It finally happened. The Tigers released Carlos Pena yesterday, ending an up and down career in Detroit for the first baseman. After much controversy over whether or not Pena was the right guy to stick with this team for the long run, Jim Leyland and the Tigers front office decided it was time to split ways:
Carlos Pena was unconditionally released Sunday by the Detroit Tigers after the first baseman struggled during spring training.
Pena batted .160 with one home run in 50 at-bats in exhibition games.
He split last season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo. He hit .235 with 18 homers in 79 games with the Tigers and .311 with 12 homers with the Mud Hens.
So, a poor spring finally did him in. This coming one season after Pena had about the worst start a major leaguer could have, prompting a quick departure from the majors down to Toledo (which blessed us with the emergence of Chris Shelton). I am not happy that Carlos didn't work out, he seemed as though he could have broken out at any point for the Tigers, including a great streak last season where he was belting homers left and right. But it all goes back the word streak. Streakiness is what everyone got fed up, even though many seemed to look past it because the Tigers needed that crucial left handed bat in the lineup.
I wish Carlos well, and feel he will end up back in the majors at some point. But I don't know if he'll ever be the player some of us thought he could be.