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The jokes are flying about just how awful the Houston Astros will be in 2013 but, Carlos Pena may have a resurgent year for the team in 2013.
Pena has spent all but one season in the American league and has the more AL experience than anyone else on the Houston roster. Although Pena has struggled in recent MLB seasons he must provide a boost in a undermanned Astros lineup.
Currenly Pena is slotted to bat third for the ‘Stros which would put in front of both Chris Carter and Brett Wallace who both have expectations to get better in the field and at the dish.
2012 was a career-low for Pena as he hit an abysmal .197 for the Tampa Bay Rays and failed to reach twenty home runs for the first time since 2006.
The silver lining for Astros fans has to be the dimensions of Minute Maid Park–one of the smallest parks in the league Pena must take advantage and plant a few bombs. I think Pena will have no problems swinging for the fences here in 2013 as he has 277 home runs to his name in just 12 professional seasons.
Pena won a gold-glove back in 2008 but at age 34 they Astros will likely give Wallace the nod at first and move the veteran into the DH spot.
Every inch of my being thinks the Astros are going to get throttled in the AL West this year, but keep a keen eye on Pena who averages 32 home runs and 92 RBI over 162 games in his career.
