decided to reward the 25-year-old Carter with a few days of MLB service time.
The key word here is reward. Moss might be higher up on the food chain, but Carter, at the time of his summons, was hot (.316 average, 10 home runs, 35 RBI in 57 games). The Red Sox apparently took notice of Carter’s numbers, for the proof lies in the end result.
“It’s a reward for a month of solid production,” said Johnson. “Chris now has some extra pep in his step and knows that he can go back.”
With injuries popping up all over the place, the Red Sox have had to depend on their minor-league system to hold down the fort. Already “Promotion Day” has come and gone for 11 different PawSox, Carter being No. 11.
Such a high number illustrates Boston has great trust in what brews down on the farm. From a Pawtucket standpoint, it means the following: do whatever it takes to get on Epstein’s radar.
Carter is living proof that the Red Sox do, indeed, keep everyone guessing and on their toes. “It gives everyone the possibility of playing in the major leagues,” he said. “There are a lot of guys who don’t get the opportunity. It’s kind of nice to see a shuffle.”
Added Johnson: “It keeps everyone locked in.”
Carter will be remembered as the Red Sox who checked in for Coco Crisp after the outfielder’s role in last week’s brawl with the Tampa Bay Rays. All he did in his first and only game with Boston is go 2-for-3 and score two runs.
Unforgettable debut aside, Carter provided hope to the rest of his teammates that “the call” can come with you least expect it.
“[In Pawtucket] you might be in the mix,” said Johnson.
With Boston having to rely on Pawtucket quite a bit in two-plus months, the question is does a competitive atmosphere amongst so-called teammates exist, knowing the guy the next locker over is aiming for the same?
“Not really because it’s such a guessing game. You’ve got to be a team player,” said Carter. “I don’t see it creating a sort of rivalry that’s a problem.”
Turns out Carter reaped the benefits of a strong start. His got to make his trip to the toy store.
The question is who will be “rewarded” next?
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 June 2008 )
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