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Pena Garners Clemente Nomination

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

The Rays actually raised their play during August in the absence of stalwarts Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford.

Much of the credit went to reserve and platoon players Willy Aybar, Ben Zobrist, Eric Hinske and others, and indeed they were good.

But the real catalyst during a club-record 23-7 month was regular first baseman Carlos Pena, who before Wednesday's 8-4 loss to New York was recognized as the Rays' recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing his contributions on and off the field.

"I honestly thought I saw a player — he'll probably deny it — intentionally raise the level of his game," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm not just talking about the hits. Notice him running to first base — he's beaten a couple of balls out.

"His defense has always been good, but his defense has been even better. His at-bats — drawing walks with the bases loaded and not expanding the strike zone — have set the example for the next guy. He's done the little things."

Pena finished August with club records for the month of 29 RBIs and nine home runs, ranking third and second in the American League, respectively.

He had numerous big hits, including a walk-off homer in a come-from-behind 10-7 victory over Cleveland on Aug. 6, four home runs in the final five games of a 10-game mid-month road trip, and a home run off Toronto's David Purcey for the only run in a 1-0 victory Aug. 27.

In a sweep of Baltimore last weekend, he walked twice with the bases loaded and had a tying double in the sixth inning of Saturday's 10-9 victory.

Since Aug. 5 — five days before Crawford went on the disabled list with a finger injury that required surgery, and six days after Longoria was lost to a wrist fracture — Pena had batted .303, raising his average 10 points to .249 entering Wednesday night's game against New York.

It's a big part of why the Rays, despite losing consecutive games to the third-place Yankees on Tuesday and Wednesday, are well-positioned to secure at least the AL wild-card berth and their first postseason opportunity.

"If you cannot find that fire burning in your heart, where we are right now, then I don't know what will get you going," Pena, 30, said. "This is an unbelievable time for us. It's something we do appreciate. We respect the fact we are in this position right now."

Cliff Floyd, another of the players who has picked up the slack for rookie sensation Longoria and Crawford, says Pena's play has shown as much.

"He just took it upon himself to say, 'you know what?' He's worked too hard to get to this position, and he's not going to let it go by just because we lost a few guys.

"The way he hustles and plays the game, you would probably have to not be able to see to not understand how you're supposed to play the game."

Last year's AL Comeback Player of the Year — Pena set club records and career highs in several categories, including home runs (46) and RBIs (121) — didn't start this season with his best work.

At the All-Star break, after missing 19 games with a broken left index finger, Pena was batting only .236, although he had 14 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Since the break, though, he was tied for fourth in the majors with 13 home runs entering Wednesday's games.. He leads the Rays with 27 homers, 10th in the AL, and his .999 fielding percentage (one error all season) leads all major-league infielders.

"Right now, he means everything for us," Rays veteran closer Troy Percival said. "The fact he came out of the funk he was in during the first half of the season, that's like going out before the trade deadline and picking up Big Papi [Boston's David Ortiz] or something.

"The guy has put us on his shoulders, not only offensively, but defensively, and carried us. You can't say enough about what Aybar's done and the guys that have covered for Crawford in the outfield. But on an everyday basis, you're always waiting for Carlos to do something incredible for you."

Pena is one of 30 nominees for the national Clemente Award, won last year by Houston's Craig Biggio. The first baseman is active in the Rays Baseball Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters charities and other community programs.

Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the former Pittsburgh Pirates great, presented Pena with the nomination.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at 813-259-7994 or afabrizio@tampatrib.com.

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