Major League Baseball

Bulging disk keeps Guillen from making NLDS roster;GIANTS BEAT

Published Oct. 8, 2010 10:46 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Giants' decision to leave right fielder Jose Guillen off their Division Series roster was surprising only because they kept playing him down the stretch despite his ineffectiveness at the plate. He started 15 of the final 16 games and was 4-for-33 with three groundball double plays over the final two weeks.

Manager Bruce Bochy said a bulging disk at the base of Guillen's neck prevented him from swinging properly. That was the main reason for his exclusion.

"It was a tough decision when you have a guy who's been going out there pretty much every day and then you leave him off the roster," Bochy said. "But I think he would agree he wasn't quite 100 percent, so that's why we went this way."

Indeed, Guillen told The Chronicle an epidural injection helped for only a week, and the pain prevented him from moving his head side to side. It also affected his shoulder, preventing him from driving the ball.

"It's kind of getting out of control," said Guillen, adding he understood the decision to leave him off the roster.

"I want to be in there, but I've got to do what's best for the team," he said. "This isn't like a broken hand. I need my shoulder. I'm trying my best to be ready for the next round, doing whatever I need to do. Maybe there is something else we can do. We're talking about that.

"This is something that's out of my control. If I was healthy, I'd be in there."

Zito, Ray out: As expected, Barry Zito did not make the series roster. Bochy said Madison Bumgarner was pitching better, and it made no sense to put Zito in the bullpen because he has no real relief experience.

Bochy praised Zito's attitude, noting the left-hander immediately went to work in the bullpen after hearing the news Wednesday. Zito needs to stay sharp in case another pitcher gets hurt, or even if the brass changes its mind for the next round.

Zito pledged to be a good cheerleader, saying, "My heart and soul is in this clubhouse. There's no other option than myself pulling for every one of these guys."

Guillermo Mota's performance in two games against San Diego over the weekend earned him the final bullpen spot over Chris Ray. Mota retired all nine batters he faced.

Huff ends streak: Aubrey Huff ended the third-longest current streak of games played without a postseason trip, at 1,479 games. Randy Winn 1,717 has the longest. The Rangers' Michael Young ended the second-longest 1,508 Wednesday.

"I knew about that," Huff said. "All my friends texted me: 'Loser!' "

Briefly: Thursday's win was the first time the Giants' franchise has won a 1-0 postseason game since Art Nehf of the New York Giants beat the Yankees in Game 3 of the 1923 World Series.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball