Oh yeah, I went there. The perfect nickname for our new first baseman, Carlos Pena. The Pena Colada. I think he just got the coolest nickname on the Cubs.
Anyway, he’s got something to prove this season and I expect him to come through big. He’s 100% health wise, has the motivation of a contract year, and a move to Wrigley Field from the pitcher’s paradise, Tropicana Field. All those factors are going to play out into a huge season.
Even if his impact doesn’t play into the stat sheet, we’re going to see him affect the team off the field, too. A lot of people think that a clubhouse guy is overrated, but a perfect example of how influential they can be is Mike Quade. He motivated the team and made guys like Jeff Samardzija look like aces. If the team had simply gotten hot and Quade had nothing to do with it, then he wouldn’t be in Arizona as the manager right now. He didn’t have the better resume, the better playing career, or even the better hair. Now that I think about it, not any hair. But Q was such a presence on the team that other players were motivated and a once dead team went on a 24-13 run.
Back to Pena. I think he’ll motivate the infield to be better defensively, be a role model for the rookies offensively, and he might even be able to help the pitchers keep their composure. Matt Garza will benefit from already working with Pena for 4 years and I also expect a lot of pickoffs from the ex-Rays duo.
The bottom line is that our offense (and defense) is resting on the shoulders of Carlos Pena, and I expect the Colada to come through.