There are two ways of looking at Carlos Guillen and his recent comments indicating he is less than thrilled with manager Jim Leyland.
One is that he is a disgruntled player, upset with his role with the club, yet signed to a long-term contract at a cost that essentially prohibits interest from other teams.
The other is he actually cares deeply about his role with the club despite getting paid so much.
A couple things about Guillen:
- He is a much better athlete than the general perception. He still runs well. His arm isn’t weak. He has power - 11 home runs in 187 at bats upon his return from the D.L. He is a very good hitter capable of batting .300 again.
- In person, he looks a lot younger and in much better shape than on television. On TV, he looks like he is early 44 rather than 34.
The problem is staying injury-free. If he is healthy, he can play left field reasonably effectively. He won’t play the position with any effectiveness whatsoever if he is constantly in and out of the lineup.
And there is no way to hide a player from injury - infield or outfield. That premise is ridiculous. Also, not every player can be a full-time DH. You need to mix and match at that spot.
The delicate part is Guillen is the Tigers’ best team leader. A calm hand at the wheel, so to speak. A bridge to every element in the Tigers’ clubhouse. A potential manager when he is done playing.
But that reputation is not what he carries with the fan base in Detroit at the present time. Most fans I talk to perceive Guillen as an overrated, aging veteran well past his prime.
The only one who can dispel that notion is Guillen himself. He did for awhile when he came off the disabled list. Problem is, he really didn’t sustain it.
Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a bounce back season in 2010. He is a prideful player with more left in the tank than generally perceived.
But can he stay healthy?
That is a legitimate question, concern criticism.