By Kirby Arnold
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – After nearly three weeks of constant medical monitoring and several hours of meetings Tuesday to determine if he is ready to play, the Seattle Mariners are expected to place shortstop Carlos Guillen on their roster for the American League Championship Series.
Manager Lou Piniella said Guillen probably will return to the team, and possibly start at shortstop, in the ALCS, which begins today against the New York Yankees.
“We’ll probably add Guillen, almost assured,” Piniella said before meeting with his coaches and the front office staff to discuss the 25-player ALCS roster.
Guillen, diagnosed on Sept. 28 with pulmonary tuberculosis, spent a week in the hospital and most of the past two weeks building back his weight and strength. Stamina will be the biggest issue in how he is used in the ALCS, but Piniella didn’t rule out starting him.
“I would think so,” Piniella said. “Probably not every game, but we can use him there from time to time.”
Guillen took part in a simulated game on Tuesday, hitting against pitcher Brett Tomko and fielding numerous ground balls at shortstop. He said he isn’t worried about his stamina, and believes his quickness in the field and at the plate are equal to before his illness.
“I feel better now,” said Guillen, who estimated his strength is at least 90 percent of what it was. “I’m very happy.”
It’s a vast difference from how Guillen felt before the illness was diagnosed. He had been sick for weeks, experiencing a fever and nosebleeds but not knowing the reason, yet played through it.
“I came to play every day, be part of the team,” he said. “I had so much fever that I didn’t know how I was going to play.”
Piniella isn’t sure how he did it, either.
“Tough kid,” Piniella said. “Loves to play. Very competitive. And to think that he played with TB for probably a good while, and never complained, speaks a lot of the individual.”
The addition of Guillen will give Piniella not only a starting shortstop, but a switch hitter to an offense that values versatility. Mark McLemore, who replaced Guillen in the first-round series against Cleveland, will be available as a left fielder or third baseman when Guillen plays shortstop.
The Mariners also were expected to increase the pitching staff by one to 11. Piniella said the final spot on the staff would go to Joel Pineiro or Ryan Franklin, both right-handers.
The addition of Guillen and a pitcher will force the team to leave two players off the roster who played against Cleveland. The most likely candidates are infielder Ramon Vazquez, who started several games in place of Guillen, and seldom-used infielder Ed Sprague who got one at-bat in the Cleveland series.
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