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Royals’ Guillen gets 10-day stay on suspension
By BOB DUTTONThe Kansas City Star
MILWAUKEE | Jose Guillen sat in front of his locker Friday afternoon wielding a short potato-masher-style weight in a regimen designed to further strengthen the wrists that give him one of the faster swings around.
The Royals can now plug that swing into the middle of their lineup Monday when they open the 2008 season in Detroit.
Guillen received a 10-day stay on his 15-day suspension Friday while officials from the commissioner’s office and the players’ union continue negotiations to strengthen baseball’s drug policy.
“That’s what I expected when I signed here,” Guillen said. “I expected to be in the lineup on opening day and play every day. When I got the news today, I was just happy to know I’m going to be there with my teammates.
“I want to start helping this team to win some games from the beginning.”
Union officials are insisting commissioner Bud Selig grant amnesty to all players cited in the Mitchell Report in return for agreeing to stricter guidelines that include more frequent testing and an increase in the authority of an independent program administrator.
Those changes were recommended by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell at the conclusion of his report on the use of steroids. Mitchell also recommended amnesty for the 86 players cited in the report except for extreme cases that threaten the game’s integrity.
The two sides appear close to an agreement.
Guillen and Baltimore outfielder Jay Gibbons received 15-day suspensions Dec. 6 for violations of the existing policy. Gibbons has admitted the use of banned substances; Guillen has not.
The Mitchell Report cited both players when released Dec. 13.
“I still can’t say a lot right now,” Guillen said. “There is stuff that is still ongoing. As soon as all of this stuff is over, I’ll be able to talk and say more. For now, I’m just really happy that I’m going to be in Detroit with my teammates.”
The feeling is mutual.
“I wish this thing was decided for certain,” outfielder Mark Teahen said. “But I guess as long as he’s there for opening day, for now we’ll take that and run with it. We went out and got him for a reason — to solidify the middle of our lineup.”
Third baseman Alex Gordon added: “With Jose in the lineup, he gives us that guy in the middle. We were kind of hoping that he was going to be there. For now, this is good enough for us.”
Manager Trey Hillman reiterated Guillen will bat cleanup Monday against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
“I’m glad there was a 10-day stay,” Hillman said, “and now we’ll let process take its course with the commissioner’s office and the players’ union. We’ll go from there.”
Guillen remained cautious in looking ahead.
“The only thing I can control is to play hard for these 10 days,” he said. “Whatever happens from there, I’ll let my lawyers handle that. I’m hoping to play the rest of the season without taking a day off.”