Carlos' Corner: 'Almost like home'
Restaurants offer rookie a routine on the road
Carlos Peņa, a 23-year-old rookie heralded as one of the top young
prospects in the game, was acquired by Oakland during the offseason
in a six-player trade with Texas. He's replacing Jason Giambi as the
A's first baseman and is providing for MLB.com an exclusive daily
diary for the 2002 season.
Before Sunday's series finale against Mariners, Peņa detailed his
favorite things about The Emerald City.
SEATTLE -- This is an excellent city. I don't know what it is, but it
seems peaceful to me. And believe me, any time you can find peace on
the road, that's a good thing.
One of the things I really like about Seattle is the restaurants. So
many choices. No matter what your tastes are, you can find something
here. I like that, because I like to try different things and
different places. Variety is the spice of life, right?
The first night we were here we went to Benihana. It's a Japanese
place where the chef cooks the food right in front of you. It's like
a show right at your table, with fire flying all over and everything.
A fun place.
Last night I ate at Isabella's, a nice Italian place where I can get
my fettuccini alfredo with chicken and the occasional glass of
Ruffino chianti. I like that place a lot, because right next door is
a nice bookstore. So after I eat I'll go in and relax for a little
while.
Usually I go right to the philosophy section. I love to read as much
philosophy as I can, because there are so many theories on life out
there, and I think it's good to find out about as many of them as you
can. There is no right philosophy or wrong philosophy, so you can
learn something from all of it. I just pick up a book flip through it
and entertain myself.
It's nice to find something you like about each city, and to meet as
many of the people in those places you like as possible. Because
you're going to be back, and if you have some sense of routine, some
feeling that this is familiar, it's almost like you're at home.
Carlos Peņa's diary appears as told to Mychael Urban, who covers the
Oakland A's for MLB.com.
