I feel like its time to bring Singleton up. The lack of production from 1b is not helping. They're playing better and could improve more with his power. What's left to gain by keeping him in OKC?
An extra year till salary arbitration with just about one more month of waiting. Plus, its not like he's 24 and being stashed... he's 22, coming off a drug suspension, and has some skeletons. The more mature he is prior to being called up for good, the better chance he has of avoiding a relapse once those MLB paychecks start coming in, and once life on the road (with first class accommodations) starts bringing new and old temptations back to haunt him.
Over his last 93 PA Carter has struck out 23 times, for a 24.7% K rate. That's still a high number, but very much tolerable. If he can maintain that rate, or soemthing close to it, we will have a very productive hitter.
Plus, Krauss is hitting .300 this month with an OBP of .447 and OPS of .914, so it's not like 1B is a gaping hole at the moment. Neither is DH, with Carter heating up. Maybe you could move Krauss from 1B to LF against righties (replacing Presley, who has been terrible), thus opening up a spot for Singleton... but waiting a month for the extra year until arbitration seems like a small price to pay.
Tucker with another bomb today, number 9. Does he get the call to Houston to play LF before Domingo Santana?
Doing well in ST and being ready for the majors are two different things. Very, very few players make the jump from single A to the majors.