Struggles at plate dog Peña
HIS .167 AVERAGE, HATTEBERG'S PLAY STAND IN CONTRAST
By Laurence Miedema
Mercury News

PHOENIX - Despite hitting the ball hard, rookie first baseman Carlos
Peña is batting .167, and Scott Hatteberg's monster spring may force
some tough choices for the A's.

``It's way too early to make that decision,'' Manager Art Howe said
when asked to evaluate Peña's spring less than two weeks before the
season opener. ``It's unfair for anybody when they've only had 30 at-
bats or whatever it is.''

After hitting safely in five of six games in early March, Peña is 1
for 16 in his past six and is 6 for 36 this spring. Peña went 0 for 2
in a 13-10 exhibition victory Wednesday over the Giants.

Peña, 23, acquired in January in a trade with Texas, concedes that he
has struggled. But Peña hopes his track record in the minors as well
as the fact that he has consistently hit the ball hard will persuade
the A's to keep him rather than send him to Triple-A Sacramento for
more seasoning.

``I don't go out there thinking I have to hit a home run every time
up for them to believe in me,'' Peña said. ``I was evaluated before I
got here. That's why they got me, because they thought I could
produce and contribute.''

Peña has been a top first-base prospect since the Rangers took him
with the 10th pick in the 1998 draft. He hit .288 with 23 home runs
and 74 RBIs at Triple-A Oklahoma last season. He is far superior
defensively at first base to anyone else on the A's roster and has
shown a good eye -- he has walked eight times and struck out 11 times.

Peña also takes extra batting practice every morning and then takes
about 50 swings with a broom handle at popcorn kernels tossed to him
by a clubhouse worker, a drill Peña has used since he was 10.

``One thing is for sure: I have to believe in me,'' Peña said. ``I
just have to just play and be myself. I'll do whatever it takes,
because I want to get the most out of me. I don't know what the most
is going to be, but I know I won't get there if I don't believe. I
might as well go down dreaming.''

• Hatteberg was signed in December to take over the A's first-base
job, a plan that lasted 16 days before Peña was acquired. But the
former Boston Red Sox catcher is going to get his at-bats.

Hatteberg went 3 for 5 with a grand slam and seven RBIs against the
Giants. He is 10 for 18 with four home runs in his past seven games
and is hitting a team-high .474. Hatteberg's grand slam, off reliever
Luis Estrella, hit the clock at the top of the scoreboard in right-
center field.