NewsBloomquist ready for another busy year
Utility man expects to be healthy after two knee surgeries
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
11/03/09 6:15 PM EST
KANSAS CITY -- You knew Willie Bloomquist was hurting. He wasn't wearing those big bags of ice on his knees in the Royals' clubhouse as a fashion statement.Once on the field last season, though, he played hard and he played well, all without complaint.
Yet, right after the season ended, Bloomquist underwent arthroscopic surgery by team physician Dr. Steve Joyce on both knees. All in one surgical swoop, a two-for-one sale. Something that needed to be done.
"I had some stuff in there that'd been giving me problems since before the All-Star break and they were sore starting in June," Bloomquist said. "But it's one of those things when you got 'em loosened up and oiled up and started running around, it didn't hurt as bad. But I'd be lying if I said they didn't bother me the whole second half of the year and then some."
Even so, the aching knees didn't keep Bloomquist from having the busiest and most productive of his eight big league seasons. He reached career highs in several categories, including: games played (125), at-bats (434), runs (52), triples (eight), homers (four), RBIs (29) and stolen bases (25). And his steals were the most for the Royals since Carlos Beltran's 41 in 2003.
"At times it wasn't a lot of fun, but nonetheless, I was getting the opportunity to play so I certainly wasn't going to complain about it," Bloomquist said.
Meantime, Bloomquist also matched his career high for most positions played, seven -- everything except pitcher and catcher. He proved to be a valuable, versatile guy in his first Kansas City season after seven years with Seattle.
"I had more of everything by a significant amount, but I don't think that was the reason [for the surgeries]," Bloomquist said. "I think just over the years that it was the thousands of ground balls I've had hit at me and maybe the variety of positions ... who knows? I'm not exactly easy on my body, I guess, when I play, so I imagine it was time for a tuneup."
The good news about his surgeries: He expects to be ready to go by Spring Training.
"Hopefully I'll feel like a young man again next year," said Bloomquist, who'll turn 32 on Nov. 27. "I'll feel like I'm 18 again, hopefully."
He characterized the two knee procedures as "nothing major," just some cleanup work to rid himself of all those painful pieces that plagued his knees. Now he's rehabbing four or five days a week at the Royals' Surprise, Ariz., complex, which is near his home.
At this point, of course, there's no guarantee of where Bloomquist might be playing next season. Last spring he was a candidate for second base, which initially went to Mark Teahen and then to Alberto Callaspo, and Bloomquist wound up in his old super-utility role.
He played 61 games in right field, 22 in center, nine in left, 38 at shortstop, 14 at second base, three each at third and first, sometimes at more than one spot in a game.
So he's not picky about where he'll play in 2010.
"Wherever they need me to. That's always been my approach, and whatever's going to help us win. I want to still be playing next year at this time," he said, meaning November.
"I think it's pretty well known at this point that I'm not going to complain about where I'm playing. That's just not me. I never have done that and I won't do that. I just like to play. It's a lot more fun competing and not just watching."
And, despite all the moving around, Bloomquist feels he proved he's capable of heavy-duty use.
"Yeah, I know that I can compete," he said. "I'm not going to hit you 40 home runs, but I can do a lot of other things -- steal some bases, make things happen, play a variety of positions -- that can help us win."
For now, Bloomquist must work in a lot of rest along with his rehab sessions. He's found that to be difficult, albeit necessary, to mending his knees.
"It's been challenging for me to stay off my feet as much as possible and give these things a chance to heal up," he said.
"These dang crutches. I can't wait to throw these things in the trash. My armpits are all raw."
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
