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Bronson Arroyo Who? - Just Kidding... not really

by Andy Liakos
3/24/06

Way to go, Wily Mo!. In one of his first at-bat of the Spring, Wily Mo Pena goes yard and shows everybody in Boston why he’s the newest force to be reckon with. Sure it doesn’t count, but not for nothing, a two-run shot in his first appearance at the plate makes me think that this is a just a preview of what is to come for the Red Sox. I’m sure the field was split over the decision to trade a proven number 3 or 4 starting pitcher for a platoon outfielder, but it looks as if Theo’s calculated risk might being paying off very soon. The kid is a monster, and if he can learn some plate discipline and bat control, this guy is a potential 40+ homerun hitter in the near future.

I don’t want to be that guy who grovels over the new kid because he had one good pre-season outing. But I’m telling you, this guy is a story in the making. I also don’t want to be the guy who calls Pena the next Ortiz, but let’s face the facts here. Pena is young, and known to hit for power. He strikes out way too often and lacks plate discipline and ball control. Just like a million other guys that have been through the league , Pena has some serious potential.

The difference between him and the others, is that Pena gets to learn from the best. Batting coach, Papa Jack is known for molding good hitters into great ones, and the proof lies with guys like David Ortiz, Kevin Millar and Bill Mueller. There is no more powerful of a 1-2 punch in baseball than Manny and Papi, and for that matter there can be no better mentors. Let’s not dismiss the fact that Pena is also from the Dominican Republic, although it might not mean much, it has got to count for something. If you had to bet on a boxing match and you absolutely nothing about either boxer other than where they are from, you always back the guy from Philly. You can say the same thing about power hitters and the Dominican Republic, they just breed superior hitters, and the Dominicans just seem to flourish when they are surrounded by their own. Take it for what it’s worth, but first impressions mean everything, and anyone who steps up to the plate in their first appearance in a Red Sox uniform and hit’s a dinger against the Yankees is aces with me. Bronson who? I’m just kidding, but not really.