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Around SBN: The Infuriating Jose Molina

Diamondbacks Bench: Geoff Blum

On Thursday evening, we learned that Diamondbacks are on the verge of taking the first step to changing up the personnel when Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reported that Arizona was close to signing veteran utility man Geoff Blum to a one year deal. This would represent what is likely to be first of numerous moves in order for this team. Also, this is first step to changing up the bench options and we'll take a look at what Blum can bring to the table after the jump.

Star-divide

Kevin Towers stated from the day 1 that his priority will be shoring up the league worst bullpen and adding a veteran bat or two to the bench that mostly boasted young hitters such as Gerardo Parra and Rusty Ryal. He stuck to his word as reports came out saying we are close to signing 12-year veteran Geoff Blum. Blum, while playing for the Houston Astros last season, played first, second, short, and third and also has experience playing the left and right field in his career as well. This provides Diamondbacks with a significant flexibility off the bench. His bat's not too shabby as well as he hit for .267 with couple homers and 22 RBIs in a part time role in what was his down year. Two years prior to that, he has hit for double digit homers (10 in 08 and 14 in 09) and has a good pitch selections as well.

What he's forte is, however, is his pinch hitting ability. In total of 200-some plate appearnces last season, pinch hit at bats covered 44 of them and he had a slash line of .333/.364/.405, very good numbers to have coming off the bench. He'll likely serve as the team's main pinch hitter off the bench (as the roster stands now) and will be that super utility player who can sub in to give our regulars rests and fill in for the injured like Craig Counsell and Augie Ojeda has done in the past.

As it stands, our bench consists of

INF Rusty Ryal

INF Geoff Blum

OF Gerardo Parra

C John Hester

IF Brandon Allen

And this of course can change as Allen is likely to start in left and Hester is likely to be in competition for a roster spot in spring training with Konrad Schmidt. Ryal and Parra's spots are not the safest thing in the world either with KT preferring veterans over younger players so this is part of the team that could see much change from the end of season to now. This also probably concretes Augie Ojeda's likely departure. Geoff Blum's addition is not the significant one, but it can definitely be rewarding at the end.

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i'm very meh about this

i mean, he’s not great at taking walks (but is at least better than abreu), doesn’t have a lot of power (so not of the matt stairs and giambi pinch hitter mold), and isn’t particularly adept at defense (and getting up there in age as well…)

then again, throwing 1 million at geoff blum isn’t really going to hurt our team either. i sort of prefer bench players who are really good defensively, as late inning substitutions (and if they suck offensively, just never let them hit), but i guess a team needs someone like geoff blum to make spot starts and spell our starters, or sub for injured starters, and as far as that goes i guess blum isn’t terrible

by blue bulldog on Nov 11, 2010 9:11 PM EST reply actions  

When I first heard of this signing,

my immediate reaction was Veteran Presence

Per Mare, Per Terras

by justin1985 on Nov 11, 2010 9:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Blum's deal

According to Shaun Rachau, is 2 years, not 1…

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 11, 2010 9:47 PM EST reply actions  

Well that

Would make very little sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 11, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions  

Yep

It’s two: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101111&content_id=16077670&vkey=news_ari&c_id=ari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 11, 2010 10:20 PM EST up reply actions  

So,

Now that we’ve paid more for a guy with a .089 ISO and unsustainable BABIP than anybody else in baseball would have, what are you going to do next, KT?

Ugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 11, 2010 10:21 PM EST reply actions  

I wish

That the Astros really had re-signed him…: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/11/brown-on-red-sox-reynolds-beckham.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 11, 2010 10:24 PM EST up reply actions  

So, pretty much,

he’s a more expensive Rusty Ryal?

Leads/ties blown by the Diamondbacks bullpen in '10: 41

by Jdub220 on Nov 11, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions  

Something like that.

Dyanite move.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 11, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions  

More like Augie Ojeda

OPS for Blum since 2003 = .667
OPS for Ojeda since 2003 = .659

"I don't wanna sit around watching you 'give it your best.' Either stop sucking or get out of the way."

by Jim McLennan on Nov 11, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Oi....

Just the one

Bad doormat! No stock options!

by Clefo on Nov 11, 2010 10:54 PM EST up reply actions  

Never say never!

And Augie has not been released…I have a feeling they got Blum to replace Ryan Roberts :(

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 11, 2010 11:08 PM EST up reply actions  

And Rusty Ryal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 12, 2010 8:11 AM EST up reply actions  

For what it's worth

Blum probably takes Rusty’s spot… Blum isn’t even a passable emergency option at shortstop at this point, which Augie can be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 12, 2010 8:11 AM EST up reply actions  

wouldn't the bench be

ryal, hester, parra, abreu, blum?

abreu, the infield option, hester backup catcher, parra 4th outfielder, blum just cuz we got him, and ryal just cuz his basic stats look okay?

i just can’t see us dropping rusty, even though he sucks

by blue bulldog on Nov 12, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Abreu/Hester/Parra/Blum/Allen

Is what it could be if we end up going out and getting a new 1B. Otherwise, I could see us signing another bat, to be honest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 12, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Between this and the Hoffman talk

I think Towers is looking to re-create the 2006 Padres

"I don't wanna sit around watching you 'give it your best.' Either stop sucking or get out of the way."

by Jim McLennan on Nov 11, 2010 11:06 PM EST reply actions  

do we get Adrian Gonzalez at first base?

If at first you don't succeed, try left field.

by dbacks25 on Nov 11, 2010 11:27 PM EST up reply actions  

No

Most likely Paul Konerko

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 11, 2010 11:29 PM EST up reply actions  

I knew they were being sarcastic

But I didn’t have anything to come back with, so I was bluntly honest instead

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 11, 2010 11:45 PM EST up reply actions  

I was

calling it.

That was a rhetorical question. I don't really care what you say.

by soco on Nov 11, 2010 11:34 PM EST up reply actions  

Hoffman?

What, Bruce Sutter isn’t available?

The Great and Mighty....

by NASCARbernet on Nov 12, 2010 10:14 AM EST up reply actions  

I'm sure he would be

for the right price. Like minimum wage.

If I'm going to be accused of being a mythical figure, I'd much rather be a leprechaun, thank you very much.

by 4 Corners Fan on Nov 15, 2010 2:57 AM EST up reply actions  

Well, at least he doesn't strike out

IHSB keeps telling me the FO is not stupid. This is a stupid deal.

by paqs on Nov 12, 2010 3:11 AM EST reply actions  

blum sucks

but in the end, bench players are basically going to suck anyway (as in, rusty ryal is horrendous and we still have to pay him league minimum). i actually don’t care that much about the length of the deal, even though blum is hella old. i just hope we’re not paying blum a lot more than the minimum. i reserve ability to be upset at KT until i see the yearly averages of the deal…

by blue bulldog on Nov 12, 2010 3:18 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah but

Why two years?

And Ryal might be horrendous but there’s some hope Abreu can be a good super utility guy.

by paqs on Nov 12, 2010 4:16 AM EST up reply actions  

i mean

a two year deal is definitely worse than a one year deal. but it’s not worse enough that i really care i guess

on the other hand, a 2 million per year deal is significantly worse than a 1 million per year deal. in fact, i’d even say a 1.5 million per year deal is significantly worse than a 1 million per year deal, because that’s still an extra minimum wage player. so i dunno. i guess we’ll see once the contract becomes clear.

by blue bulldog on Nov 12, 2010 7:52 AM EST up reply actions  

A two year deal

for a 38 year old replacement level player .. so unnecessary.

by paqs on Nov 12, 2010 9:24 AM EST up reply actions  

Wow!

I didn’t know till looking up his stats that he’s 37 (will turn 38 after the season starts in April)…I know he has 4 kids…but wow, didn’t realize he’s older than Augie!

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 12, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions  

i mean...

alright fine. it’s a stupid deal.

i’m just saying, there’s like different kinds of stupid. this is a stupid that won’t hurt us (though yes, it’s still stupid) THAT much…

and the recent fangraphs article about this has a good point. why the hell are we so intent on signing our bench bat right now, and not later in winter? after non tenders?

by blue bulldog on Nov 12, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm not allowed to have hope?

I mean, this isn’t a great first impression, but… sigh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 12, 2010 8:12 AM EST up reply actions  

It's Diamondbacks baseball

Of course we’re not allowed to have hope.

"If it's not rolled in a pancake, it's not real American sushi."

by kishi on Nov 12, 2010 11:13 AM EST up reply actions   3 recs

+1

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 12, 2010 11:14 AM EST up reply actions  

Rec'd.

For truthiness. And sadness.

If I'm going to be accused of being a mythical figure, I'd much rather be a leprechaun, thank you very much.

by 4 Corners Fan on Nov 15, 2010 2:58 AM EST up reply actions  

One More Bat

Should be added. I don’t think our bench is quite done going through the reformation and I don’t think this s what Towers calls a bench makeover he wanted to do. He always stated that he wants to add ‘couple’ veteran bats to the bench and I don’t think Blum alone doesn’t satisfy that category.

by TheMusician on Nov 12, 2010 2:33 PM EST reply actions  

Why is everyone making such a big deal about this?

Free Agency just opened last week, this is one of the first moves that any team has made yet, and you guys are making it seem like this one signing of Geoff Blum is going to be our entire offseason! Of course not. Based on what I’ve heard there will be quite a few changes, let’s wait till more moves have been made until we start the hatin!

And as for Blum, he’s a guy that although not great, can help out a bit. Pretty versatile on defense, can help out on offense occasionally. At least it will be nice to not have to rely on minor leaguers for all the critical pinch-hitting opportunities this year.

by UAwildcats on Nov 12, 2010 2:58 PM EST reply actions  

True enough

but you do have to wonder why we were one of the first to sign a bench player, especially when that bench player is 38 (or will be). Then looking at the contract being floated out there and you have to wonder some more.

I got nothin'.

by Bcawz on Nov 12, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Don't understand this post

A dumb move is a dumb move – regardless of whether it is the first or last day of free agency. Actually, as pointed out above, this is even dumber now than later – there will be LOTS of guys available later – no need to spend $4M on a 38 year old bench player (assuming those rumors are anywhere near accurate).

And it subtracts from the money we have to spend on other free agents. So, yeah, I would say (if the contract rumors are true) – it’s not too early to hate this deal.

by Craig from Az on Nov 12, 2010 4:33 PM EST up reply actions  

I think

they are saying that one move doesn’t necessarily equate an entire offseason (likely referencing the half-joking comment above about the new FO not being dumb).

That was a rhetorical question. I don't really care what you say.

by soco on Nov 12, 2010 6:15 PM EST up reply actions  

Corporate Culture

hasn’t changed.

Dumb is as dumb does, and a two year deal sounds dumb to me.

by xmet on Nov 13, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions  

+1

Agreed!

One year I could see, but two? Not!

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." ~Charles M Schulz

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 13, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions  

I am hoping the off-season moves get better than this. This is a big “ho-hum”. And why did we sign him for 2 years? Hoping we really aren’t paying him what the rumors are saying.
PS. Who drives the red Mazda with the AZSNKPT license plate? I saw you last night as I was leaving the Symphony on 7th St and I-10. Liked the plate!

by SongBird on Nov 12, 2010 10:13 PM EST reply actions  

that would be Jim

"A couple of years agoi was hitting 170 in 60 at bats and everybody was ready to kill me Guess what happened? Laser Show!

by BattleMoses on Nov 12, 2010 11:49 PM EST up reply actions  

Red Mazda?

No more PT Cruiser?

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Nov 16, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions  

yeah its a Cx-7

"A couple of years agoi was hitting 170 in 60 at bats and everybody was ready to kill me Guess what happened? Laser Show!

by BattleMoses on Nov 22, 2010 7:12 PM EST up reply actions  

I think we need to wait awhile before we crucify this signing

Towers obviously knows what hes doing so he must have a good reason for signing Blum, so lets just relax and see what happens

by Cran Man on Nov 13, 2010 4:49 PM EST reply actions  

He does?

I’m not drinking that much Kool-Aid yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU_9zTD9B98&feature=related
Apparently there's an epilepsy warning on this video. But it's so incredibly cool.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 13, 2010 4:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Ugh...

Geoff Blum is old and turrable.

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Nov 16, 2010 9:55 AM EST reply actions  

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