PENA'S FIRST-BASE DEFENSE EARNING RAVE REVIEWS

Published on March 10, 2002
© 2002- The Press Democrat

COLUMN: A'S, GIANTS NOTEBOOK

PHOENIX -- Carlos Pena would have a lot of admirers in the A's clubhouse even if he never touched a bat.

Pena, the first-base phenom expected to take over for Jason Giambi this year, made another outstanding defensive play, diving to his right to snag a ground ball in the A's 2-2 split-squad exhibition tie against the Giants on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

``He knows how to play first base,'' said A's third-base coach and infield guru Ron Washington. ``I'm not surprised at anything he does. He can play first base.''

Pena also made a good play on a foul pop near the A's dugout.

``He's already gotten to a few pop flies and I'm not saying who wouldn't have gotten to them, but he did,'' said A's third baseman Eric Chavez, obviously comparing Pena to the departed Giambi.

Pena's defense just might get him into the A's lineup sooner rather than later.

Scott Hatteberg is the prime alternative to Pena at first. But Hatteberg, a catcher learning a new position, still has a long way to go defensively. As he is now, the A's would probably have to pull him late in games when they had the lead.