Trendspotting: Travis Hafner, Carlos Pena

Today's edition of Trendspotting focuses on a couple of guys who are struggling massively so far this season. I'd like to look at the situations faced by Cleveland DH Travis Hafner and Tampa Bay 1B Carlos Pena.

Travis Hafner: His situation is becoming one of baseball's great mysteries. He's been struggling now for over a year - despite his hot streaks, he finished last year with only 24 HR. Granted, he did reach triple-digit RBI, but his batting average was only .266, well off his career pace of .300 or so. Cleveland dropped him in the lineup and they hope that will jump-start their big hitter. He hasn't been helped by the struggles of the rest of the offense, but technically he should be a catalyst rather than the one relying on them. He'll still get the at-bats in Cleveland, but soon it's going to be time to question whether he's worth the daily start if he doesn't turn things around. Keep your eyes on Big Pronk and CC, because the pair has the fate of the Indians in their hands. 

Carlos Pena: Most experts gave this advice when you drafted Pena: don't pay for last year's career year! I hope you followed, because he simply doesn't have the track record of Hafner (or anyone else at first base). The good news for him, though, is he just got paid with the three year extension this off-season. He doesn't have to worry about toiling in minor league oblivion like he did when in Detroit and New York. Nonetheless, it's difficult to expect Pena to get the average very far above .250. He'll have every chance to work it out while playing every day, though, and he's definitely worth hanging on to. He'll have a hot streak somewhere this year, even if he never reaches .280 with 46 HR again. He may not be worth a daily start, but he certainly belongs on your roster for this season and beyond.