Padres Notebook: Full house may be key to Blum's success

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:50 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Forget swing mechanics or the comfort of playing in his native state. Perhaps the recent strong showings by Padres infielder Geoff Blum can be explained by the triplets that Blum's wife, Kory, gave birth to last month.

"Maybe it's the added incentive knowing that I have to perform to put a little more food on the table," Blum said with a laugh. "I don't know, but whatever it is, I'm enjoying it."

Blum, signed by the Padres to be a utility player, morphed into a lineup fixture during the team's most successful month in history. He started his 13th consecutive game Wednesday night ---- the first six at second base for the injured Mark Loretta, the last seven at third base for the injured Sean Burroughs. On Tuesday, he hit a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the sixth inning, and on Wednesday he had three hits for his sixth consecutive multihit game.

Blum credits the Padres' Dave Magadan, whom he calls the best hitting coach he has worked with in his seven-season career, for his improvement at the plate.

But he doesn't deny the possible influence of the familial factor. Now almost a month old, the three girls ---- Ava, Audrey and Kayla ---- joined older sister Mia (17 months) in the Blum brood.

"That could have something to do with it," Blum said. "Knowing that no matter what happens at the ballpark, I go home and there's going to be four little girls who think I'm the king of their world. So it takes that pressure off me. They're not going to judge me by my performance."

During the Padres' two trips to Arizona this season, Blum sought much-needed, non-baseball advice from Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez, whose wife had triplets in 1998. What's the best thing Gonzalez told him?

"Be patient and don't expect anything," Blum said. "Having one kid is work enough, as we found out with our daughter. Having three, you have to be laid back and ready for anything."

Williams update

The timetable for the return of pitcher Woody Williams remains up in the air. Williams said his left oblique and right arm felt good a day after throwing a three-inning simulated game, but that he hasn't been told when or where he's pitching next.

"The light is green," Williams said. "I just have to make sure all systems are go."

Manager Bruce Bochy said Williams will make a rehab start on either Saturday or Sunday. The probable site is Lake Elsinore with the Single-A Storm.

Williams is being extra cautious with this injury because of his experience with the St. Louis Cardinals, when oblique strains shelved him for at least six weeks on two separate occasions. He has missed almost a month this time.

"They're 22-5 without me, so it's hard to push too hard," Williams joked.

Short hops

A case of the flu kept RHP Jake Peavy from coming to Petco Park on Wednesday. ... Closer Trevor Hoffman has donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame his jersey and spikes, as well as a ball and ticket stub, from the game in which he recorded his 400th career save, May 6 at St. Louis. ... Manager Bruce Bochy mentioned Hoffman, Peavy, C Ramon Hernandez and RF Brian Giles as Padres who are deserving of All-Star consideration. ... Tony Gwynn on the Padres' bench: "I don't remember a year when this many guys could do this many things."

On Deck:

vs. Chicago Cubs

WHERE: Petco Park

PROBABLE PITCHERS:

Thursday ---- LHP Glendon Rusch (4-1, 2.35 ERA) vs. RHP Tim Stauffer (1-1, 4.01), 7:05 p.m.

Friday ---- RHP Sergio Mitre (0-0, 5.84) vs. RHP Adam Eaton (7-1, 3.58), 7:05 p.m.

Saturday ---- RHP Greg Maddux (3-3, 4.08) vs. LHP Darrell May (0-0, 4.96), 7:05 p.m.

Sunday ---- RHP Carlos Zambrano (3-3, 3.22) vs. RHP Jake Peavy (5-0, 2.37), 1:35 p.m.

TV: 4 SD

RADIO: XPRS (1090 AM), XEMO (860 AM, Spanish)

UPDATE: The Cubs were one of the most disappointing teams in baseball through the first month of the season, but they have finally begun to turn their ship around. With Wednesday nightís 9-5 win over Los Angeles, they have won six in a row and nine out of 11 to improve to 27-24, good for second place in the National League Central behind St. Louis. The Cubs' victory over the Dodgers on Monday put them above .500 for the first time since April 30. ... The Padres contributed to Chicago's early troubles by winning two of three games at Wrigley Field in mid-April. None of the pitchers who started that series for the Cubs remain in the rotation. Ryan Dempster is now the team's closer, taking over for the since-traded LaTroy Hawkins. And dual aces Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are on the disabled list ---- Wood with a strained shoulder, Prior with a fractured elbow. ... Rusch has pitched well as a stopgap measure, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his five starts. ... The ageless Maddux is 22-14 with a 2.93 ERA in 40 career starts against the Padres. ... Eaton and Peavy earned victories in the first two games of the series in Chicago. Eaton pitched six shutout innings, and Peavy allowed two runs in seven innings to beat Wood. ... May's start could be his last before RHP Woody Williams returns to the rotation. ... If the season had ended Wednesday, Cubs 1B Derrek Lee would have won the Triple Crown. He led the NL in batting (.363), home runs (16) and RBIs (46). Lee was drafted by the Padres in the first round in 1993.