Mets Spring Training Question 8: DJ Carrasco’s Arm Angle

With 8 days until pitchers and Molinas report, the #8 question to be answered during spring training is: what arm angle will D.J. Carrasco throw from, and will he pitch well enough to make the 25-man roster?

Last winter, D.J. Carrasco represented the Mets’ top free-agent acquisition, signing a 2-year, $2.4M deal. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and was hailed by some as one of those “really smart”, low-risk signings that the shiny new Ivy League Mets front office would be making going forward. Unfortunately, Carrasco was a disaster in 2011, sporting a 6.02 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and more arm angles than Jason Bay had batting stances. Carrasco was banished to Buffalo, and by September, was experimenting with a Chad Bradford -like submarine style of pitching — though without Chad Bradford-like results.

So the question this spring is, Will Carrasco continue his personal hunt for red October, or will he give the underhanded method da(s) boot? And regardless of what arm angle or angles he chooses to pitch from, will it / they be effective enough for Carrasco to make the Opening Day roster?

What do you think? Should he stick with the U-96 or 86 it? Do you think he has any chance of resurrecting his career and returning to MLB as an effective pitcher? Answer in the comments.