NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Guillen Back, Asked Not to Rock the Boat
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Sunday, June 11, 2006
The Washington Nationals activated Jose Guillen from the disabled list yesterday, and thus began the delicate process of working the mercurial right fielder back into the lineup and into a clubhouse that has enjoyed remarkably improved chemistry in Guillen's absence.
Manager Frank Robinson met with Guillen before yesterday's game, and said Guillen brought up the team's success while he was away recovering from a strained hamstring.
"He's a very sharp kid," Robinson said. "He knows what's been going on here. He understands what's been happening, the atmosphere in the clubhouse, the way the team's doing things. He knows it. He said it to me."
Guillen, on the disabled list since May 27, entered yesterday's 6-2 loss in the eighth inning, popping up in his only at-bat to drop his average to .210. He said yesterday that he couldn't produce previously because his leg was bothering him, and "you need your legs to hit."
Guillen also said he understands that he needs to produce once he returns to the lineup, which Robinson said would be today in the finale of a four-game series against Philadelphia. He said the fact that the Nationals went 10-4 without him in the lineup is "just baseball," and "I'm a big part of this team."
"They know what I can do when I'm 100 percent," Guillen said. "I don't think they need to worry about me. The only time they need to worry is when Jose Guillen is hurt."
Word of Advice: Learn to Bunt
Utility man Damian Jackson failed to get a sacrifice bunt down in a key spot during Friday night's 9-8, 12-inning win, the third time he has failed in such a spot. Robinson had some simple advice: "If I'm Damian Jackson, I'd be out here every day working on my bunting."
Jackson said fouling off three straight attempts was "inexcusable."
"If Frank wants me to work on it, I'll go out there and lay down 90 out of 100 in practice," Jackson said. "But it's not the same when you've got a pitcher out there trying to get you out."
Jackson has two successful sacrifices this year.
