HOUSTON – Astros fans are familiar with his face, his voice and his name.
TV announcer and former player Geoff Blum knows this year's Astros team as well as anyone.
He called most of the 162 regular-season games. Blum said the players realize they have a special team and have more than a few motivational factors.
"They want to win for themselves, they want to win for their organization," Blum said. "But if they can win for a city that they've truly connected with, I think it would make it that much more special."
Blum has been where the Astros are trying to go. As a member of the Chicago White Sox, his game-winning home run helped give Blum a World Series ring and prevented the Astros from winning their only trip ever to the Fall Classic.
Blum said at this point, the players are keeping focus and are ready to start the American League Championship Series at home against the Yankees, or on the road in Cleveland.
"As a player, you're prepared for both," Blum said. "They have experience against both, and like I said, these guys are good enough and they understand the situation where I don't think it really matters to these guys. They understand how good they are."
Blum said the fans know this team is good but may not fully appreciate the talent for a few more years to come.
"These guys are going to be indelibly etched in everybody's memories here in Houston," Blum said. "These guys are going to live a very long time in the memory of Houston fans with the way they go out there and play."
Blum played in the majors for 14 years. Five of those years were with the Astros, in two different stints.
