Carlos' Corner: 'It's a perfect mix'
A's rookie marvels at Pac Bell Park
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 the Bay Bridge Series opener Thursday
at Pacific Bell Park, and before the game he spent some quiet time in
the A's dugout, soaking in the scene.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Pac Bell Park is absolutely beautiful. It has that
old, familiar look of the classic ballparks, with the brick walls and
the stands being so close to the field. But at the same time it has
all the conveniences that those old parks didn't or don't have.

It's a perfect mix, and as I hear it, there's not a bad seat in the
house.

I was so excited when I walked in. It's always nice to be pleasantly
surprised, and I came in and just said, "Wow!" Everything about it is
just so nice. Even the weather. I don't know if it's like this all
the time, but the sky is just so blue and beautiful, there's a nice
cool breeze coming through. It's perfect.

I sat in the dugout for a half hour after I got here, just taking it
in. I even called my brother and left a message. I saw the Barry
Bonds sign that tells how many home runs he's hit in his career, and
I was like, "Barry Bonds has his own little scoreboard!"

This is my first time in a big-league ballpark in an A's uniform, and
I'm starting to feel more and more like I'm a part of this team.
Because of the trade I've been getting a lot of attention, but the
challenge for me was not to light it up during Spring Training. The
challenge has been to get accustomed to being an Oakland A, and I
feel good about the way that's going. My teammates have accepted me
and made me feel very comfortable.

I'm looking forward to Opening Day and being a part of this team.
Nothing's official yet, but in my mind, I have to feel that I'm this
team's first baseman until they tell me I'm not.

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