Pena wins comeback player of year
Rays first baseman Carlos Pena on Tuesday was named AL Comeback Player of the Year by Major League BAseball. The award is given to the player who "re-emerges" on the field. Pena who was released in spring 2006 by Detroit and spent most of the season at Triple-A with New York and Boston, hit a team-record 46 homers for the Rays and knocked in 121 runs.
Pena came to spring training with the Rays on a minor-league contract and had been reassigned but was brought back when Greg Norton sustained a knee injury. Pena, showing much better pitch selection than he had earlier in his career, took it from there. His career high for homers was 27 and the Rays record was 34. The RBI record was 117.
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Definelty the most deserving of the award. Congrats Pena, one of the best Rays we have had.
Posted by: Tampabaysportsfanatic | October 02, 2007 at 11:13 AM
He had a great season and I'm happy to see he won the award. Now I'll expect the same for next season.
Posted by: powerage | October 02, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Way to go Mr. Pena !! Great season , great attitude , professionalism...etc. Keeper for sure !!
Posted by: zippy | October 02, 2007 at 03:34 PM
Good things happen to good people. Congrats Carlos!
AL MVP next??
Posted by: Rex | October 02, 2007 at 03:53 PM
can he keep it up next year? Can he get off to a hot start when the season matters more for the Rays and at least pretend we can contend early. Its too bad most of his homers didn't even matter.
Posted by: DR | October 02, 2007 at 04:35 PM
Pena definitely deserved this award! Congratulations Carlos and I can't wait to see you play again next year!
Posted by: Felicia | October 02, 2007 at 04:49 PM
I hope Pena has another huge year next season, gets a gigantic contract from another team, and tells Tampa Bay to kiss his you-know-what!
Posted by: Willie | October 02, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Besides his stats he offers a clubhouse presence and a lot of class, meaning SS and company won't give him an extended deal. They'll pretend to try to re-sign him but CP won't play for peanuts.
Posted by: agatha | October 02, 2007 at 10:26 PM
it just annoys me to think of how great carlos is, in so many ways, and how chances are so very slim that he'll actually be with us next year. scott boras is going to bring the pressure to get his client top dollar and sternberg will be cheap and indifferent. i'd really like for them to prove me wrong and resign him, but given the ownership's track record when it comes to making the right decision, forget about it. bleh. go cubs.
Posted by: kb | October 02, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Sternberg has already told the public he won't re-sign Pena. He said he'a adding only $5-$6 million to the entire payroll.
Posted by: | October 03, 2007 at 08:51 PM
Guess what DR? YOU don't matter!!!
Your posts are hateful, misinformed and always off target.
Posted by: DRs shrink | October 06, 2007 at 01:00 PM