If it seems like I’ve been writing a lot (OK, more than usual) about Port Orchard native Willie Bloomquist, it’s because I have.
Willie’s been in the news a lot lately, and he’s a local guy and a good guy. He’s beloved by some, but despised by a lot of baseball followers on the internet who don’t respect what he brings to a team. Somehow, he’s hung around the big leagues for 10 years, which should answer any doubts you might have about his ability. The guy can play a little bit.
San Francisco wouldn’t have offered him a two-year, $4.6 million deal if they didn’t think he could play. That Bloomquist, who tested the free-agent market this year, took a lesser deal (he agreed to a two-year, $3.8 million deal late Tuesday) to stay in Arizona tells you a lot about Willie Ballgame.
Slowly, painfully, some of the guys who’ve dissed on Willie throughout his career are starting to come around.
Jeff Sullivan, formerly of Lookout Landing (a Mariners’ blog) and now of mlb.sbnation.com, offered this apology to Bloomquist.
