And it has been fascinating to watch -- I've never been a huge Jose Guillen fan by any means, but...

And it has been fascinating to watch -- I've never been a huge Jose Guillen fan by any means, but this year I have to admit that I've become a fan because it feels like I'm watching a player fighting with mortality. I see him, with men on base, bloop balls to right field rather than try to pull the long ball over the wall. I see him more willing to walk -- Guillen has been a famous hacker through the years, walking once every 21 or so plate appearances. This year he has walked 21 times in 240 plate appearances, which isn't exactly Barry Bonds, but it seems to be a shift in the way he plays the game.

Guillen's descent as a player really began last year, but this year, at 33, you can see it so much more clearly -- he can barely move in the outfield, he can't pull the ball hard except when a pitcher hangs a breaking ball, and so on. He has always been what the scouts call a mistake hitter, but more and more he finds that he's missing mistakes. Every day you can see how hard he's trying to adjust, though, and it's affecting in a way -- watching a ballplayer try to fight against time.

Comments

I still have two more years

Before my posts start seriously declining in quality. Hopefully I can sneak in the Top 100 List in by then.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 30, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I echo JoPo's sentiment on this one

This is not a post that is going to defend the contract, or the playing time…

I’ve gotten a little sick of the Guillen bashing that has become rampant amongst Royals Fans this season. Last year, I think a lot of it was deserved. He blew up, he cursed at the fans, he tried to fight the fans, he called Billy Butler a Baby (and gave me a user-name), he fought the pitching coach, he broke John Bale’s hand with his face (rumored), etc…

he was what we all feared he would be. As a player, much of what he is is still what we all feared he would be. A 30+ year old part-time DH that we have playing in the OF everyday that can’t run, can’t defend and is more of a 6/7 hitter than a 3/4/5 hitter.

All that being said, I haven’t seen the guy take a play off. I haven’t seen him loafing down to first. I haven’t seen him throwing fits, or trying to kill any fans. I’ve seen a guy that, albeit a decade too late, is starting to mature and has become a pretty good teammate (as seen from my couch).

When the Royals were first starting their slide from Contender to Joke, Billy Butler made a base running gaffe, in which he was picked off by the Catcher on 2nd base. It was basically an inexcusable play that Billy looked embarrassed about (rightfully so). Fox Sports KC caught a nice shot of Guillen going over to Billy, putting both hands on his shoulders and talking to him. Not dressing him down, it was definitely more of a ‘keep your head up kid’ type of talk.

I’d LOVE to see the guy get traded, but I’m glad that this year he hasn’t been the distraction that he was last year

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Jun 30, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hear you

and it’s a nice quote from JoPo

but I have to say that I prefer the crazier, somewhat productive Jose Guillen (okay, he really hasn’t been productive at all since he came to KC) than the poignant, pathetically worthless Jose Guillen. The former was at least entertaining. this is just sad.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on Jun 30, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs