And Ken Oberkfell is? The Kid interviews for a managing gig in the indie Atlantic League, and seems to think he’s been blackballed. From the Lancaster New Era’s Jason Guarente (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory)

Prior to the start of last season, Carter turned down a chance to manage the Double-A Binghamton Mets. He said he wasn’t crazy about going to Binghamton and he didn’t feel like he could advance through the Mets’ ranks. Willie Randolph had just signed a three-year extension to run the big-league club and Ken Oberkfell was ahead of Carter in Triple-A.

Declining that offer was a mistake.

“That turned out to be my only chance,” Carter said.

“It’s the decision I made and I regret that I made it. I have no ill feelings toward the Mets. I’m obviously disappointed with the way things are. I know that the game is funny in that regard. It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.”

Although it seems inconceivable that a player of Carter’s stature could be completely locked out of the baseball circle, it appears that’s the case.

Last year, Carter was interviewed for the Dodgers’ Triple-A opening and big-league jobs as the Rockies’ hitting coach and the Mets’ first-base coach. He didn’t land any of them.

Apparently, Carter’s status as one of the game’s greats hasn’t boosted his marketability.

“It doesn’t matter in this case,” he said with a hint of incredulity in his voice. “It really doesn’t.”