Blum settles in with Sox

[bjm676]

Welcome to the Sox:

 

Blum settles in with Sox

 

BALTIMORE -- Geoff Blum's scheduled debut with the White Sox during Monday's series finale at Camden Yards was pushed back at least one day due to a crazy travel schedule, even for a professional baseball player.

Blum, acquired form the Padres on Sunday afternoon for Minor League left-hander Ryan Meaux, took the red-eye from the West Coast to Baltimore, but first had to travel from San Diego to Los Angeles just to fly out. He arrived on the East Coast early on Monday morning and was at the park by 8:30 a.m. ET.

 

But Ozzie Guillen didn't want Blum to sleepwalk through his return to the American League and gave him a day to get acclimated to his new teammates. Of course, Blum is used to sleep deprivation, with four daughters under the age of 2, including 3-month old triplets.

 

"He said that his wife is mad at him because now he's going to get some sleep," said Guillen with a laugh of Blum's arrival. "I said, 'Well, when you have three guys with one shot, you better start playing better.' That's a lot of child support right there."

 

"That's another thing about playing for Ozzie," Blum added. "He has played the game and he knows how tough it is sometimes to travel and how hard being traded from coast to coast can be. Maybe he's just taking it easy on me."

 

The easy times will end shortly for Blum. Guillen reiterated on Monday morning that he can't guarantee where Blum will play or how regularly he will play, but he's going to get plenty of at-bats.

 

Guillen and general manager Ken Williams wanted Blum for his versatility, basically occupying two utility roles with one player, as the switch-hitter can play all four infield spots and both corner outfield positions. Blum embraces that jack-of-all-trades moniker, pointing out that he carries around six or seven different gloves just to be ready.

 

"Knowing Ozzie's personality and how he was as a player and how aggressive he is at the game, I anticipated that," Blum said. "I'm more than happy to do anything they ask of me."

 

There was no indication that a trade was imminent, according to Blum, as Sunday afternoon's non-waiver deadline gradually approached. But after Saturday night's game, he got the tap on the shoulder to talk with general manager Kevin Towers.

 

Familiarity exists for Blum with the White Sox, having played with Chris Widger, Dustin Hermanson and third-base coach Tim Raines in Montreal, and having played for Guillen as the Expos' third-base coach. He also knows a little of what this team is about, having witnessed the South Siders take two of three from the Padres during Interleague Play at PETCO Park in June.

 

That series, according to Blum, could have been the beginning of the Padres' recent demise. But the Padres aren't Blum's concern anymore. Now, he's prepared to help a team with its sights set on the World Series, once he gets a little rest.

 

"It has been an adventure, but it has been a good one," Blum said. "It's not every day you get traded to a first-place, contending team. I'm just hoping to come over and contribute and not screw things up too much."

[Queen Prawn]

Wow - 4 under the age of two. My nephew turns two on 8/3 and he is a handful when I babysit him.

[farmteam]

Sounds like a good guy.

[SoxFan1]

Welcome to the Sox:

Good to hear. Weren't the Pads a 1st place contending team until like, 4 days ago?

[WHarris1]

Quality guy, Ozzie/KW type player.

 

Play some solid D whever you play in the field, throw in a few hits and I'm happy.

[sayitaintso]

Good to hear. Weren't the Pads a 1st place contending team until like, 4 days ago?

Yeh but they weren't playing well at all to stay in first place. Not a single team in that division is over the .500 mark right now.

 

EDIT: they are tied for first place with Arizona

Edited August 1, 2005 by sayitaintso