Blum Back to the 'Stros?

by Stros Bro on Nov 14, 2007 6:27 PM CST in News

I really have no credible reference for this, other than I heard that Geoff Blum was thinking hard about coming back to the Astros for the 2008-2009 season.

I for one liked Blum when he was here and I'm sure you all remember what he did to us during the World Series. This could also be the 2nd coming of the Blum's Blondes!

Would you like to have Blum back? He would basically be the replacement for Bruntlett/Loretta being able to play any position other than pitcher and catcher.

Hit up the entry link to vote.

Poll

Blum?

Yay!

31 votes

Nah!

11 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

A Credible source is

Richard Justice of the Chronicle is reporting the same thing. He can be a valuable utility guy a la Lorreta. I'll always think of him as the guy who beat is in the '05 WS Game 3.

Kill the Curse of Enron Field

by juicebox44 on Nov 14, 2007 8:07 PM CST reply actions

Already posted my reaction...

in one of the diaries. I'm not sure signing Blum is a great idea, considering his age and lack of offensive production...but he would be OK as the utility infielder if someone else can provide offense off the bench. My view:

OFFENSE
Loretta > Blum
Blum = Bruntlett

DEFENSE
Blum > Loretta
Bruntlett > Blum

by clack on Nov 14, 2007 10:57 PM CST reply actions

i have to disagree

on the offensive side...I think that Blum is certainly a better hitter than Bruntlett. Do you recall the '05 WS when he killed us Game 3? I think that while Blum might not have the same average as Loretta, his power is higher - making him sort of a Mark Loretta/Mike Lamb hybrid. If you can't tell, I like the idea of bringing him back.

Remember, we didn't lose 90 games this year, so there's still hope.

by astromaniac on Nov 15, 2007 6:52 AM CST up reply actions

respectfully disagree...

Last 5 years:
Blum OPS .614,.695..506,.659, .685
Bruntlett OPS (only 4 yrs. available)
.847,.705,.695,.629

Blum and Loretta have hit identical number of HRs over the last 2 years (9). But Loretta had about 1/3 or so more at bats and Blum hit in cavernous Petco Park....so, yes, Blum probably has a tad more power than Loretta.

by clack on Nov 15, 2007 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

not completely against it

but wouldn't be excited about it as the 2nd move of the offseason.

he strikes out more than loretta or OP and has a substantially lower career OBP than both, so he's not a replacement for a clutch hitter off the bench. he is a switch hitter and offers a tad more at the plate than Bruntlett (although the numbers are VERY similar... K's are about the same, but Blum's edge in SLG is a little bigger than Bruntlett's edge in OBP). of course he's probably more versatile than any of our other choices on defense (but no Bruntlett... of course he's not a choice).

i think he fills a different role than Burke, but probably makes Loretta superfluous (unless Loretta becomes nothing but a RH pinch hitter). now Loretta is a Type B free agent, but to get anything for him, we have to offer him arbitration. why would we do that if we've already signed Blum?

if OP and Loretta are gone, with Bruntlett being gone, i think it's a reasonable signing, but the timing is kind of a head-scratcher (if it goes down anytime soon).

by littlevisigoth on Nov 15, 2007 9:38 AM CST reply actions

too weak on offense

Blum's weak on offense. I'd rather have Loretta as the utility guy.

And signing Blum makes no sense before it's certain that Matsui, Castillo or Iguchi isn't coming here. If one of them does, then Burke and Blum are redundant as utility players and one would need to be traded. They'd have 0 trade value at that point, since it would obvious the Astros would need to dump one of them.

Blum's an aging, mediocre journeyman. You could find another player just like him almost anywhere.
Cody Ransom would be cheaper. I'd pass on Blum.

by waiting46yrs on Nov 15, 2007 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

agree on (almost) all points

although i do think he's a surer bet as a bench contributor than a rookie and would give you a left-handed (well... switch-hitting) bat. Ransom is a bad example though, cause he's only three years younger (31) than Blum (34), and his career numbers are pretty close to Blum's, but with a somewhat higher slugging.

i'd say, at a minimum, the poll should have a "Not yet!" option.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 15, 2007 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Barry Bonds

finally indicted.

I'm glad and I'm sad. Glad that he didn't get away with the lies, but sad for the game.

by Danyah on Nov 15, 2007 6:09 PM CST reply actions

Wow...

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Nov 15, 2007 6:46 PM CST up reply actions

Fox news in Houston...

reporting that the Astros and Blum are close to a deal. Why?

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Nov 17, 2007 5:21 PM CST reply actions

Hopefully Blum is only taking...

the Eric Bruntlett role. This probably means Loretta isn't returning to the Astros (not a surprise at this point). The Astros really don't have anyone to back up 3d base and Shortstop, and I assume this fills that gap.

by clack on Nov 17, 2007 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

Done deal

link

Guess Wade determined a utility player was a need and Blum was the best available man for the job. Not sure I disagree, but this probably makes offering Loretta arbitration moot. We'll see what happens next. I sure hope it's not a Kaz Matsui signing.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 20, 2007 1:38 PM CST reply actions

Blum, Lineup

I like Blum b/c he is cheap insurance; he is Bruntlett.

If its any consolation, Matsui and Bourn are excellent base runners, which has some value. (Kaz: 62 SB/9 CS 87%) and (Bourn: 19/3, 86 %). Bourn's high success rate is even more impressive when you consider that the majority of Bourn's sb's were in pinch run situations. That is unreal. You need at least a 70 % success rate, give or take, to break even on the investment, so at least the duo gets the bang for their buck when they do get on. Matsui never hits into double plays (go look, I promise you will be impressed ), and will advance runners. He scored 84 runs in 410 AB's, which is quite a few for a .342 OB % last season. It might be ok.

by BigPuma123 on Dec 5, 2007 10:26 PM CST up reply actions

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