Cubs hoping for power surge from Pena

Remember that chart listing all the Cubs third basemen between Ron Santo and Aramis Ramirez? It took awhile to get through that one while wincing at some of the names who manned the hot corner between Santo and Ramirez.

On the other infield corner, it's been a different story.

From 1984 through 2010, the Cubs had three main men at first base: Leon Durham, Mark Grace and Derrek Lee.

Sure, there were stopgap veterans such as Matt Stairs and Fred McGriff and rookie Hee Seop Choi. But Durham, Grace and Lee were foremost at first.

For the first time since 2003, the Cubs will have someone other than Lee at first base on Opening Day. General manager Jim Hendry signed Carlos Pena to a one-year, $10 million deal at the winter meetings in December.

The signing gained mixed reviews in Chicago, with some fans focusing on Pena's .196 batting average last year while the Cubs pointed out he averaged 36 home runs over the past four seasons.

Here are the issues at first base:

What's the deal on Pena?First, he's a left-handed hitter and a left-handed thrower in the mold of Grace, only with much more power. A left-handed thrower should have an advantage at first, but being right-handed never bothered Lee, a Gold Glove winner. Pena, also has won a Gold Gove, in 2008.Are we focusing too much on the batting average?Probably, but we'll see what kind of start Pena gets off to this year. He suffered from plantar fasciitis last season, hit a lot of groundballs and opposing teams effectively used a shift against him. Pena's career on-base percentage is .351. His slugging percentage is .490, and he has hit 230 home runs lifetime. Where will he hit in the lineup?With Ramirez anchoring the cleanup spot, fifth looks to be Pena's spot for now. Who backs him up?Manager Mike Quade is working out Jeff Baker and Tyler Colvin at first. Baker, a second baseman by trade, has 50 games of experience at first base while Colvin hasn't played there since college. Pena has been a more-than-willing teacher. #8220;Of course,#8221; Pena said earlier in spring training. #8220;I'm definitely there to help as much as I can. This is a team, so we're going to help each other. I've always been the type of guy who can get along with the younger guys, with the older guys. I feel we all work at synergy. We're just going to all get together and pull in the same direction.#8221;Is there a first-base prospect nearly ready in the minors?No. Micah Hoffpauir has gone to Japan and was an older #8220;prospect#8221; anyway. The Cubs have focused on pitching, outfielders and middle infielders in recent drafts.What about Albert Pujols?That's a question for later in the year.BBN13602040Carlos Pena BBNNL's top first basemenBruce Miles' rankings:1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals2. Joey Votto, Reds3. Ryan Howard, Phillies7. Carlos Pena, Cubs