Bigger disappointment

[PatsNats28]

Both from the DR, both with "amazing potential", both acquired by the Nats (specifically Jim Bowden), both sucking ass, both getting DFAd by Mike Rizzo. The question remains though, who was the bigger disappointment?

[uncleteddy]

Who ever said Cabrera had "amazing potential"?

[The Chief]

It's hard for me not to scream obscenities when I see those two names together, but stepping back and taking a deep breath, I'd have to say Pena, because he actually played well for half a season and some people had realistic hopes for him.  Everybody knew Cabrera was crap from the word "go."

[Minty Fresh]

Cabrera is a "never was - never will be" therefore there can be no disappointment.  Pena wins by default.

[HalfSmokes]

I think they both played to expectations

[DPMOmaha]

[shoeshineboy]

Cabrera is a "never was - never will be" therefore there can be no disappointment.  Pena wins by default.

This

[DCFan]

Both from the DR

What's that got to do with anything?

[Minty Fresh]

What's that got to do with anything?

EaglEZkins would tell you it means everything.   

[DCFan]

EaglEZkins would tell you it means everything.   

 

[tomterp]

When Pena got here, there were still high expectations.  When Cabrera arrived, those had already largely evaporated. 

So the answer is Pena, but not based on any difference in his overall trajectory vis a vis Cabrera, but merely due to the point of his (non) career that he was acquired by the Nats vs. Cabrera's acquisition point.

[Lintyfresh85]

Pena.

The guy had put up a 20 HR season before. Cabrera had never put up an even semi decent season prior to us signing him.

[shoeshineboy]

When Pena got here, there were still high expectations.  When Cabrera arrived, those had already largely evaporated. 

So the answer is Pena, but not based on any difference in his overall trajectory vis a vis Cabrera, but merely due to the point of his (non) career that he was acquired by the Nats vs. Cabrera's acquisition point.

Yeah. Cabrera had been given chances and pretty much showed he wasn't a pitcher. Compared to pitching hitting is much less complicated. While certainly a guy has to either be able to pitch or not, there are many more things involved and a guy could be able to pitch but not really be effective.

When it comes to hitting, a guy either has a knack for it or he doesn't. A guy like Pena who clearly had power was still a question mark because he hadn't really had a steady career of regular play. So the hope was that if he actually could hit and make a couple of adjustments, the upside was potentially huge. Unfortunately, what appeared in the numbers throughout his career of inconsistency turned out to be pretty much in line with his abilities.

[UMDNats]

Pena at least had a solid 1/2 of a year that led us to believe that he'd be decent.