Oh, Carlos. Today, his knee (and legs, at this point, I’m sure) breathed a deep sigh of relief, for Carlos Guillen finally heard their cries for mercy.
I am glad that he got to make the choice for himself, and I can’t say that I’m surprised, but it does bum me out to see his career end this way. I mean, he was SO good between 2004 and 2008, but since then . . . ugh. When he was healthy, there were glorious flashes of a comeback, but inevitably a piece would fall off and we learned not to get our hopes up. On the bright side, though, he did rehab in Lakeland for a bit and my husband and I got to go see him play. More players need to rehab in Lakeland.
Carlos has a dear place in my baseball heart for being a part of the Tigers team with which I first fell in love. This place is only soured slightly the fact that I unfairly associate him with us letting go of Polanco (Don’t ask. I have no logic for this feeling). I am glad, though, that my final, strong memory of Carlos Guillen as a Tiger is the homer from the infamous Weaver/Verlander game. Man, was that fun. Let’s remember him like that.
Let’s also remember him through the fabulous Roar of the Tigers posts about “Carlos Guillen’s surgically repaired knee”. Awesome stuff, right there.
Enjoy your retirement, Carlos. Too soon, but well-deserved, and I sincerely hope you do end up perusing management in the future. Dontrelle Willis tweeted earlier about what a great teammate you were and it melted my fangirl heart. While you’re at it, please call your buddy Magglio. I think you have some things to say that he needs to hear right now.
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