There really is no place like home for Marcus Giles

By: SHAUN O'NEILL - Staff Writer | Thursday, December 21, 2006 12:58 AM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres knew signing Marcus Giles to play second base would be a popular move in the Giles clan. Little did they know two families would be deeply grateful.

This is more than a family reunion for two brothers who longed to play big-league ball together. Yes, Marcus is happy to be playing in the same lineup as older brother Brian for the first time anywhere but a softball field.

What is more important to Marcus is that he is home -- which means his wife and children are home year-round as well.

The Giles family, and the in-laws, need that support system for the 21 hours a day beyond the time the brothers will be on the diamond. Marcus and Tracy Giles have faced every parent's worst fear on repeated occasions. They again have a small child fighting for her life, and being able to stay in San Diego means they are able to lean on their parents, plus friends and other family members, during the tough times.

Marcus and Tracy's youngest daughter, Tatum, was born 10 weeks prematurely and has been hospitalized at the UC San Diego Medical Center. Only 2 pounds, 3 ounces when Tracy underwent an emergency Caesarean section on Nov. 29, Tatum has been in the incubation ward ever since. Her parents are hopeful she will be home and in their arms around the time Marcus must depart for spring training in late February.

It's bad enough he has to leave to satisfy his professional demands. But the 400-mile trip to Peoria, Ariz., is a breeze compared with the cross-country trek Marcus and Tracy previously made to Florida for spring training and Atlanta for the season.

"It's definitely a blessing to be here," Marcus said after his introductory press conference Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park. "It makes our job that much easier. It's one thing to come home and have the support of your family. But the family we have and the support we have is unbelievable. I think we have more support than your average baseball family. We've got a lot of love and great friends."

Major-league baseball is a unique challenge of the physical and the mental. Yes, you have to have skills to succeed. But you also have to have the mental focus to be sharp every day for six months, plus three weeks of playoffs if you're fortunate. The schedule is unforgiving. You might be having a bad day, but there's always a ballgame to play.

In 2006, Marcus Giles was challenged to perform while he and Tracy were in a similar situation to this offseason.

Tracy suffers from placenta percreta, which means her pregnancies are risky to both herself and the fetus because the placenta can grow through the uterus and attach to nearby organs. Bleeding may occur in the third trimester, and premature births are often a result.

When Marcus was still trying to establish himself in the big leagues in 2002, he and Tracy lost their first-born child. Daughter Lundyn Mae, born after 24 weeks of pregnancy, lived for 16 days. Their second daughter, Arrington Mae, is 3 1/2 years old and healthy. Daughter Sawyur Rae is 10 months old, but she was born three weeks prematurely and suffered from lung problems. Marcus missed 10 days of spring training last season as he attended to Tracy and Sawyur.

Tracy was in Atlanta, a continent away from everybody but Marcus. This time, she is home. She went to Granite Hills High with Marcus, and her parents are in Alpine, a short commute from UCSD.

"Family definitely helps," she said. "My family is from here; my in-laws are here. It's just a lot easier, especially with the travel. There's less to worry about."

There is still worry, though. Once Marcus wrapped up his interviews Wednesday and shot some TV promos with Brian for the Padres, he and Tracy were headed back to the hospital. That's been their second home this winter as they bond with Tatum -- even if they can't bring her home.

"She's doing well," Tracy said. "She's got a bit of a respiratory problem, but she's doing well."

The unforgiving calendar put Marcus back on the baseball field just as Sawyur was leaving the hospital last spring. He played on. He suffered a broken hand, and he played far sooner than expected. He aggravated the injury, and he played on.

Marcus's statistics -- .262 batting average, 11 home runs, .341 on-base percentage, .387 slugging -- were his worst since he became a regular. Which is why he's a Padre.

The Braves saw a rising salary and declining production and cut Marcus loose. The Padres saw opportunity.

"People don't know how your personal life is going. Something my be going wrong, and it's tough to concentrate for that three hours every night," said Brian Giles, playing the role of protective big brother. "But it's part of being a professional. I know he's very professional, and he's very excited to be here. ... You look at his numbers, and they weren't that bad. More than his personal life, I think the injuries were a fact. He played with a broken hand."

See? Family support.

-- Contact staff writer Shaun O'Neill at (760) 740-3546 or soneill@nctimes.com.