Carlos Pena Breaks Two Fingers; Done For 2009 Season

by Tommy Rancel on Sep 7, 2009 5:03 PM EDT Comment 26 comments

Keep smiling Carlos Pena. We'll see you next year. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Terrible news and I'm not talking about the current state of the Rays bullpen. After taking a CC Sabathia pitch off the left hand, first basemen Carlos Pena is done for the season. Los will miss the remaining 25 games after breaking the index and middle fingers on his left hand.

Pena spent most of the season battling an unlucky BABIP of .253 which sunk his batting average to .228. His power, however, never left as he belted 39 home runs and became the first Rays player to hit 30 home runs and 100 RBI in three straight seasons. A few weeks ago, interest started picking up in Pena's quest for a 40 home run/40 single season. Unfortunately, the injury has dashed any hopes of that, and Pena will finish with 41 singles and 39 home runs.

Pena had a down season defensively, and will finish just short of the 3 WAR threshold, something he had reached in each of his first two seasons with the club. There is a chance Pena could be dealt in the off-season, however, I doubt that happens. The Rays playoffs chances have all but faded, however, I bet Carlos Pena was the one player who was still keeping hope alive.

As R.J. said our :)% is down to 0 right now. Good luck to Chris Richard who is probably a nice guy, but is no Carlos Pena.

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Carlos Pena is a ball player--Get well soon

by sternfan1 on Sep 7, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just terrible

Maybe I’m just an old fashioned BJ suck-off-er. (Good call Sandy)

by Lurch's Lobbyists on Sep 7, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This sucks....

Swav or Die (>'-')> <('-')> <('-'<)
For the lulz

by SRQman on Sep 7, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ball sacks

by BamaRama on Sep 7, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Took the words right outta my mouth

by acablue on Sep 7, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss him already.

What a disastrous month.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 7, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

*yawn*

by raysfan81 on Sep 7, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and to think he could have broken his 2007 HR record......

*yawn*

by raysfan81 on Sep 7, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow didn't know his BABIP was .253

Sucks.

Thanks for the season Carlos.

by twenty5psi on Sep 7, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damnit Los, who will lead our team in :) now?

Hope he gets better, and hope he’s a Ray next year. Wouldve been nice to get him to 40 HR’s, he surely was on pace.

www.bucem.com - SBNation's source for all things Buccaneer

by Buc Wild on Sep 7, 2009 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

PLEASE SHUT THE WHOLE TEAM DOWN, EL ANDY.

Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.

by PlayOnWords on Sep 7, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Playin' for draft picks.

by twenty5psi on Sep 7, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we still get the # 1 pick?

Just tank every game.

Swav or Die (>'-')> <('-')> <('-'<)
For the lulz

by SRQman on Sep 7, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I won't complain if they ease off the starting rotation

Your source for replacement level commentary

by RATW on Sep 7, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

get well soon Los

Need a lineup? No problem...just give me paper, pen, scissors, a hat, and a blindfold

by jqueipo on Sep 7, 2009 5:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

there’s no reason this shouldn’t be green.

WHOO, LUKE! LUKE! LUKE!
ALSO! NOW THE HEAD OF THE PUFFY-ROD BANDWAGON.

by Some other guy who does not care on Sep 7, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

Embrace Eternity

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 7, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He sure does look good in that picture. That black suit and slick hair...just classy

by LKMoreland on Sep 7, 2009 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This has been a disasterous day of sports

Fuck life

2009 Rays Baseball: Welp.....we'll try again in 2010
Be a TRUE Seminole: http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071509aab.html

by JMB on Sep 8, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if anyone has done a BABIP analysis

on guys hitting to an accentuated shift on D. RJ?

Seems to me guys in that situation are going to show lower in BABIP than the average.

It is a tough one for Carlos – but can you really see the Rays moving him? One reason to think it could be a good idea is that the FA market at that spot is a bit thin (Huff, N. Johnson, Ad. LaRoche, Branyan), so demand could be heightened. But who do you put there? The Rays will be hoping to contend again, and nothing ready in the system.

Thought it was cool of the Rays to bring up Richard – he deserves a kiss, as did Weber but he’s going to Team USA.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Sep 8, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs