Braves notebook

KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA - Tony Pena Jr. used to tell his father to quit swinging at so many bad pitches.<br> <br> Now, he&#39;s hearing the same thing from his old man.<br> <br> Pena, a 23-year-old shortstop, is contending for a job with the Atlanta Braves this spring. The team needs someone to back up Rafael Furcal, and Pena is one of the contenders along with Wilson Betemit, Luis Hernandez and Peter Orr.<br> <br> There&#39;s no question about Pena&#39;s defense, but he&#39;s never been much of a hitter in the minor leagues. Last season, he batted .255 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs at Double-A Greenville.<br> <br> ``I always have to work on my hitting,&#39;&#39; Pena said Monday. ``I need to be more consistent. Last year, I was a lot more consistent, but I kind of tailed off the last month.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He&#39;s also got to work on being more selective at the plate, which isn&#39;t all that surprising. His father, a longtime major league catcher who now managed the Kansas City Royals, was one of the most free-swinging players in the game.<br> <br> ``I have my dad&#39;s problem,&#39;&#39; Pena said with a smile. ``I swing at a lot of bad pitches. I&#39;m trying not to swing too hard, stay within myself.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Pena had a hideous walks-to-strikeout ratio at Greenville. He fanned 108 times but managed only 16 walks.<br> <br> ``I remember when I was growing up, I used to tell my dad to take some pitches, not swing at so many bad pitches,&#39;&#39; Pena said. ``Now, he&#39;s telling me the same thing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> MINER&#39;S CHANCE: Zach Miner will throw the first pitch of spring for the Atlanta Braves, a symbolic gesture that shows he could be a big part of the team&#39;s future.<br> <br> Miner will start Wednesday&#39;s exhibition game against Georgia Tech, a game that manager Bobby Cox always uses to get a look at the team&#39;s most promising young pitchers.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m real excited about starting it,&#39;&#39; Miner said. ``I want to get in a couple of innings, get my feet wet and help us get a win.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Miner, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander, pitched last season at Double-A Greenville. He went 6-10 with a 5.22 ERA.<br> <br> While he&#39;s a non-roster player and definite longshot to make the team, Miner comes into spring training hoping to make the team.<br> <br> ``Everybody has to come in thinking to themselves that if they do well, they&#39;re going to make the team,&#39;&#39; Miner said. ``Whether that&#39;s real or not, I&#39;ve got to tell myself there&#39;s a chance I&#39;ll stick.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Miner, who turns 23 next week, got off to a sluggish start at Greenville but pitched better as the season went on. He followed up with a good performance in the Arizona fall league.<br> <br> Still, he knows there&#39;s a lot of work to do.<br> <br> ``I&#39;ve got to become better at everything,&#39;&#39; Miner said. ``I&#39;m still young.&#39;&#39;