Comments on: First base irony http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:21:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: J http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71595 J Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:59:53 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71595 There is nothing about the Pena and Young decisions that look bad. The 2 of them played for teams that were a combined 46 games under .500. Young had personal deamons to deal with. While these may or may not have been the cause, the bottom line is that he was a major problem in the clubhouse. So instead of letting it fester any longer, the Tigers released him, he dealt with his issues and signed with a horrible team where he could put up decent individual numbers. As for Pena, he was released or traded 6 times in 9 years before ending up with Tampa for the 2nd time. After Texas, it was Oakland, Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox...all good teams that can not wait around for someone to figure it out. The reason why guys like Pena always end up having breakout years on bad teams is because teams like the Devil Rays are the only ones that can actually go into a season with Carlos Pena penciled into their line-up. There is nothing about the Pena and Young decisions that look bad. The 2 of them played for teams that were a combined 46 games under .500. Young had personal deamons to deal with. While these may or may not have been the cause, the bottom line is that he was a major problem in the clubhouse. So instead of letting it fester any longer, the Tigers released him, he dealt with his issues and signed with a horrible team where he could put up decent individual numbers. As for Pena, he was released or traded 6 times in 9 years before ending up with Tampa for the 2nd time. After Texas, it was Oakland, Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox…all good teams that can not wait around for someone to figure it out. The reason why guys like Pena always end up having breakout years on bad teams is because teams like the Devil Rays are the only ones that can actually go into a season with Carlos Pena penciled into their line-up.

]]> By: BobS. http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71594 BobS. Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:51:06 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71594 Pena showed flashes of this type of ability when he was with the Tigers,but was unable to sustain it for a season.Let us not forget that the pressure to win and perform for packed stadiums wasn't that much of a factor when he was here,nor did he have much protection in the line-up,so the situations are somewhat approximate. I remember reading somewhere he was into self-help books and positive thinking exercises,suggesting that his problems were mostly above the neck.I hope he's turned the corner and continues to approach hitting with the same confidence he always showed at first base. Pena showed flashes of this type of ability when he was with the Tigers,but was unable to sustain it for a season.Let us not forget that the pressure to win and perform for packed stadiums wasn’t that much of a factor when he was here,nor did he have much protection in the line-up,so the situations are somewhat approximate.
I remember reading somewhere he was into self-help books and positive thinking exercises,suggesting that his problems were mostly above the neck.I hope he’s turned the corner and continues to approach hitting with the same confidence he always showed at first base.

]]> By: Tbone http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71591 Tbone Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:38:04 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71591 We know who the 1st baseman of the future is. The real question: who is our shortstop of the future? We know who the 1st baseman of the future is. The real question: who is our shortstop of the future?

]]> By: Kathy http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71588 Kathy Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:29:29 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71588 Remember when DD kept saying Chris Shelton was still considered our 1st baseman of the future? I wish they'd trade him. He's now labled as a minor league player and should be given a chance somewhere else. I felt the same way about Josh Phelps. Remember when DD kept saying Chris Shelton was still considered our 1st baseman of the future? I wish they’d trade him. He’s now labled as a minor league player and should be given a chance somewhere else. I felt the same way about Josh Phelps.

]]> By: Chris Y. http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71585 Chris Y. Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:58:07 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71585 Doesn't change Chris Shelton. Pena had a good season. Those numbers won't change no matter if he hits .210 next year. He probably will. Shelton will never approach the numbers Pena put up this year. Doesn’t change Chris Shelton.

Pena had a good season. Those numbers won’t change no matter if he hits .210 next year. He probably will. Shelton will never approach the numbers Pena put up this year.

]]> By: Mike R http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71583 Mike R Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:41:52 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71583 Uh, a .297/..396/.637 and 50 HR, 110 RBI season kind of "just happened" for Brady Anderson. Carlos Pena still has things to prove. Mostly that he's out of hitting .242/.331/.459 as the norm. Uh, a .297/..396/.637 and 50 HR, 110 RBI season kind of “just happened” for Brady Anderson. Carlos Pena still has things to prove. Mostly that he’s out of hitting .242/.331/.459 as the norm.

]]> By: Chris Y. http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71577 Chris Y. Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:29:14 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71577 So, Shelton's a keeper and Carlos is still a chump after his year this year? Uh... Hitting 46 HR, slugging .627, and a .411 OBP don't happen just 'cause you saw a few more fastballs. Besides, he wasn't exactly "protected" in that lineup and he played in a pitching-heavy division (Bedard, Beckett, Dice-K, Schilling, Marcum, McGowan, Halladay, Wang, Clemens, ....). Let's not let bitterness make us absurd. So, Shelton’s a keeper and Carlos is still a chump after his year this year?

Uh…

Hitting 46 HR, slugging .627, and a .411 OBP don’t happen just ’cause you saw a few more fastballs. Besides, he wasn’t exactly “protected” in that lineup and he played in a pitching-heavy division (Bedard, Beckett, Dice-K, Schilling, Marcum, McGowan, Halladay, Wang, Clemens, ….).

Let’s not let bitterness make us absurd.

]]> By: Mike R http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71573 Mike R Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:19:03 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71573 I'm sorry, what exactly did Carlos Pena "comeback" from? His mediocrity? Being a bust of the 10th pick overall in the 1998 draft? Posting an incredibly pedestrian .243/.331/.459 line before his, in all likely hood, anomaly of a season that is .282/.411/.627? Oh well, MLB awards are jokes anyways. I’m sorry, what exactly did Carlos Pena “comeback” from? His mediocrity? Being a bust of the 10th pick overall in the 1998 draft? Posting an incredibly pedestrian .243/.331/.459 line before his, in all likely hood, anomaly of a season that is .282/.411/.627?

Oh well, MLB awards are jokes anyways.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71570 Stephen Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:23:47 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71570 Hey anyone notice that Shelton's 2006 slugging % was 70 points higher than Casey in 2007? I'm not a huge Shelton fan, but it just goes shows you the difference between hitting 295 and 4 hr's versus, say, hitting .260 and hitting 20 hr's. God, did Mayor McCheese suck offensively. Hey anyone notice that Shelton’s 2006 slugging % was 70 points higher than Casey in 2007? I’m not a huge Shelton fan, but it just goes shows you the difference between hitting 295 and 4 hr’s versus, say, hitting .260 and hitting 20 hr’s.
God, did Mayor McCheese suck offensively.

]]> By: Rings http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71568 Rings Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:34:58 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2007/10/first-base-irony/#comment-71568 Shelton's hit at every level and will continue to do so. He's suffered one major slump in his career, which - combined with his lack of options - saw him banished and secured to an anchor at Toledo. (Had he been LH, surely he would have replaced Casey during his dismal April-May) Not surprisingly, he had to fight mentally to recover from the disapointment of not making the squad in S.T. despite hitting .400. He's earned more opportunity, and, if given a chance elsewhere, will also succeed. (Contrast this with the million and one chances handed to Brandon Inge, who's three year MLB average of .201 was rewarded with a starting job at 3B...but I digress...) I agree with Scott's assessment: Pena would never have done this in Detroit. He's a head case. We gave him three years as the cornerstone of the Weaver trade and he never made it over the hump, fighting himself all along the way (and eventually losing his job to Chris Shelton). In Tampa, he's with team under no pressure and without fans. Tampa is often playing from behind, which leads to a steady diet of "we're not going to walk anyone with a lead" fastballs. That being said, hopefully, he's finally turned the corner and is beginning to realize his potential. Hey, it worked for Jorge Cantu for a year... Good for him. But also, good for Detroit for letting him go. Shelton’s hit at every level and will continue to do so. He’s suffered one major slump in his career, which - combined with his lack of options - saw him banished and secured to an anchor at Toledo. (Had he been LH, surely he would have replaced Casey during his dismal April-May)
Not surprisingly, he had to fight mentally to recover from the disapointment of not making the squad in S.T. despite hitting .400. He’s earned more opportunity, and, if given a chance elsewhere, will also succeed. (Contrast this with the million and one chances handed to Brandon Inge, who’s three year MLB average of .201 was rewarded with a starting job at 3B…but I digress…)

I agree with Scott’s assessment: Pena would never have done this in Detroit. He’s a head case. We gave him three years as the cornerstone of the Weaver trade and he never made it over the hump, fighting himself all along the way (and eventually losing his job to Chris Shelton).

In Tampa, he’s with team under no pressure and without fans. Tampa is often playing from behind, which leads to a steady diet of “we’re not going to walk anyone with a lead” fastballs.
That being said, hopefully, he’s finally turned the corner and is beginning to realize his potential. Hey, it worked for Jorge Cantu for a year…

Good for him. But also, good for Detroit for letting him go.

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