Guillen's out 'long term' - Bondo & Thames back soon

Carlos Guillen's absence to be 'long term'
Bonderman, Thames may return soon

BY JOHN LOWE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • June 4, 2009

Manager Jim Leyland hopes slugger Marcus Thames will be back soon.

Jeremy Bonderman could be back soon.

But it's becoming obvious that Carlos Guillen won't be back any time soon.

"Long term" is how Leyland on Wednesday described Guillen's continuing absence.

Guillen has been on the disabled list for four weeks with a sore right shoulder. "It's going to be awhile (until he returns)," Leyland said. "It just appears he's got a pretty worn shoulder."

Guillen didn't homer in his 90 at-bats before he was sidelined. The Tigers haven't replaced his power production while he was playing or during his absence. Leyland expressed renewed surprise Wednesday that his offense hasn't performed better this season.

The Tigers entered Wednesday eighth in the AL in runs scored. They were in first place largely because of their pitching. They had the league's best team ERA, 3.90.

The switch-hitting Guillen is noticeably absent against right-handed pitching. The Tigers are 18-18 in games started by right-handers. Three Orioles rookie right-handers held them to a combined four runs last weekend in Baltimore. Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka didn't have his best stuff Tuesday night and held the Tigers to one run.

Today against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will mark the 14th straight game in which the Tigers face a right-handed starter. The streak is due to end by Sunday, when the Tigers are scheduled to face Angels left-hander Joe Saunders.

Leyland expects the Tigers to face three lefties in the five-game series against Chicago that starts Monday.

He hopes that the right-handed Thames will face those lefties, batting in the middle of the lineup.

Thames has been out for 1 1/2 months with a rib-cage strain. He has been on a rehab assignment for several days with Triple-A Toledo.

And when might Bonderman pitch next? Leyland said that determination will be made after his next bullpen session this week.

Bonderman could make another rehab start for Toledo. Or he could rejoin the Tigers.

STRIKEOUT CHEERED: It's not often that a player who has just concluded a 0-for-4 night with a strikeout gets a standing ovation from the fans behind his dugout.

But the Tigers' Josh Anderson earned that salute in Tuesday night's ninth inning. As he represented the potential tying run with none out, he fouled seven two-strike pitches from Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon.

On the 11th pitch, Anderson struck out swinging.

Boston pitching coach John Farrell said Anderson "really did a good job of shortening up his swing and fighting off fastballs that were in very good locations."

Anderson fanned for the first out of the inning on Papelbon's 25th pitch of the inning. Papelbon then fanned pinch-hitter Jeff Larish and Ramon Santiago to end his 35-pitch inning -- and the game.

Contact JOHN LOWE: 313-223-4053 or jlowe@freepress.com.

Let's see if he ever comes back *sigh*

laprimamirala wrote:

Let's see if he ever comes back *sigh*

I agree,

Quote :

"It just appears he's got a pretty worn shoulder."

That sounds more career ending to me.

Hopefully he's invested some of his money well so his family is well taken care of, esp the new baby.

laprimamirala wrote:

Hopefully he's invested some of his money well so his family is well taken care of, esp the new baby.

If he hasn't he's got lots more coming so he'd better start.

Hopefully Thames can come back and get some fire back into our offense.

And Bondo can get rid of Willis in the rotation since Galaragga seems to have found his rythm again.