 |
Peņa's parents came to New York from their home in the New England area for the A's three-game series with the Yankees, and before Thursday's series finale, Peņa talked about being able to spend quality time with them for the first time in months.
NEW YORK -- It's a little bit sad that this series is coming to a close because I won't be able to spend much time with my family tonight after the game. We fly to Chicago tonight, so I'll have to shower and dress very quickly just to be able to see them before we fly out.
This series has been great for me professionally because I'm getting to play in Yankee Stadium for the first time, but the time with me family has definitely been the personal highlight.
It's been so nice having them with me. It makes me realize how much I really miss the little things about them, like my mother's cooking and my father's laugh. Those are the special things that feel like home, and even though we're in this huge, famous city right now, I feel right at home thanks to them.
Last night after the game I had them back at my hotel, and we stayed up pretty late just talking and laughing and having a good time, but before that my father just cracked me up. He's been wanting to meet some of my new teammates and friends, and you should have seen him when he saw Jason Giambi. He walked right up to him and grabbed his arm and said, "Hey, Jason! There you are!" He was talking to him and treating him like he was one of his sons.
That's just the way my father is. He's not intimidated by someone's persona. When he sees Jason, he doesn't see Jason Giambi the superstar. He sees another boy who plays baseball against his boy. He doesn't care what you are; he cares who you are, what kind of a person you are. He was the same way with Frank Menechino. Just grabbed him and said, "Hey Frankie!" and treated him like he treats me.
I laugh at him for doing that kind of stuff sometimes, but I love it. He's so real. There's nothing about my father that isn't genuine. My mother is very genuine, too, but she's not nearly as outgoing or loud as my father, and I think that's why they work so well together. They balance each other out.
Today I woke up at about noon because we were up so late last night, and my parents and one of my uncles came back to my room. It was great, because my mom had cooked for me. She brought me some of my favorite dishes, like plantanos and fried plantains and salami. I love all of that stuff.She also did some ironing for me, which was nice because she's a lot better at it than I am. When you're on the road as much as we are, you have to learn to do things like that for yourself, and she's been helping me out, trying to teach me how to do things right.
I'll get to see them again when we play in Boston in a couple of weeks, and that's nice to know. But right now I'm just grateful for the time I got to spend with them here. It's been a wonderful time for all of us.
Carlos Peņa's diary appears as told to Mychael Urban, who covers the Oakland A's for MLB.com and can be reached at murban@oaklandathletics.com.
