Long Beach State University Athletics
Carpenter Gets the Call
8/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 28, 2008
A ringing telephone woke Andrew Carpenter from a deep sleep Wednesday morning. After looking at a clock, the Phillies pitching prospect never answered the phone.
A few minutes later, his phone rang again. Thinking something was wrong, Carpenter picked up this time and was given life-changing news.
At age 23 and with no time above Double-A, the 23-year-old right-hander received his first big-league call-up, a double-jump from Reading to the Phillies, who wanted a fresh arm in their bullpen a day after their 8-7, 13-inning win over the New York Mets.
"This is what I've worked my whole life for," said Carpenter, who was given No. 46 and a locker next to Jamie Moyer.
Carpenter was scheduled to start for the R-Phils on Wednesday. Instead, the 2006 second-round draft pick out of Long Beach State drove to Philadelphia and became the Phillies' emergency long man.
Carpenter has had a roller-coaster season after winning 19 games and pitching a seven-inning perfect game at Class A Clearwater last year, two of the victories coming in the Florida State League playoffs.
Carpenter began 2008 in Reading, pitched his way back to Clearwater, returned to Reading and now is a big-leaguer.
His season began with a head-turning Grapefruit League outing. Although not invited to big-league spring training, Carpenter made a relief appearance against the New York Yankees. Facing Alex Rodriguez and some of the Yanks' other big bats, Carpenter worked four shutout innings, striking out six and allowing two hits.
From there, Carpenter went to Double-A and stunk for two months, going 2-7 with a 6.94 ERA in 11 starts.
The Phils didn't like what they saw and weren't happy with Carpenter's weight, either. On May 31, in came a strong message, a demotion to Clearwater.
"You never want to move back in this game, but when I got down there, I felt it was the right thing for me," Carpenter said. "I cleared my mind."
Back in A-ball, Carpenter ran three miles a day and dropped 10 pounds. He also reunited there with pitching coach Steve Schrenk and quickly regained form.
"Steve said, "Do this, do that,' and all of a sudden, there was my command again," Carpenter said.
Carpenter went 3-3 with a 2.92 ERA in eight starts for Clearwater, then was returned to Reading on July 28 and did much better. In his second stint, he was 4-1 with a 3.44 in five starts, four great ones and one bad one.
His first trip to the bigs may not last long. It's possible Carpenter will be returned to the minors soon because the Phils went to a four-man bench on Wednesday with first baseman Andy Tracy, who was 0-for-2 in two games, being farmed out to open a roster spot only days after his call-up from Triple-A.
Meantime, the Phillies are hoping Carpenter's ready.
"He was in Double-A," Charlie Manuel said. "We've got three decks here (at Citizens Bank Park)."
After everything he's been through this season, Carpenter thinks he's up for the challenge.
"I'm here now," he said. "It's all worked out."
