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Expecting Guillen to play second base may be asking too much
Carlos Guillen has gone down to Toledo to get back into game shape -- and get reacquainted with second base.
I believe the former will be easier for him to do than the latter.
As usual, Guillen, ever the trouper, will give it his all. But this time the Tigers may be asking too much of their versatile veteran.
The Tigers want Guillen's bat back in the lineup as soon as possible. But Brennan Boesch, who was summoned to take Guillen's place for a couple of weeks, isn't going anywhere -- not the way he's hitting. So, to make room on the roster -- and in the lineup -- they have sent rookie Scott Sizemore back to the minors for more seasoning.
Guillen's return, probably May 28 when the Tigers return home from West Coast, will further bolster their already formidable batting order.
But I have my doubts about how long -- or how well -- Guillen will be able to handle second base, especially on an everyday basis.
It is true Guillen broke into the big leagues as a second baseman with Seattle in 1998. But he has only played 12 games there -- and none since 1999.
Mark my words, second base is no place for an injury-plagued 34-year-old with two bad knees and a tender hamstring.
Fielding ground balls won't be a problem. But I think turning double plays may be.
"This game is all about results," said Guillen.
But expecting a player to move from shortstop to first base to third base to left field to designated hitter to second base without missing a beat may be asking too much.
In other words, don't be surprised to see Sizemore back in the big leagues before long. The Tigers haven't given up on him by any means.
I believe the former will be easier for him to do than the latter.
As usual, Guillen, ever the trouper, will give it his all. But this time the Tigers may be asking too much of their versatile veteran.
The Tigers want Guillen's bat back in the lineup as soon as possible. But Brennan Boesch, who was summoned to take Guillen's place for a couple of weeks, isn't going anywhere -- not the way he's hitting. So, to make room on the roster -- and in the lineup -- they have sent rookie Scott Sizemore back to the minors for more seasoning.
Guillen's return, probably May 28 when the Tigers return home from West Coast, will further bolster their already formidable batting order.
But I have my doubts about how long -- or how well -- Guillen will be able to handle second base, especially on an everyday basis.
It is true Guillen broke into the big leagues as a second baseman with Seattle in 1998. But he has only played 12 games there -- and none since 1999.
Mark my words, second base is no place for an injury-plagued 34-year-old with two bad knees and a tender hamstring.
Fielding ground balls won't be a problem. But I think turning double plays may be.
"This game is all about results," said Guillen.
But expecting a player to move from shortstop to first base to third base to left field to designated hitter to second base without missing a beat may be asking too much.
In other words, don't be surprised to see Sizemore back in the big leagues before long. The Tigers haven't given up on him by any means.
posted by Jim Hawkins at
12:54 PM
1 Comments:
I agree, Hawk. From a roster and contracts standpoint, with Sizemore struggling, this move makes plenty of sense. But Guillen is too fragile to last as a position player... even at 1st base... and his skillset won't be sharp... as we saw with him at 1st previously.
This is transitional. They ate Robertson's contract, and others, so eventually they'll have to eat Guillen's. He's only a short while from being crowded completely off the roster in any event, wherein a healthy Tigers team would have absolutely no place for him to play.
We all love Carlos, and respect him, but baseball is an unforgiving thing.
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