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Guillen looking to return during playoffs
SEATTLE (AP) -- A gaunt-looking Carlos Guillen took batting practice Thursday for the first time since being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, hoping he could rejoin the Seattle Mariners in the postseason. "I'm a little weak," said the regular Mariners shortstop, diagnosed with the illness Sept. 28. "I got a little tired out there today, but I'd still like to play in the playoffs. That is my goal. That is my intention." Guillen, 26, isn't on the Mariners roster for the division series against the Cleveland Indians. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Guillen lost 10 pounds because of his illness, but has regained all but three. Guillen, who also took fielding practice for the second straight day, said he didn't have his zip back after hitting before Game 2 against the Indians on Thursday. "He caught some ground balls and got a little tired," manager Lou Piniella said. "He wore down a little bit." Guillen, from Maracay, Venezuela, said he began feeling poorly in July, but team doctors didn't know what was wrong with him. He is still bothered by a cough. "I couldn't sleep through the night," Guillen said. "Sometimes I thought I didn't want to play the next day because I was so tired. But when I got to the ballpark, I changed my mind because I wanted to play every day." The switch-hitting Guillen pleased Piniella by hitting the ball to the opposite field while batting left-handed. "We've been trying to get him to go to left field all the time," Piniella said. Guillen's shortstop position is being filled in the first round by the versatile Mark McLemore. In Seattle's 5-0 loss in Game 1, McLemore went into center field to make a diving catch of Juan Gonzalez's popup in the second inning. Guillen said the Mariners were in good shape without him. "That was a nice play," he said. "He has a lot of experience in the big leagues." Guillen hit .259 with five home runs and 53 RBIs in 140 games. He started 123 games at shortstop, taking over for departed free agent Alex Rodriguez, and made 10 errors.
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