Carlos' Corner: 'They just want me to blend in'
Rookie doesn't feel pressure to be 'the Man'
By Carlos Peņa
Carlos Peņa, a 23-year-old rookie, was acquired by Oakland during the
offseason in a six-player trade with Texas. Expected to replace Jason
Giambi as the A's starting first baseman, perhaps as soon as Opening
Day, Peņa is considered one of the top prospects in the game and is
providing for MLB.com an exclusive daily diary for the 2002 season.
On Saturday he started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a run
scored and a strikeout in the A's split-squad game against the San
Francisco Giants.
PHOENIX -- Every morning when I wake up, I'm excited. I'm so grateful
for the opportunity I have with the A's, and I'm so fortunate to have
the kind of teammates I have. I'm on my knees every day, praying to
God to not only thank Him, but to ask Him to help me take advantage
of this incredible situation.
This is where I want to be -- in the clubhouse, on the field, in the
cage. This is the best part of my day, and my teammates are making it
so easy for me. There's no pressure on me at all. Nobody's saying I
have to be the starting first baseman or putting expectations on me,
and I'm not sitting here saying I'm the starting first baseman. Of
course I want to be, but the main thing is that my teammates just
want me to blend in and be relaxed and have fun.
It's the same way with Art Howe and all the coaches. Nobody says
anything to me about my role or anything like that. When they talk to
me, it's just to give me a tip or even just to say, "How are you
today?" And that's beautiful to me, because pressure chokes talent.
When you're relaxed, the talent will come out -- it will just kind of
flow from you. That's the case in anything in life. When you're at
ease, you're usually at your best.
Being with the A's for the first time, it's different from Spring
Training when I was with Texas in that this is a younger group of
guys, and this camp is a lot more energetic. There's more of that
youthful enthusiasm. And that's perfect for me as well. I feel like I
can be myself here. Yes, I'm a rookie and I have a lot to learn, but
my teammates don't treat me any differently, because a lot of them
were rookies themselves not too long ago. I can't say enough about my
teammates. They've been so good to me. I feel truly blessed.
That's not to say that they don't remind me that I'm a rookie once in
a while. I mean, they joke with me like everyone does with rookies.
But it's a fun kind of joking. Nothing mean or hurtful like some of
the hazing you might hear about somewhere else.
The best thing for me is that the veterans are so approachable. Like
today during batting practice, I saw David Justice and Billy Koch
talking in the outfield when I finished my swings in the cage. In
some places, I'm sure, a rookie wouldn't feel comfortable butting
into the conversation of two veterans, but I didn't hesitate to
sprint out there and stand with them and talk with them. And they
totally welcomed me. It's just a great pleasure to be on a team like
this.
Carlos Peņa's diary appears as told to Mychael Urban, Site Reporter
for OaklandAthletics.com.
