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BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2005		Over his spotty twelve-year career, McCarty has seen time with seven clubs, none of which have kept him aboard for very long. His Kieschnick-inspired attempt to become a two-way player for 2004 did result in a few brief appearances (3.2 IP), but ultimately the Red Sox just didn't need McCarty's increasingly limited array of skills. He'll make a bid for his eighth team this winter and it's likely someone's bench has a spot for him.
2004		A former uberprospect in Minnesota, McCarty has been reduced to journeyman status for several years. He hit pretty well for Boston after his July acquisition, and somehow made the post-season roster. That said, the Red Sox were fortunate in the quality and health of their regulars, and might need a better bench option going forward. He's been re-signed to a minor league deal, and reportedly is trying to add "pitcher" to his resume.
2002		David McCarty isn't bad, it's just that what he does—play defense at first base and hit lefties—is no different from any number of readily available players. If he has a guaranteed two-year contract, you're locked into him, rather than being free to dump him when he tanks and go into the pile of lefty-mashing first-base types to get a replacement. The fear of the unknown is something the Royals are going to have to get past in building a winning team.
2001		For much of the season, Dave McCarty was essentially the only decent hitter the Royals had on their bench. Since McCarty’s sole reason for existence was to fill the Tony Muser Memorial Roster Spot, you can only wonder how bad the Royals’ bench would have been had McCarty not begun to hit in the major leagues for the first time. His offense was exactly what his minor-league track record indicated he was capable of...nine years ago. He has value as long as he’s used solely against left-handers, whom he hit as if he were Vladimir Guerrero. Against right-handers, he hit like Orlando Cabrera.
2000		At least among position players, McCarty was probably the most spectacular prospect flop of the 1990s. Why? For one, he had the benefit of hitting in some good minor league ballparks, notably Salt Lake City. While his performance was impressive even after correcting for context, it’s possible he took better advantage of those parks than the average hitter. The simplest explanation for the flop is this: he regressed as a hitter. It happens all the time in the majors. Remember Ruben Sierra? Carlos Baerga? When it happens to a major leaguer, people blame the player. When it happens to a minor leaguer, people cast a suspicious eye on the notion that minor-league performance means something. McCarty still has fringe major-league skills, really no different from Pat Lennon, and about as unlikely to get an opportunity.
1999		If Dave McCarty didn't exist, would the pundits just invent him? McCarty has now become the comparison every writer makes when speaking of a prospect who didn't break through in his first callup. Todd Walker was the next David McCarty. Now it's Paul Konerko. Anyway, McCarty could still help a lot of teams as a backup lf/1b and RH bat off the bench.
1998		I’m embarrassed to say this, but I still think he could have been a major league hitter. There’s no such thing as a Triple-A hitter, and while McCarty was never going to be a superstar, and failed the few major league trials he was given, there have been lesser players who were given greater chances than McCarty ever got.
1997		Good thing he’s got an education, ’cause he can’t play this game. Long swing, slow bat, no future in baseball. Anyone who’s watched him or seen his results knows that; the question is why they didn’t tell Dusty.
1996		Hasn't made the transition from college ball, and won't.

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