Carlos Guillen: An everyday kind of guy

Outside of the Mariners clubhouse, he rarely changes his facial expression. There is a sense of normalcy in much of what he does on the baseball diamond, sliding to his left and right to snare ground balls, leaping over baserunners to complete a double play or driving pitches to all fields for key hits.

Only Carlos Guillen is not just the quiet, droopy-eyed Seattle shortstop who hardly shows emotion. He is, at last, an everyday player Mariners fans can expect to contribute with regularity.

That was all this city — and this team — wanted from the 25-year-old from Venezuela when he arrived in the trade that sent Randy Johnson to Houston for Guillen, Freddy Garcia and John Halama. But a left knee injury cut short a promising September in 1998, when Guillen was called up to the Mariners. His 1999 season was over after just five games, when he tore ligaments in his right knee.

The injury occurred with Guillen subbing for Alex Rodriguez, who had gone down on Opening Night with a knee injury.

As if being branded "oft-injured" wasn't damaging enough, Guillen got off to a bad start at the plate last season and pulled a hamstring on April 13, landing on the disabled list. After a rehabilitation stint in Tacoma, he returned to the Mariners and went 1 for 19 from May 10 to June 1. The Mariners sent him back to Tacoma.

But all was not lost.

Guillen was recalled in July and started hitting well. He had the highest batting average on the team in the second half and played well defensively at third base, a position he was forced to play, with Rodriguez at shortstop.

The Mariners know now that Guillen, back in his natural position for a full season at long last, can make Rodriguez-like plays at shortstop. They know that his .259 batting average is a bonus, and that he has the potential to hit better. And they know he can be effective when in the lineup and not injured.

Perhaps most important is that Guillen no longer is given the dubious distinction of being Rodriguez's replacement.

"He's made a great adjustment," said Bret Boone, the Mariners' second baseman. "He was young and I didn't know what to expect when I got here. But he's poised and exceeded all my thoughts and expectations."

And Guillen is no mystery, at least in the Northwest. It happened one sunny afternoon in early October last year, the day Guillen won the hearts of Mariners faithful. On Oct. 6, 2000, he laid down The Bunt. One small base hit against the Chicago White Sox to end the American League Division Series, one giant step for the acceptance of a young man onto a playoff-caliber team.

And Guillen has been a critical part of the team's winning formula this season.

"I feel content to be part of this team and this season," Guillen said. "I like Seattle very much. There are good people here and fans go to our games. It feels good not being injured. I suffered a little but now I feel healthy."

Guillen, soft-spoken as he is, may not openly discuss it, but it is easy to see how thrilled he is to be a part of history. The public sees only the game face, sunglasses perched on his cap as he scoops up another grounder, pumps to make sure he has a good hold on the ball, and fires to first base.

The Mariners see a blossoming star in the middle of the infield who doesn't deserve comparisons to the player he replaced.

"He plays good defense," Manager Lou Piniella said. "That's the most important thing. I think we can be set (at shortstop) for the next few years, if we can keep him healthy."

John Olerud, the M's first baseman, said of Guillen: "Alex (Rodriguez) was a great player for Seattle. Those are big shoes to fill. He's handled it extremely well."

Guillen's numbers, while not eye-popping, are efficient. He has 53 runs batted in, having been moved up and down the batting order like a yo-yo. He has five home runs and 21 doubles, along with seven sacrifice hits, second-best among the Mariners. The statistic Guillen likes the most, however, is games played.

"One-hundred-forty games. I am very happy for that," he said.

"Carlos just had to know just how good of a player he could be," Rodriguez said.

Guillen, whose Safeco Field clubhouse stall is close to his alter ego, gregarious pitcher Jose Paniagua, is no wallflower.

The shortstop has gone from the humble, reticent rookie to the still humble yet chiding teammate who will crack a few jokes, and be the brunt of others from both Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking Mariners.

On Wednesday, after the Mariners defeated Texas for their third win in a row, Guillen couldn't resist the zinger he had for outfielder Stan Javier.

"The same pants, four days in a row?" Guillen cracked in Spanish. Javier, a sharp dresser on road trips, couldn't help but crack a smile, even though he was being interviewed by a reporter.

Guillen, too, smiled and laughed. It had been a good series in Texas, in which Guillen went 5 for 12 and hit his fifth home run, and also drove in four runs in the three games.

For a split second, he wore a different look on his face. One of contentment.

José Miguel Romero can be reached at 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com.