Albert Pujols is good, but Carlos Pena is better. That's right I said it; Carlos Pena is better than Albert Pujols...right now....in terms of isolated power or ISO. After watching Los slug his major league leading ninth home run of the season, I decided to see who is exhibiting the most overall power in the league. While Pena leads all of baseball in home runs, he does not have the highest slugging percentage. That belongs to Torii Hunter, yes that Torii Hunter. In fact, Los doesn't even have the highest slugging percentage amongst first basemen in the AL East. That would be Kevin Youkilis, who thanks to seven doubles has a .729 slugging percentage.
Despite trailing in slugging, Pena is leading the world is isolated power .
Player |
Team |
ISO |
Rays |
0.432 |
|
Angels |
0.415 |
|
Rangers |
0.366 |
|
Red Sox |
0.361 |
|
Tigers |
0.359 |
|
Cardinals |
0.347 |
|
Brewers |
0.344 |
|
Rays |
0.343 |
|
Phillies |
0.342 |
|
WhiteSox |
0.338 |
His .432 ISO tops Hunter's .415. Among his peers at first base, Pena carries a 0.85 lead in the category over Pujols, who comes in second with a .347 mark. We've all seen Los's power in the two plus years that we've had the privilege of watching him in a Rays' uniform and we all know this power surge is legit. Nevertheless, a .400 ISO is pretty unlikely unless Pena takes a leap to Barry Bonds levels. In 2008, he had a .247 ISO which was down almost .100 points from his miraculous 2007 in which he lead the league in ISO with a .345. If Pena can settle the difference between his 2007 and 2008 seasons we could be looking at the second 40+ home run season in Rays' history.