Where will Guillen play if the Tigers sign Damon?
Written by Greg Piatt, Tuesday February 09 2010
It will be interesting to see how manager Jim Leylend uses Carlos Guillen if the Detroit Tigers sign Johnny Damon as their everyday left fielder.
Baseball writer Tom Gage in a story for The Detroit News said Guillen would be the odd man out if Damon signed.
That could be true, but Guillen is signed through 2011 and there is little chance that Leyland benches Guillen, who the Tiger manager likes and calls the team’s leader.
Sure Guillen could become the Tiger’s DH against right-handed pitchers, but he wants to play the field.
In a tiff with Leyland last year, Guillen expressed his displeasure in October at how he was used in 2009. He said he wanted to be a full-time player and not the part-time player he was in the second half of 2009. Guillen even hinted that he still wanted to play the infield.
Leyland said at the time, “Carlos Guillen is our left fielder.” The Tigers’ skipper also said he would play everyday in left. But a Damon signing would nix that plan.
However, there could be a scenario where Guillen could get his wish of playing a full nine innings at a position and it could be in the infield.
The Tigers are relying on rookie Scott Sizemore to be their everyday second baseman. Sizemore broke his left ankle in the Arizona Fall League and pins were inserted into his left fibula.
Although the Tigers are saying that Sizemore will be ready, that is not a guarantee that he is fully healed or won’t re-injure the tender ankle after such a serious injury.
Looking at the past several seasons where Tiger management have said players like Joel Zumaya, Nate Robertson and others would be ready and weren’t, the odds favor that Sizemore could not be ready. Let’s hope not for the rookie’s sake, but there is a chance.
That would leave the Tigers with Adam Everett at shortstop and Ramon Santiago at second. But what about against right-handed pitchers. Everett has a problem hitting against right handers.
Could Guillen play shortstop or second base? It might be Leyland’s only option and Guillen would get his wish. What do you think?
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This one is easy, as you make Johnny Damon the DH. He's a defensive liability w/ no arm to speak of anyway. If he doesn't like it, then don't sign him.