The Rays Tank: Gary Carter Passes Away, World Loses A Great Smile

by Steve Slowinski on Feb 17, 2012 8:24 AM EST in The Rays Tank

I can't claim to have watched Gary Carter play -- I'm a bit too young for that -- but it's always a sad day when baseball loses one of its legends. Carter passed away last night at the age of 57, around nine months after being diagnosed with multiple brain tumors.

There are multiple obituaries and takes on Carter out there right now, and I'm finding myself overwhelmed by some of the stories. He was The Kid, the perennial fan favorite that busted his butt even during Spring Training and never had a smile far from his face. He was a devoted family-man -- a classy, wholesome player that set himself apart by his actions on and off the field. Reading all these stories about him, I'm sad that I never got to enjoy following him.

The baseball world keeps spinning, though, and there are some other articles to pass along today as well. Enjoy:

The A.J. Burnett-Pirates deal might finally be completed over the next day or so. From the recent rumors, it sounds all but completed, with the Pirates taking on $13 million in salary and sending over two non-roster players to the Yanks.
No Rays appeared on the "Best Curveballs of 2011" list -- although I'd argue that Matt Moore would have show up there if he had pitched more -- but there was one Rays pitcher that made the Worst Pitches list: Wade Davis. His changeup was quite ineffective last year.
I'm late on this news, but as you probably saw in the recent FanShot by Vin, the Rays have turned D.J. Kitty into a full-fledged mascot (h/t to Rays Index for finding this first). It sounds like D.J. Kitty will make his (her?) first appearance at Fan Fest this weekend.
If you're ever confused by some of the arcane statistics we toss around here on a daily basis, Amanda Rykoff put together a sabermetric primer over at espnW. It's well worth the read.
As a sign of how slow the news cycle has been recently, the story about Johnny Damon's quest for 3,000 hits just won't die. Dave Allen took a look over at FanGraphs and found that Damon did expand his zone last season and swing at more pitches, and Joe Posnanski put together a thoughtful piece on how 3,000 hits would impact Damon's Hall of Fame chances. I don't think Damon deserves to be in even with that milestone, but...well, that's certainly going to make for an interesting debate.

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I remember hating Gary Carter because I thought he was a fake and an attention whore

In retrospect, I probably hated him because he owned Steve Carlton. But reading all the obits makes me feel like shit, like the guy who hated Gandhi.

So, rest in peace, Kid. Say ‘Hi’ to Jesus for me.

Use the force, Lueke

Writer of novels that have nothing to do with baseball

by nomoredevil on Feb 17, 2012 8:34 AM EST reply actions

Same as me bro.

I never liked him either because he was a Phillie killer.

Just go with it.

by DeadeyeRR on Feb 17, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

Very nice

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Feb 17, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Disliked him as an Expo

got to know him as a Mets fan. I’ll always treasure 1986, but the trickle of detail about what that team that thrilled me that summer was composed of even makes this liberal blush. Real scary crew, lacking most basic morals and constraint.

And in the middle if that was Gary Carter. Probably the only guy on that team not to step on the field thinking about the next coke line, the next shot of Jack Daniels,the next groupie…God, that line of thought can be a mind trap.

My final memory of the man will be him smiling with his daughter next to him at one of the last games he coached for his college gig. About 2 weeks ago. Man is terminal with brain fucking cancer and he is smiling. Probably in more pain than I can imagine, certainly in more pain than I’ve ever experienced.

I hope I can remember his smile in that picture the next time I think life is hard.

by tampa_edski on Feb 17, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

RIP GC.

Somewhere “Friend” of the site Jonah Keri is weeping.

Just go with it.

by DeadeyeRR on Feb 17, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions

.

Damon still had good P/PA numbers (4.0). I think he would have a great year if he went to the Yankees. The Rays lineup had so many holes they could pitch around Damon. He would see better pitches with the Yankees and his FB power is well suited to YS3.

I got away from the one thing that kept me on the straight and narrow, and that was my relationship with the Lord

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 17, 2012 9:32 AM EST reply actions

R.I.P. Gary Carter.

He was my favorite ballplayer growing up and still have a picture of The Kid and Dr. K in my office at home.

by Peter Piontek on Feb 17, 2012 9:37 AM EST reply actions

.

RE: Johnny Damon – As a Rays fan, I must say the level of character and drive and determination he showed as a Ray, plus his endless supply of good clubhouse vibes qualifies him. Yeah, I know, completely unrealistic, and having very little to do with his production on the field. I guess my point is really that I wish character weighed more than it did in terms of rewarding players who are perhaps statistically marginal in terms of HOF cred. I was sad to see the Rays not re-invest in Damon as a DH, mentor, and clubhouse guru. I don’t think Luke Scott will be as effective overall.

I got away from the one thing that kept me on the straight and narrow, and that was my relationship with the Lord

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 17, 2012 9:44 AM EST reply actions

its the hall of fame not the hall of statistics, sandy.

by rglass44 on Feb 17, 2012 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

Your bad clubhouse vibes are bringing me down, man. More like DRB Hall of Very Good

I got away from the one thing that kept me on the straight and narrow, and that was my relationship with the Lord

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 17, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

Good character=white.

by mr. maniac on Feb 17, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

Isn't he a native American?

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Feb 17, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Haha. No.

by Vin on Feb 17, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

His mother is from Thailand.

WOULD HAVE WOULD HAVE
If you lived closer I would have kicked the snot out of you by now

Matt Moore. That is all.
by joeybw

by SRQman on Feb 17, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

You forgot to mention the Red Sox signed Ross Ohlendorf

Now they’re locks to win the ALE and WS

by benderbrodriguez on Feb 17, 2012 11:19 AM EST reply actions

Sheeeeeit.

Not when the Rays counter with Brad Coon, Jeff Salazar and Chris Gimenez.

by Vin on Feb 17, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

I guess great smile = toothy overbite grin

9 recs.
Steve, the front page is calling……
by mr. maniac on Jan 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST

"Please break your typewriter and computer and never come out of your ass cave again"

by pudieron89 on Feb 17, 2012 4:26 PM EST reply actions

No mention of the Chris Gimenez signing?

eh?

by Alex Eveland on Feb 17, 2012 5:34 PM EST reply actions

Impact signing--I thought this site was usually on top of things.

joeybw, on why he was banned for half a day:

"Might of been grammar I keep getting that "would have" thing wrong

Not on purpose, mods, wish it was….."

Classic.

by sc_monsta1015 on Feb 17, 2012 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

I'm really busy with a massive project right now, so I'm not going to be able to get something up on that.

I’ll frontpage the fanshot though.

by mr. maniac on Feb 17, 2012 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting out of option players available this ST

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/out-of-options-2012.html

Some guys who stand out as potential pick-ups(and may be in battles for positions on their respective teams) if the Rays can create some room on the roster.

Brayan Pena(Royals),Brandon Allen (A’s), Craig Tatum(Astros),Shelly Duncun (Indians), Don Kelly(Tigers), Chris Denorfia(Padres). Still think that with the A’s surplus that guys like Chris Carter, Micheal Taylor, Kila Ka’aihue couldn’t be had for peanuts to add depth and potential to DH/OF/1st base for the Rays.

Also of note is that Fuld, Neimann. Lobaton and E. Johnson are out of options and could be moved in the right deal for a needed part before OD.

by budman3 on Feb 17, 2012 5:42 PM EST reply actions