Guillen

Subject: Re: Guillen Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:39 am

He mad a GREAT play last night, which basically saved Jonesy's ass!

bow

Guillen!
_________________
"Contrary to what everybody else thinks, I still think I can come back and help this team."

Todd Jones on shoulder injury.

Subject: Re: Guillen Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:21 am

07/14/2008 3:32 PM ET
Guillen will look familiar at All-Star Game
Versatile infielder selected thrice in five seasons with Tigers
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Carlos Guillen came to Detroit as a player who supposedly couldn't stay healthy, couldn't be consistent. He's making the All-Star Game a pretty consistent habit.

He now has three All-Star selections in five seasons as a Tiger. He has earned respect among managers around the league, which is one reason why Red Sox manager Terry Francona selected him to represent the Tigers among all the star players Detroit boasts. He has so much respect from his current manager that Jim Leyland recently called him one of his all-time favorite players.

As the Mariners embark on a rebuilding phase after trading him in 2004, he could justifiably gloat and boast how he has proven his doubters wrong. Instead, he spent Monday giving credit to some of his former teammates for helping him become the player he is now.

"When I came [to Detroit], we had a bunch of young guys," Guillen said Monday afternoon. "I tried to help, try to teach them what I learned in Seattle, because when I was in Seattle, I was the youngest player on the team and I played with a lot of All-Star guys in Seattle like A-Rod, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner. They respect the game. They know how to play the game. And sometimes you need to know how to prepare yourself for the season and for the game. Sometimes kids come from Triple-A or young guys, it takes a little time to learn that kind of stuff.

"I never represented Seattle in an All-Star Game. I learned a lot with those guys. I think that's why I'm here."

He has a couple of those mentors here with him this weekend. As Alex Rodriguez dealt with the media swarming around him, Guillen told the small gathering of reporters at his table how he learned about preparation and offseason work from watching A-Rod and seeing how that made him such a consistent player. He compared Leyland's influence with that of Lou Piniella, who is here as a coach for the National League.

In Seattle, he picked up the building blocks to make himself not just a great player, but a great teammate. In Detroit, he found the situation and the support group to do it.

"I'm glad to be part of this team," he said. "I feel very excited, very happy as soon as they traded me from Seattle because I wanted to be with a team that appreciates my job and appreciates what I do for the team, my ability. They let me play. That's where I want to be. When I came here, you could see everything turned around. I played with Alan Trammell. He was very nice to me.

"You know, it feels like home. I don't feel afraid to do something. I'm not afraid to say something."

In so doing, Guillen has become a big part of the foundation around which the Tigers revolve. With a .284 average, 22 doubles, eight home runs and 47 RBIs this season, he's on track for similar numbers to his 2006 season, except for batting average. He has maintained his production despite moving all over the field, having converted from shortstop to first base full-time heading into the year, then moving over to third base a month into the season. He has even played some outfield for the first time in his career.

That versatility could come in handy for the All-Star Game, which is why when asked how many different gloves he brought with him from Detroit, he kept on counting. He has one for each position he could play.

"One, two, three, four," he said with a smile.

He did not bring any bats, but that's nothing new. He's notorious for borrowing lumber from other hitters he respects, and this All-Star Game should be an opportunity for that. He just hopes to have a chance to use a bat in this game, since he went 0-for-2 last year and didn't play at all in the 2004 Midsummer Classic.

Asked what his goal is for this game, he said, "To get a base hit."

Even if he doesn't, it won't take away from what he's done in Detroit. The fact that he's here again is a statement in itself.

"I hurt myself a lot when I was in Seattle," Guillen said. "Some people, they never get hurt. Some people get hurt a lot. So it's maybe the way you play or something. Maybe it was the way I play. Sometimes I play this game smart. You have to play aggressive and smart at the same time.

"Maybe I play more relaxed here. I don't know. Something's different."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:00 am

Guillen nearly the hero in thriller
Infielder gets three at-bats, within feet of walk-off homer in 12th
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Carlos Guillen finally has his first career All-Star Game hit in his third Midsummer Classic. He nearly had his first All-Star walk-off home run.
"I didn't know I had that kind of power," Guillen joked in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

For a game in which Guillen was expected to be the last position player on the American League bench, if he played at all, the Tigers third baseman had a pretty full game. He entered in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter, and still ended up with four plate appearances. One of them nearly made him a hero.

For someone who ended a game last year at 3:30 in the morning, it's all in a night's work. When asked if it was hard to focus in a 15-inning All-Star Game, Guillen shrugged off the fatigue.

"No," he said, "I think you focus more. I think you stay more in the game. You maybe stay more aggressive, but at the same time, you're patient."

To stay fresh in this test of endurance took some patience.

"You have to be ready for any kind of situation," Guillen said. "You never know in this game."

Guillen's versatility to play all infield positions plus left field left him as one of the last men on the AL bench before he pinch-hit for Joe Crede with one out in the eighth. AL All-Star manager Terry Francona warned Guillen beforehand that he could be left as the odd man out.

"He plays everywhere," Francona said before the game. "It's a little hard. I kind of talked to him."

Guillen did his best to make the most of his opportunity. He battled Giants closer Brian Wilson for a nine-pitch at-bat, fouling off everything from a 72-mph offspeed pitch to a 97-mph fastball after falling to a 1-2 count. Guillen worked the count full before Wilson's third consecutive fastball -- again at 97 -- got him to chase and miss.

Guillen came back up in the 10th with runners at the corners, including the potential winning run at third. It would've been a perfect situation for his first All-Star hit, but he didn't get the chance. Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook intentionally walked him, leaving him still hitless.

Guillen was back up to lead off the 12th, when he provided his near-blast as Cook began his third inning of work. Batting left-handed, Guillen went after a first-pitch fastball and poked it to left field. The ball kept carrying towards the left-field corner and over Ryan Ludwick until it bounced off the fence.

Despite his coy surprise, Guillen was optimistic about the hit.

"Yeah, I thought it had a pretty good chance," Guillen said. "I thought I hit it pretty good. I didn't know how it close it was, but it was pretty close."

Guillen reached third base on Grady Sizemore's groundout, but neither Evan Longoria nor Ian Kinsler could get him in. And the game went on.

"When you prepare yourself for the game," Guillen said, "you have to prepare yourself to play one inning or nine innings the same way."

By the time Michael Young's sacrifice fly ended it, Guillen might well have played more innings than he would have if he had started.

Barring a postseason matchup, this will serve as the long, long farewell for Guillen and Tigers manager Jim Leyland to Yankee Stadium. All these years, neither Guillen nor Leyland had been in the home clubhouse before. After all those series in the smaller road quarters, this was a comparative luxury.

"This is impressive," Leyland said before the AL All-Stars took batting practice.

It wasn't just the surroundings. Leyland said he spent a half-hour in the clubhouse lounge listening to stories. The storyteller was Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, the catcher Leyland idolized growing up in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Francona, ironically, mentioned his time with Leyland among his favorite parts of his All-Star experience. As the game itself continued, Leyland was clearly Francona's assistant and confidant, checking strategies and checking on players.

When this game ended, they hugged.

"I told Jim Leyland, 'I'll quit cursing, I'll quit chewing,'" Francona said after the game. "I lied."

Leyland also spent a brief time in the coach's box behind third base. It was his first time as a base coach since he had the honors at the 1994 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, where he was managing the Pirates at the time. Until Tuesday, that '94 Midsummer Classic was his only base-coaching stint since his days assisting Tony La Russa in the early 1980s with the Chicago White Sox.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Oneonta Tiger Joined : 04 Oct 2007 Posts : 160

Guillen did a great job!!! It was great to see him play and I was hoping he would have been the hero to end the game but its ok!

Subject: Re: Guillen Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:04 am

Im surprised I made it through the whole thing.
_________________
"Contrary to what everybody else thinks, I still think I can come back and help this team."

Todd Jones on shoulder injury.

Subject: Re: Guillen Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:32 am

Subject: Re: Guillen Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:35 am

My dad got up and came out to turn off the TV, I was like, no, its still on.
_________________
"Contrary to what everybody else thinks, I still think I can come back and help this team."

Todd Jones on shoulder injury.

Subject: Re: Guillen Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:52 pm

Guillen leaves Tigers to be with wife
Third baseman flies to Detroit after All-Star Game
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

BALTIMORE -- Tigers manager and American League All-Star coach Jim Leyland had to start the second half without his All-Star player on Thursday.
Third baseman Carlos Guillen returned to Detroit after Tuesday's All-Star Game to be with his wife while she deals with complications following the birth of their daughter last week.

Guillen's wife, Amelia, was hospitalized earlier this week. She is apparently doing well now, according to Leyland. She gave birth to a baby girl, Camelia, on July 7.

"It looks like everything's under control," Leyland said on Thursday, "but he will not be here tonight. Whether he'll be here tomorrow, I don't know. It appears that everything is OK, and that's the most important thing. He came in after All-Star Game, and I said, 'You've got to take care of the most important issues first. Whenever I see you, I see you.'"

Both Guillen's wife and daughter stayed in Detroit over the All-Star break, as did their sons Issac and Alfonso. Guillen flew back to Detroit on Wednesday morning after playing the final eight innings of the Midsummer Classic.

With Guillen unavailable, Brandon Inge started at third base against the Orioles on Thursday.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Guillen Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:01 pm

07/20/2008 1:09 PM ET
Guillen rejoins Tigers in Baltimore
Third baseman likely will return to lineup Monday vs. Royals
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

BALTIMORE -- Carlos Guillen rolled his bags into the visitors' clubhouse at Camden Yards on Sunday morning, hastily put on his workout gear and headed for the batting cage. He had just arrived from the airport on a flight from Detroit, and he will be on the team flight to Kansas City after the series finale.

It will be a long day, but if his wife can be home Sunday night as he hopes, he'll finally be able to rest.

Guillen played the final eight innings of the 15-inning All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, then went on no sleep to the airport for a 6 a.m. ET flight back to Detroit to be with his wife, Amelia, who was hospitalized with complications after giving birth to their new daughter. Amelia has undergone two surgeries to try to stop bleeding that began Tuesday, Guillen said, but she's now stable and recovering.

"We have to wait until tonight or tomorrow," Guillen said Sunday.

The waiting game is a tough one for Guillen. He had to go through the All-Star festivities on Tuesday as his wife was being taken to the hospital and examined to try to figure out the cause of the bleeding. He hasn't had much chance to relax since. While worrying about his wife, he also has had to take care of his daughter and two sons, which his mother is now doing while he rejoins the team.

It's not easy to focus on baseball, Guillen says, but acknowledged that it is his job.

"When you get in [to the game], all your problems are behind the door," Guillen said. "Focus on the game. It's tough to do sometimes."

Though Guillen was back with the team on Sunday, manager Jim Leyland wasn't planning to throw him back into the lineup. He'll likely play again Monday at Kansas City. Brandon Inge started at third base in his place.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:36 am

08/09/2008 6:40 PM ET
Guillen misses game on Saturday
All-Star is day-to-day with lower back spasms
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- If the Tigers are going to make the most of their current 10-game homestand, they may have to do it without their All-Star third baseman.

Carlos Guillen felt better on Saturday, but not well enough to start in the second game of a three-game set against the Athletics. The Tigers' third baseman sat out because of lower back spasms and is listed as day-to-day.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland started Ryan Raburn at third and batted him seventh. Guillen was listed on the lineup card as an available pinch-hitter, but that would only happen in an emergency.

"He's still a little stiff," Leyland said of Guillen. "He didn't pull anything; he just spasmed up."

Guillen exited Friday's game after the seventh inning and Raburn and Ramon Santiago both filled in at third for the three-time All-Star.

"It feels tight," Guillen said. "I felt it in my first at-bat and it got worse."

It's unlikely a defensive play worsened the pain to an unplayable point. Guillen only made one putout, the game's opening batter on Friday.

He went 1-for-3 before heading for the team training room. His final at-bat came in the sixth, when he grounded out to shortstop. Guillen wouldn't say that's when the pain spiked, but he decided he couldn't continue after playing defense in the seventh.

Leyland saw Guillen, one of his favorite players, struggling to walk upright in the tunnel that leads from the clubhouse to the dugout.

The skipper does not want to take any chances, as the Tigers attempt to climb back in the American League Central race and salvage what has been, up to this point, a disappointing season.

Guillen's versatility has contributed to the success of Leyland's swap of corner infielders. He switched Guillen and Miguel Cabrera to maximize infield defense.

After playing shortstop last season and starting this season at first, Guillen has established himself as a fine defensive third baseman, making several game-changing and game-saving plays at the hot corner. Prior to this season, he had not played third since 2003.

That versatility also helped him earn his third All-Star nomination. He is hitting .287 this season with nine home runs and 53 RBIs.

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:28 am

almost sounds like what Magglio had!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Guillen Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:24 pm

08/25/2008 9:03 PM ET
Guillen exits Monday's tilt early
Third baseman experiences recurrence of back problems
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers third baseman Carlos Guillen left Monday's game against Cleveland with a recurrence of spasms in his lower back.

Guillen has been dealing with back issues off and on for the past few weeks. He missed three games at home a couple of weeks ago after he was diagnosed with a pinched nerve caused by inflammation in his lower back. The problem was causing him to have numbness down his right leg, leaving him struggling to run, until a combination of medication and rest restored him.

Guillen played every game of the Tigers' road trip last week, going 7-for-20 with three doubles in the process, but Guillen's back still appeared to be somewhat of an issue. He's listed as day-to-day.

Guillen went 0-for-2 on Monday, having been retired on a called third strike in the second inning before flying out to right in the fourth. Ryan Raburn replaced him at third when the Tigers took the field for the top of the fifth.

The 32-year-old Guillen ended Monday batting .286 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:32 pm

08/26/2008 8:12 PM ET
Guillen concerned about back spasms
Tigers third baseman feels soreness, numbness in hamstrings
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Carlos Guillen remains listed as day-to-day with lower back spasms that knocked him out of Monday's game. The way Guillen sounded about his injury on Tuesday afternoon, however, he could be out a while.

Asked how he was feeling, Guillen was not upbeat. His description of Monday's back spasms sounded similar to the back problems two weeks ago which turned out to be a pinched nerve and kept him out of action for three days. However, Guillen said, his back had felt pretty good over the weekend before flaring up on Monday.

The discomfort, Guillen said, started in his back and went up and down his right leg. It included soreness in both of his hamstrings, and he felt a little numbness. The latter part could be a concern.

Manager Jim Leyland said on Tuesday afternoon he had no clearer picture of how long Guillen will be out. However, he stuck by his thought process from Monday night that Guillen will at least miss a couple games to let his back settle down.

While Guillen remains out, Marcus Thames was back in the Tigers lineup on Tuesday after leaving Monday's game with a cramp in his left leg. Thames said the cramp popped up when he was running down the first-base line on his seventh-inning single to left, then worsened as he stopped and restarted going from second to third on Edgar Renteria's single.

"I'm all right," said Thames, who started in left field on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, there was no update on Dontrelle Willis, who left Monday's start at Triple-A Toledo after one inning with tightness in his left forearm. The problem supposedly surfaced Monday before the game and carried into the outing, at which point the Tigers decided not to take any chances.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:11 pm

08/30/2008 8:13 PM ET
Guillen's list of ailments grows
Inflamed nerve increases discomfort from back spasms
By David Just / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Carlos Guillen's day-to-day status hasn't changed, but the reason for his prolonged absence has become a bit clearer.

Back spasms were the initial cause for his exit from Monday's game against Cleveland, but Guillen explained on Saturday that spasms are not the only ailment preventing his return to the lineup.

"One of my nerves [in my back] is inflamed," Guillen said. "So I have to wait until the inflammation goes down."

Guillen missed three games earlier this month with a pinched nerve in his back, so back troubles aren't a new occurence. This time, though, the injury has forced the infielder to miss nearly a week of action.

And Guillen can't pinpoint any date for a return.

"I don't know," Guillen said. "It could take a while. A week? I don't know."

Guillen has been diligently applying ice to his back, one of the few tried-and-true methods for keeping inflammation down. Because rosters expand on Monday, a trip to the disabled list seems unlikely.

The two-time All-Star is hitting .286 this season with a .376 on-base percentage and 10 home runs. The Tigers have gone 10-11 in the 21 games that Guillen has not appeared, including a 1-3 mark since he left Monday's game.

David Just is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:13 pm

I feel his pain! I ended up having to have back surgery to stop the bad disk in my back.... and yes it was sports related too.

Hopefully he can give it plenty of rest this off season, and won't need surgery!

Subject: Re: Guillen Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:10 pm

09/02/2008 8:44 PM ET
Guillen questionable for weekend
Third baseman hampered by pain in lower back
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Third baseman Carlos Guillen continues to be limited by pain in his lower back, leaving a return for this weekend's series at Minnesota questionable at best.

Guillen said on Tuesday that he still can't swing a bat because of the pain, which has left him sidelined for the past week. Any timetable toward getting him back on the field depends on how he feels, and that has been slow to progress.

Asked whether he thinks he could play this weekend, Guillen cautiously said, "I don't know."

The fact that the calendar has changed to September has given the Tigers an easier time dealing with Guillen's absence. Instead of putting him on the 15-day disabled list, the Tigers went with an extra position player for most of last week by optioning right-hander Chris Lambert to Triple-A Toledo and recalling Jeff Larish to handle third. Lambert was recalled on Tuesday in time to make his scheduled start, with Ryan Raburn filling in at third against Angels left-hander Joe Saunders.

Larish adds a left-handed bat to the lineup, but Guillen's performance has been harder to make up. He was batting .286 with 29 doubles, 10 home runs and 54 RBIs in 113 games this season. Larish is 4-for-21 with three RBIs and seven strikeouts in four games since rejoining the Tigers.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:43 pm

09/08/2008 8:45 PM ET
Guillen's back making slow progress
Third baseman works out but still hasn't hit off tee
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers third baseman Carlos Guillen is making progress in his slow battle with a sore lower back, but any return to game action this season still seems a good bit -- and a few batting-practice sessions -- away.

Guillen was able to run, throw and do some light swinging with an athletic trainer over the weekend at Comerica Park. He did not, however, swing at any pitching. He's expected to start putting bat on ball, hitting off of a tee shortly, but that wasn't guaranteed.

No timetable is set on a possible return. More than anything, the team's medical staff is going to proceed according to how Guillen feels. He has missed the Tigers' last 13 games.

Guillen hasn't played since Aug. 25 against the Indians after feeling soreness in his lower back and in both of his hamstrings. He missed time with similar issues earlier in August, but came back briefly to play. His back has been an issue on and off for much of the season, another reason why the Tigers will proceed slowly with this latest flare-up in hopes of eliminating it heading into the offseason and have him at full strength next spring.

Guillen is batting .286 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs in 113 games this year. Mike Hessman made his fifth start in Guillen's place Monday.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:41 pm

09/10/2008 2:27 PM ET
Guillen's return still up in air
Third baseman expected back in action before season's end
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers third baseman Carlos Guillen was feeling "much better" as of Wednesday, according to manager Jim Leyland, but he remains a distance away from returning to action.

Guillen, sidelined since late August with problems in his lower back, has been moving around better and swinging the bat without taking batting practice. However, there's no timetable for his return, and the earliest possible date keeps getting pushed back. Leyland said Wednesday he "would doubt very much" that Guillen would be able to play Friday at Chicago.

At some point, the Tigers would theoretically have to reach a decision whether Guillen will play again at all this year. However, Leyland fully expects Guillen will be back at some point before the season finale in 2 1/2 weeks. Plus, since he isn't on the disabled list with rosters expanded to 40 players, the Tigers wouldn't have to make a roster move once it's decided he's ready.

The bigger matter is how ready and effective Guillen will be once he's physically able to return. He has missed two weeks at this point, and he has not taken batting practice. With the Minor League seasons over and both Dontrelle Willis and Freddy Garcia past the point of simulated games, Guillen will likely have to settle for batting practice to get his timing back.

Jeff Larish made his eighth start at third base Wednesday. Shortstop Edgar Renteria and second baseman Placido Polanco had the day off, with Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn starting in their respective places. Matt Joyce started in place of Magglio Ordonez, who was rested in part to address some minor back stiffness.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Guillen Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:40 am

We need Carlos back!!
_________________
"Contrary to what everybody else thinks, I still think I can come back and help this team."

Todd Jones on shoulder injury.

Subject: Re: Guillen Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:03 am

Uh, a healthy Carlos back. The healing process cannot be rushed. I hope he hangs it up for '08 and vows to get ready for '09.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Guillen Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:17 am

True nuff said, Lap. If Carlos presses, trying to come back before the inflammation in his back has gone down, and the disk healed, he will just re-inflame it!

Subject: Re: Guillen Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:28 pm

09/19/2008 8:45 PM ET
Tigers' Guillen likely done for season
Nerve issue in back needs more time for rest, rehab
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- Any chances at a comeback this season for Carlos Guillen appear to be done. The key for the Tigers now is to make sure their All-Star third baseman comes back for next season at full speed. A second opinion from a renowned back specialist eased some minds in that regard.

With Guillen left struggling to come back from an inflamed lower back, the Tigers' medical staff sent him from Texas to Los Angeles for a Wednesday examination by Dr. Robert Watkins to make sure the injury wasn't worse than originally believed. His evaluation backed up what team doctors had diagnosed last month, that Guillen's inflammation was coming from a nerve root in his lower back.

"I don't know about the rest of the season," manager Jim Leyland said Friday, "but Carlos will be fine [long term]. There are no serious issues or no major problems, so we're thrilled to death to find that out."

Guillen did not require surgery, only a second epidural shot to ease the back stiffness enough for him to pick up his rehab process. He received that shot Thursday in Detroit and will remain at home for the weekend before rejoining the club next week at Comerica Park, when it'll be back to the workout program he has had for the last few weeks.

Guillen has progressed to a certain point in the rehab, head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said, but has had a tougher time getting past that point. He'll take a program into the offseason to get his back stabilized and get him to full strength in time for Spring Training.

"It's just more a matter of time than anything," Rand said. "He's getting better. He's not quite there yet."

With just over a week left in the regular season, Guillen most likely won't be there in time to play again this year, either. Even if he felt fine early this week, the infielder would need time to get back into game shape. Guillen hasn't played at all since Aug. 25, missing Detroit's last 21 games in the process.

At this point, Rand said, he would rather be safe than sorry if there's any risk of reinjuring his back and putting next spring at risk.

"I would find it hard to believe that I could expect him to get back into playing shape by the time the season's over," Leyland said. "If by chance he feels like he'd like to pinch-hit, see what it feels like, or feels like he could play a game, certainly I would honor that. But I think for effectiveness, from that standpoint, I think you'd be probably hoping."

The Tigers have settled into a pattern without Guillen down the stretch. Brandon Inge, normally the starting catcher, played at third base for the third consecutive game, while Dusty Ryan started behind the plate. Rookie Jeff Larish also has seen some starts at third, as has fellow September callup Mike Hessman.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.