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Pena Comeback Earns AL Award

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

TAMPA - It says a lot about Carlos Pena that the bulk of the praise offered by Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman after the Devil Rays' first baseman was named AL Comeback Player of the Year on Tuesday had nothing to do with his eye-popping statistics.

'It's a testament to who he is,' said Friedman, who signed Pena to a minor-league deal in January. 'He's faced a lot of adversity in his career and I think it's really helped him emerge from the other side of this. His outlook on life, his outlook on the game are all very refreshing, and even behind the scenes, I think, greatly benefited our young players. On the field it's difficult to throw enough platitudes his way. He had a tremendous season.'

Pena hit .282 and scored 99 runs while establishing club records for home runs (46), RBIs (121), walks (103), on-base percentage (.411) and slugging percentage (.627). Not bad for a player who was released by the Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox in 2006.

'By itself it's a great award because I think it exemplifies what we all try to do,' Pena said. 'Even though things might not go exactly the way we want them we must go on and keep believing and going after our dreams because they do come true. So, don't let any setbacks get in the way of your dreams - that's basically what I think this award means. To be honored in such a way, to me, means the world.'

The award capped off a year that saw Pena presumably find a home after years of bouncing around between organizations, his potential never quite realized. And the Rays are thrilled to have him.

'He's a wonderful young man; he's different in a lot of ways, in good ways,' said Maddon. 'He's willing to give of himself to the rest of the group. You talk about leadership - I think you really have to have enough energy left over at the end of the day to give it to somebody else, and I think that's what he does. We need more of that.'

EVERS OUT: Bill Evers was hired by the Rays on Oct. 16, 1995, making him the franchise's longest-tenured uniformed employee, but the bench coach will not be back in 2008.

'Bill's obviously been with the organization a long time and was a great ambassador,' Friedman said. 'This was never about a lack of professionalism or work ethic or dedication to the organization. It was much more about the manager-bench coach relationship and the dynamic and about finding that specific person now two years into the job for Joe that complements him and fits more the description of what he's looking for.'

Maddon, a longtime bench coach with the Angels before coming to Tampa Bay, said he felt he and Evers did not connect well enough, 'and that's my fault. I'm not blaming him at all.' Maddon said he would look for a bench coach to not only keep things organized, but also to carry his message to the team and various players when need be, among other attributes.

'And I really want somebody also that just tells me when I'm wrong,' Maddon said.

Four of the Rays' coaches will be back next season - Steve Henderson (hitting), Tom Foley (third base), George Hendrick (first base) and Bobby Ramos (bullpen). The Rays still are determining whether pitching coach Jim Hickey will be back in the wake of his arrest late Sunday on DUI and other charges.

B.J. LOCKED IN: Maddon said 'there's no doubt' B.J. Upton will remain entrenched as the Rays' center fielder. Maddon said he told Upton's predecessor in center, Rocco Baldelli, that he will be used as a DH and various outfield roles from the beginning next season and 'see where it takes him.'

NEW LOOK: The Rays officially will unveil their new, blue-dominant uniforms during a Nov. 8 fashion show at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg featuring Rays officials and current and former players.

Marc Lancaster

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