Carlos' Corner: 'Chavvy is there for me'
Struggling Peña appreciates support of teammates
By Carlos Pena
Special to MLB.com

Carlos Peña, 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, Peña is considered one of the top prospects in the game and is
providing for MLB.com an exclusive daily diary for the 2002 season.

Peña started at first base in Oakland's loss to Arizona on Monday and
went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. He's hitless in his last
16 Cactus League at-bats and 1-for-23 over his last nine games. After
the game he told of the support he's getting from his teammates.

PHOENIX -- Obviously, I'm struggling at the plate right now. I can
tell you that I feel good until I'm blue in the face, but 0-for-16 is
0-for-16. Let's face it. I'm struggling.

I've struggled before and worked my way out of it, so I know that
I'll turn it around eventually. Whether that's in the minor leagues
or in Oakland, I don't know. But until then, what's comforting to me
is to know that I have the support of my teammates, that they have my
back.

The one player who is really there for me is Chavvy -- Eric Chavez. I
can't tell you how much I appreciate the things that he says and the
little things he does to make me feel better about what's happening.
He's just straight-up supportive of me, always staying positive.

He'll come up to me and say, "Man, I love the way you go about your
business. Don't change that." That shows me that he believes in me,
and that's very important. He says, "I see you, and it reminds me of
me," because he was in a similar situation early in his career. He
had a lot of expectations, he struggled a little, and he got through
it. Now he wants to help me get through this, and I love him for
that, man. I really do.

All of my teammates have been supportive, and I don't like to single
guys out for fear of leaving someone out, but another player who is
always there for me is Miguel Tejada. He's Dominican like me, so we
relate to each other on that level, and he's been through some tough
times, too.

David Justice has been very good to me as well, always giving me a
pat on the back. But it's been the whole team. I love this team. I
love all my teammates. This is just a great atmosphere to play
baseball in. I don't know what it would be like somewhere else if a
rookie came in like me and was struggling, but I do know that I'm
very grateful that this is where I am.

Carlos Peña's diary appears as told to Mychael Urban of OaklandAthletics.com.