Special to the Tribune

By DAVID DRIVERBy DAVID DRIVER

BOWIE, Md. - Bismarck's Tim Olson stood outside the visitor's clubhouse, wearing a polo shirt, shorts pants and flipflops on a 90-degree afternoon on Thursday.

He was sipping on a cup of coffee, as his minor league team had made the long overnight drive from New Hampshire to start a Class AA Eastern League series in Maryland.

The drink of choice was fitting, as Olson has had "cups of coffee" in the Major Leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 and with the Colorado Rockies in 2005.

Now he is trying to get back to The Show with a new club, the Toronto Blue Jays. But it has not been an easy season for the infielder.

"It seems kind of like the year when I went to the Big Leagues, in 2004," said Olson, 28, prior to a game here against the Bowie Baysox (Orioles) as a member of the visiting New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Olson began the year with Class AAA Oklahoma City, the top farm club of the Texas Rangers. But he broke his left arm while tagging out Tony Gwynn, Jr. in a play at third base in April. It was his fourth major injury since his pro career began in 2000.

Olson spent two months of rehab work in Surprise, Arizona. Soon after his return, he was traded by the Rangers to the Blue Jays in early July.

"The trade was made because we were short (of players), mainly with infielders," said Doug Davis, the New Hampshire manager. "He was coming off an injury. We knew he had some big league experience. It was a good fit for us. He can do a lot of things. He spends a lot of time working with younger guys."

Dick Scott, the director of player development for the Blue Jays, said Olson brings added experience to the Fisher Cats.

"We had a hole. I was looking for someone who could play multiple positions," Scott said. "He is a classy guy. Sometimes you do have to take a step back. He is much better served playing every day in Double A than waiting his turn (on the bench) at Triple A."

Said Olson, of being with a new club: "Once you get into a season, baseball is baseball. There are no fundamental changes" from the Rangers to the Blue Jays.

Olson, a St. Mary's graduate, was drafted as an outfielder in the seventh round out of the University of Florida in 2000 by Arizona. He is now an infielder, and has played third, second and first so far this season for New Hampshire. Having a player with Major League experience at Class AA is a bonus.

"That definitely helps out," said New Hampshire catcher Erik Kratz, who has also played for Class AAA Syracuse this season. "It is the experience he brings to the club. It is a guy you can look up to. You can't be a slouch when you make it to the big leagues. He has a good clubhouse personality. He is really good about fitting in."

In his first 39 games with New Hampshire, the 6-foot-2 Olson was hitting .263 in 133 at bats, with three homers and 10 RBIs. He also had five steals, 11 walks, 33 strikeouts, an on-base average of .317and a slugging average of .398.

Olson is glad to be playing every day after several seasons with injuries.

"It has felt like a two and a half year decline in my abilities," he said. "It has helped me get back to the (basic) skills. Little things, like bunting."

The Eastern League regular-season ends Sept. 4. New Hampshire is out of the playoff hunt: they were 61-72 going into Sunday, putting the Fisher Cats fifth out of six teams in the Northern Division of the Eastern League.

Olson hopes to get a job playing winter league ball, while he and his wife plan to move to the Dallas area after spending time in Arizona.

Olson is also finishing up his college studies through an online program at Arizona State. He is taking 10 credits during this fall semester, and hopes to have his degree by December in interdisciplinary studies.

But first he will finish the season in Class AA, a long way from the fast lane of the Major Leagues.

"After you are here awhile (in the minors), it makes you ambitious to get back to the big leagues," he said.