MLB: What's Wrong with Carlos Pena?

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman, Carlos Pena, the 2007 American League “comeback player of the year” may be struggling—at the plate—more than any other player, early in the 2008 season.

Pena, who surprised everybody last season, is currently batting .200 with just 23 hits and a league leading—42 strike outs. Among the 23 hits—seven were home runs.

Pena who started this season batting in the No. 3 spot, has been moved to clean-up and has done nothing but produce out after out.

The Rays, who rewarded Pena for his 2007 season, are in a sticky situation.

The team signed Carlos to a three year, 24 million dollar contract and have already had to bench him twice this season, due to his offensive struggles.

How many times can you bench him to "clear his head?" Or, is there the slight chance the Rays may even send him down to Durham?

Is Carlos struggling because he's putting too much pressure on himself in order to live up to that contract? Or, is he on the over-rated side? Perhaps given too much money a little too soon?

In his last 12 at bats, Pena has a staggering 10 strike-outs. His other two at-bats consisted of a ground out and a solo home run at Fenway Park on Sunday.

After Wednesday's game in Toronto, Rays Manager, Joe Maddon had a closed door meeting—for over 20 minutes—with Pena. Pena said that it really helped him and that Joe just wants him to “play free and have fun.”

Is that what Carlos really needs? What about a challenging approach? Something like this may work: “You’re struggling, and if you don't get it together we'll send you down.”

I think Maddon is being a little too soft here. However, we'll see how Carlos bounces back, starting tonight in the rubber match against the Jays.