I met Carlos Pena at a meet and greet in Cooperstown over Memorial Day Weekend a couple years back. It was only for a few minutes, but he was very, very engaging. I was wearing a Red Sox cap and he mentioned energetically that he was raised in the Boston suburbs near where I grew up. We had a conversation that although it lasted a few minutes had me walking away with the feeling that this was the most important thing for him at that moment. Truly an infectious personality.
Carlos Pena always had the ability to crush, but it wasn't until he got with the right hitting coaches, and saw sports therapists (I'm sure,) before he figured out how to actualize his potential. Same exact story on Jose Bautista. Zero to "Joey Bats" within just a couple of seasons. I LOVED having Pena on my fantasy teams.
@@ClownTown15000😂😂 say you don’t know about baseball without saying you know nothing about baseball if he did absolutely nothing and just started mashing , 100% agree with you . but he went through his adjustments with his swing and leg kick . steroids don’t help you hit the ball
@starkravingsports I have a theory that the bouncy ball from 2019 actually started in 2016. 2018 sees a dip then we get the infamous 2019 ball. Could you do a video on that? I suspect there are other seasons outside of 1987 as well but still working on looking into other years.
I respect Peña. He was part of the moneyball A’s. Then got shipped over to the tigers, (my hometown team) and I felt like he never reached his full potential playing in Detroit. I know one game he hit 3 home runs, and it got my attention. And next thing you know he ended up on the rays a few years later and started raking like a mad man. Edit: I decided to look it up. Carlos Peña in 2003 against the Indians. 3 homer game, seven RBI’s… and the tigers still lost the game 10-9 😂 Like can’t even get mad, have to laugh. But never would’ve guessed Peña would have that type of resurgence. But to hit 3 homers in a game. Ok yes I guess anything and anyone can be a fluke. But he came back strong, and I take that type of 3 homer game as a sign of what could be. And I’m just always happy to see former tigers doing well
Part of this is just that Peña never got a chance to develop in a stable environment. He always had the tools he just never got to stay in one place, with one coaching staff and one set of strategies and adjustments long enough to polish up his game. Which was never through any fault of his own. I think if Peña stays in Texas he is a breakout star by his second season, maybe even sooner.
I think I might’ve met him at a kids camp once upon a time when he was a Toledo Mudhen (Tigers AAA). Peña was a huge asset to the Mudhens ‘05 Championship run (won also in ‘06 without Peña). Here in Toledo (.311, .949 OPS over 71 games in ‘05) he was a big fan favorite, at a time when the Hens were packing the park every night. Some laughable notable players on that team: OF Marcus Thames power hitting machine in AAA, milb all time home run leader Mike Hessman, and CF Curtis Granderson-> who hit 50 HRs for the NYY.
Lost in all this was his fielding. Dude was smooth, and played a solid 1B. Only had one Gold Glove, but that is hard to get when you're moved around all the time.
Pena was and still is my favorite First Baseman. However, Diaz is definitely making a run at the top spot. He defined what I consider a good hitter, a real simple swing, patience, and good plate discipline. I am confident when i say that without Pena the 08 season would not have happened for the Rays.
I'll never forget Iwamura stepping on 2nd base to send us to the world series 🥺 man it would've been magical to finish it off with a world series win but we'll get one soon.
Jose Bautista is the only other player I can think of, who had a power jump like this. Matt Williams another guy who started slow (he was very young when he made his MLB debut), before putting it all together. His home run total by season went from 8, to 8, to 18; until finally becoming a full time player and rattling off 10 seasons of 10+ home runs, including five seasons of 30+ and one season with 43 (in only 112 games!). As a Giants fan, I'll always be bitter about that strike shortened MLB year.
I watched most of the games on PaxTV that season living in Pt.Charlotte, then the Bubble Burst in 07' broke me and put me in the streets. Carlos defying all odds was a high point in my life that year. 2nd vid, Strong Work. New sub. ,.,.,.,.,..,.,..,.,⛵️⚓️,.,.,RaysUp💥
He was the cubs replacement for Derek Lee after we traded him. I liked him a lot he had good power for us. Although we ended putting the young Rizzo at first base I loved Pena on our team
The only memory I have of Carlos Peña was on opening day one season when Joe Girardi decided to intentionally walk Sean Rodriguez (??????????) to load the bases for Peña when he was already scary, and he of course hit a grand slam
I was quite annoyed when the Tigers gave up on him so fast. The Tigers would have been much better off if they had cut the cancerous Dmitri Young instead of Pena.
@@larrydanadavid2435 Yeah also if I remember correctly Carlos Pena was friends with C-Mo aka Craig Monroe during their Tigers career I think this because they were on a intro to Tigers vs Yankees a long time ago
I'm a Rays fan and Peña has been the best 1B the Rays have had next to Ji-Man Choi in my opinion. You can say what you want about the guy, but he needs to be in the HOF.
Easy. He had power, as was evident by his 28 HR’s w/ Detroit. Two injury-shortened years followed, then was dumped by three teams (DET, NYY, BOS) in those two years before TB took a flyer on him, hoping for Ortiz-like magic. They got some for several years, but Pena was at his best for a 66-96 TB team (no pressure to do anything except swing away) then he faded after a questionable AS nod. Like many others, he had pop but not much contact and a ton of K’s (26.7% strikeout rate in his plate appearances)
I knew Carlos when he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League (Wareham Gatemen) when I was a kid. He was a pillar of the community and did absolutely for the kids. He was a super star on the Cape both on and off the field. When I was in college, he saw me at a game and recognized me all those years later. He treated me like an old friend, invited me to come on the field and introduced me to his teammates on the Rays. He really is an amazing person.
Truly a gentleman and a role model. The story of how he and his family left everything behind and came to America from Dominican Rep. is so inspirational. Definitely one of my favorite players on and off the field.
Carlos Peña was a home run or nothing. He had such a low batting average for those days. I didn’t like his low contact rate. Good on the A’s for trading him.
Lol I remember him wit the sox in 06 when he hit that walk off homer then signs wit the devil Ray's the next season and goes off I remember thinking back then how the hell did the Sox not sign peña back!! He would of been great in Boston and he loved playing here even though it was only half of a season
His hitting coach was D-Bol. Don't be so naive, its the JUICE!!! Everything else is just B.S. Nowadays, the players go down-low with the Juice. Then after landing a Big Deal, they go off the juice. Becoming Useless after going Juiceless. Their batting abilities just shrivel away, but NOT the Fat Checks!!! A-Roid, I mean A-Rod was better. Or as the Yankee announcer use to say, "Robinson Canoe, don't you know!"
Pena was literally the best lefty power hitter in MLB Power Pros 2008, the only player with a better power rating than him was A-Rod.
Which is weird considering Prince Fielder had more Home Runs in 2007
Let’s not forget about Ryan Howard now, I always make sure to trade for him every time I start a new season
That was the shit
I met Carlos Pena at a meet and greet in Cooperstown over Memorial Day Weekend a couple years back. It was only for a few minutes, but he was very, very engaging. I was wearing a Red Sox cap and he mentioned energetically that he was raised in the Boston suburbs near where I grew up. We had a conversation that although it lasted a few minutes had me walking away with the feeling that this was the most important thing for him at that moment. Truly an infectious personality.
Thank you! This season from Pena was a forgotten gem. He deserved consideration from all-star, silver slugger, gold glove… and mvp points. Great!
4:28 W Hivemind reference
Carlos Pena always had the ability to crush, but it wasn't until he got with the right hitting coaches, and saw sports therapists (I'm sure,) before he figured out how to actualize his potential. Same exact story on Jose Bautista. Zero to "Joey Bats" within just a couple of seasons. I LOVED having Pena on my fantasy teams.
I love these pathetic stories about swing angles and hitting coaches for Bautista. The guy was a massive steroid user. This isn't complicated.
@@ClownTown15000😂😂 say you don’t know about baseball without saying you know nothing about baseball
if he did absolutely nothing and just started mashing , 100% agree with you . but he went through his adjustments with his swing and leg kick . steroids don’t help you hit the ball
@starkravingsports I have a theory that the bouncy ball from 2019 actually started in 2016. 2018 sees a dip then we get the infamous 2019 ball. Could you do a video on that? I suspect there are other seasons outside of 1987 as well but still working on looking into other years.
I respect Peña. He was part of the moneyball A’s. Then got shipped over to the tigers, (my hometown team) and I felt like he never reached his full potential playing in Detroit. I know one game he hit 3 home runs, and it got my attention. And next thing you know he ended up on the rays a few years later and started raking like a mad man.
Edit: I decided to look it up. Carlos Peña in 2003 against the Indians. 3 homer game, seven RBI’s… and the tigers still lost the game 10-9 😂 Like can’t even get mad, have to laugh. But never would’ve guessed Peña would have that type of resurgence. But to hit 3 homers in a game. Ok yes I guess anything and anyone can be a fluke. But he came back strong, and I take that type of 3 homer game as a sign of what could be. And I’m just always happy to see former tigers doing well
I really like pena in the show. Feel like hes the most real person they use for Rtts. He gets slighted but bro mashed
MLB Power Pros 2007 gameplay? In MY Stark Raving Sports? We have been blessed
Part of this is just that Peña never got a chance to develop in a stable environment. He always had the tools he just never got to stay in one place, with one coaching staff and one set of strategies and adjustments long enough to polish up his game. Which was never through any fault of his own. I think if Peña stays in Texas he is a breakout star by his second season, maybe even sooner.
Just a great , feel good story ! Love that baseball finds such incredible characters !!
He learned the old lesson: Take a pitch.
This is the TB Rays I grew up with , Pena, Upton and Crawford .they were alot more Likeable then what they've become
His one hr with the red Sox was a walk off,I was at that game. Also I'm currently in his home town
moneyball legend
I think I might’ve met him at a kids camp once upon a time when he was a Toledo Mudhen (Tigers AAA). Peña was a huge asset to the Mudhens ‘05 Championship run (won also in ‘06 without Peña). Here in Toledo (.311, .949 OPS over 71 games in ‘05) he was a big fan favorite, at a time when the Hens were packing the park every night.
Some laughable notable players on that team: OF Marcus Thames power hitting machine in AAA, milb all time home run leader Mike Hessman, and CF Curtis Granderson-> who hit 50 HRs for the NYY.
I remember Pena and Longoria in the middle of that Rays lineup. I was soooo happy when they beat Boston in the ALCS!!!
Great video. You used a clip I shot of Pena I shot in ‘07. I was so excited to see it!
Lost in all this was his fielding. Dude was smooth, and played a solid 1B. Only had one Gold Glove, but that is hard to get when you're moved around all the time.
Pena was and still is my favorite First Baseman. However, Diaz is definitely making a run at the top spot. He defined what I consider a good hitter, a real simple swing, patience, and good plate discipline. I am confident when i say that without Pena the 08 season would not have happened for the Rays.
That cut of JJ Jamison laughing and quickly going to “you serious?” Straight ended me
I love how half of these clips are Peña hitting bombs while losing 11-3. The rays really sucked 😂
I'll never forget Iwamura stepping on 2nd base to send us to the world series 🥺 man it would've been magical to finish it off with a world series win but we'll get one soon.
Even though I remember his career well with the Rays, I will always remember Carlos Pena for teaching us the world, "Placata"!
Was just talking about him earlier today! Rays fan favorite man
That home run in 2006 is big for red sox fans
Cubs legend Carlos Peña 💪
Jose Bautista is the only other player I can think of, who had a power jump like this. Matt Williams another guy who started slow (he was very young when he made his MLB debut), before putting it all together. His home run total by season went from 8, to 8, to 18; until finally becoming a full time player and rattling off 10 seasons of 10+ home runs, including five seasons of 30+ and one season with 43 (in only 112 games!). As a Giants fan, I'll always be bitter about that strike shortened MLB year.
The strike year yall weren't gonna win anything. That was the Montreal expos year. They were the best team in baseball by a mile
I recall the Sports section of the newspaper printing a simulated season during the strike, with Bonds winning the simulated HR title.
I played with Carlos in high school!
He only played in 18 games the previous year, that’s how.
RAHHH LFG 08 MOMENT ❤love the Rays magic bro. We love it 😂
I watched most of the games on PaxTV that season living in Pt.Charlotte, then the Bubble Burst in 07' broke me and put me in the streets. Carlos defying all odds was a high point in my life that year.
2nd vid, Strong Work. New sub.
,.,.,.,.,..,.,..,.,⛵️⚓️,.,.,RaysUp💥
Similar thing happened with Jerry hairston Jr in 2008
He was the cubs replacement for Derek Lee after we traded him. I liked him a lot he had good power for us. Although we ended putting the young Rizzo at first base I loved Pena on our team
Never thought id see a hivemind clip
Another great video Thanks brother
Brett Boone as well
This was amazing. It was his eye sight
Hivemind reference 👀
Cool video/ The 08 Rays were a special team.
The only memory I have of Carlos Peña was on opening day one season when Joe Girardi decided to intentionally walk Sean Rodriguez (??????????) to load the bases for Peña when he was already scary, and he of course hit a grand slam
Northeastern legend. I didn't examine the thumbnail very closely and assumed this video would be about Jose Siri.
I was quite annoyed when the Tigers gave up on him so fast. The Tigers would have been much better off if they had cut the cancerous Dmitri Young instead of Pena.
I believe Sean Casey was the 1st baseman in 2006 for the Tigers also I liked Pena as a Tiger 😂
Dmitri Young was great at being an overweight tumor in the clubhouse. Delmon wasn't too much better.
Carlo was released in 06 spring training. The Tigers gave him ever chance but .181 doesn’t cut it…
@@larrydanadavid2435 Yeah also if I remember correctly Carlos Pena was friends with C-Mo aka Craig Monroe during their Tigers career I think this because they were on a intro to Tigers vs Yankees a long time ago
Hivemind clip???
Do a full rotation and four relievers for strikeouts in a season
I'm a Rays fan and Peña has been the best 1B the Rays have had next to Ji-Man Choi in my opinion. You can say what you want about the guy, but he needs to be in the HOF.
Wtf are you smoking? Lmao, Carlos ended his career with 286 HRs and a 25 WAR. That’s not even remotely close to being considered for the HOF.
He had a crazy swing didn’t even rotate his back foot
Well, I could get into all kinds of stats but I will leave it at this. In 2007, he only had 37 PAs.
Next videos gotta be on Justin Turner. I bet he's got a very similar story but no where near as high a pick in the draft or expectations.
Unexpected hivemind moment
Roids. Breakfast of champions
I always thought he and the guy from Big Time Rush were the same person
"You traded Pena?" 😂
Easy. He had power, as was evident by his 28 HR’s w/ Detroit.
Two injury-shortened years followed, then was dumped by three teams (DET, NYY, BOS) in those two years before TB took a flyer on him, hoping for Ortiz-like magic.
They got some for several years, but Pena was at his best for a 66-96 TB team (no pressure to do anything except swing away) then he faded after a questionable AS nod. Like many others, he had pop but not much contact and a ton of K’s (26.7% strikeout rate in his plate appearances)
Yeah, you know what else makes hitters go from unable to hack it in the MLB to 50 bombs in a season????? Yeah, that’s the unfortunate truth
The Rays know the strong part of your game and don’t ask you to do much more than that. That’s how they get the best out of their players.
Big time rush
Ooooh i got it, i got it, i got it for your opening question!!
C. More playing time. Final answer.
I knew Carlos when he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League (Wareham Gatemen) when I was a kid. He was a pillar of the community and did absolutely for the kids. He was a super star on the Cape both on and off the field. When I was in college, he saw me at a game and recognized me all those years later. He treated me like an old friend, invited me to come on the field and introduced me to his teammates on the Rays. He really is an amazing person.
Truly a gentleman and a role model. The story of how he and his family left everything behind and came to America from Dominican Rep. is so inspirational. Definitely one of my favorite players on and off the field.
Carlos Peña was a home run or nothing. He had such a low batting average for those days. I didn’t like his low contact rate. Good on the A’s for trading him.
In the era of the shift. If he played without the shift, he would be a .260 hitter at the least.
He batted .280 during his 46 hr season
@@romanrodriguez4330 great facts.
@@supernothing77 yeah I looked that up. Good career year.
I want Hatteberg at first, not Pena
I'd sign Pena to an MLB team today, if he would try for it.
hivemind reference
Was that...a Hivemind reference?
It wasn’t unexpected at all for me, I watched him hit bombs for the Tigers from 04-05. I was disappointed the tigers let him go in 06
Great video, but we’re called tampa bay not tampa
Sweet ❤
*cough*steroids*cough*
Haverhill ma
I gotta be honest I couldnt turn down Chris Pratt in a trade, no matter the request.
duh ROIDS!!!
Lol I remember him wit the sox in 06 when he hit that walk off homer then signs wit the devil Ray's the next season and goes off I remember thinking back then how the hell did the Sox not sign peña back!! He would of been great in Boston and he loved playing here even though it was only half of a season
18 games, 1 HR. Not exactly half a season.
steriods
His hitting coach was D-Bol. Don't be so naive, its the JUICE!!! Everything else is just B.S. Nowadays, the players go down-low with the Juice. Then after landing a Big Deal, they go off the juice. Becoming Useless after going Juiceless. Their batting abilities just shrivel away, but NOT the Fat Checks!!! A-Roid, I mean A-Rod was better. Or as the Yankee announcer use to say, "Robinson Canoe, don't you know!"
The 2007 D-Rays were bad not because of the hitting, it was their relief pitching… they fix their bull pen then … suprise.. they won!