Tom Gage

Carlos Guillen strikes out in the court of public opinion

Detroit -- Carlos, Carlos, Carlos.

You're an excellent player when healthy. And, from what we can gather, an outstanding individual. We hear there's no Tigers player more generous with his time and money than you, Carlos Guillen.

You've not been a boat-rocker. You've been a stand-up guy.

But that makes it even more surprising that within two weeks of your team collapsing as it did -- and also within two weeks of Dave Dombrowski and Jim Leyland shouldering nearly the entire blame -- you squawked to MLB.com about yourself.

And your role.

And your future.

Not to mention your position and your manager.

A selfish act

I have to say, Carlos, it didn't sound like you. But it was you.

A side of you we didn't know was there -- someone who wasn't able to play his position most of the season, who couldn't effectively face left-handers most of the season, and who produced less than the player who replaced him (Ryan Raburn), but was the first to grumble.

About himself.

Not about what happened to his team. Not about how crushing it still is that one game was the difference between going to the postseason and going home.

But about your own situation.

And whether the Tigers used you correctly.

That's surprising -- and not to be found within the definition of accountability.

Fans' patience is thin

Everybody, however, says the rift between you and Leyland is over. Leyland said it again Wednesday. But do you honestly realize what you've done?

You've grabbed the spotlight and turned it directly on yourself.

Fans here are saying what you don't want to hear -- that you really can'tplay left field. To those within reach, I say that's not been proven, I tell them to give you more time.

Fans also are intrigued with Raburn's bat more than with yours. I tell them you've been a productive player for the Tigers, that you haven't been healthy lately but, even at 34, you still can be one of the core players.

When the rebuttal goes something like, "But for $13 million?" I reply you signed your four-year extension, effective in 2008, on the heels of a 2006 season in which you hit .320, but before a 2007 season in which you had 102 RBIs, and that the Tigers can only hope you return to those numbers in the last two years of your contract.

Lastly, when someone simply says, "Trade his butt," I don't answer with the obvious, "For what at that price?" I say, "You won't be thinking that when he's healthy and hitting."

His value remains

You have allies, Carlos.

You weren't, however, your own friend with this little back-and-forth with the manager -- which you won, by the way.

Perhaps in Pyrrhic fashion, Leyland said all the mollifying right things. He acknowledged in public he wants you to be a nine-inning player -- and that's understandable, because when healthy, you always have been. You've earned that respect.

Respect in baseball is like the rising and ebbing tide, however. It's in, it's out, it's high, it's low, depending on how you play.

The Tigers have elevated your name above the possibility of a platoon system in left. Raburn remains the nomad, searching for permanence in the lineup.

Never mind he hit .556 in the last week of the season and you went 1-for-16.

Never mind he hit .355 from Sept. 1 on and you hit .222.

Never mind that in 175 at-bats as a left fielder, he hit .303 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs, while you, as a left fielder, hit .221 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 140 at-bats.

And disregard he hit .286 with runners in scoring position, while you hit. 226.

You're still the man.

Now be the man.

tom.gage@detnews.com