Guillen leaves Tigers to be at birth of his daughter!

07/17/2008 6:31 PM ET
Guillen leaves Tigers to be with wife
Third baseman flies to Detroit after birth of daughter
By JasonBeck / 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.

Family does come first!
I think he made a good choice.

I'm praying everything is going well for the Guillen family.

Same here!

Put it on the Carlos thread as well.