Guillen's upside is also his downside

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The assumed troublemaker, the alleged Lucifer in cleats, works the clubhouse with a contradictory suave. Jose Guillen grins like the happiest family member at a reunion. He slaps backs so well Barack Obama should hire him as a consultant.

Watch Guillen right now, and you figure he's way underutilized as a baseball player. Can't the United Nations use a power hitter?

Read about his past, however, and you're just confused.

This guy, divisive?

This guy, hotheaded?

This guy, villainous?

Yep, the Mariners' new right fielder is one of those types. Lazily, we call them misunderstood, but really we understand them quite well. These people are genuine, right down to their negatives.

People like Guillen won't change, so forget that daydream. Of all the intricate projections the Mariners are banking on to be a winner, this one is among the toughest. They are forecasting Guillen can stay healthy and happy enough to suppress his volatile nature.

You also sense management wouldn't mind if a small dose of Guillen's fire singed a tepid team. That's a dangerous hope. But that's how desperate the Mariners are for some form of passionate leadership.

"Trust me, if I see something wrong with what's going on with this team during the season, if somebody's not doing what he's supposed to be doing, I don't care who it is -- I'm going to step up and get in your face and tell you whatever I need to tell you," Guillen said. "Like it or don't like it. Get mad at me, whatever. But I'm going to tell you. And if we need to get into an argument, we'll get into an argument."

Guillen dropped that tidbit amid a pleasant conversation. He said it matter-of-factly. No venom, just the truth. That's who he is.

He said he doesn't want to repeat the past, and we'll see if he can honor those words. Undoubtedly, even if he means well, any disagreement between Guillen and his teammates will be huge news and inspire not-again thoughts.

Guillen can learn from the past, but he cannot erase it. It's impossible to ignore he's played for seven major-league teams in 10 years. It's impossible to forget how he once flung bats against a clubhouse wall in Cincinnati after not seeing his name on a lineup card. Or how he ripped then-Oakland manager Ken Macha for sitting him. Or how he started a war with Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia and wound up being kicked off the team in the middle of a pennant race.

Guillen is a risky hire for a team still discovering itself. And we haven't even gotten to his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Why bother? Mariners manager Mike Hargrove doesn't hesitate with his answer: "His talent."

If Guillen performs, Hargrove will deal with everything else.

"Jose's not a difficult guy to talk to," Hargrove said. "He's a pleasant guy to be around. What makes him good sometimes is the downside of him. He's very intense about what he does and what he believes in. I'd rather have a guy like that around than a guy who didn't care."

Still, he knows to expect some conflict.

"As long as he closes the door, I have no problem with that," Hargrove said.

None of this will be an issue if Guillen can't play, however. His right elbow is said to be ahead of schedule. He puts himself at 80 percent. The Mariners need him in right field, throwing with the same arm strength he had before surgery, to make one of their key offseason strategies work.

Ichiro moved from right to center field so the Mariners could put a power hitter at his old position. Guillen must produce, at the plate and in the field, for Ichiro's unselfishness to prove worthwhile.

Guillen arrives at 7 each morning to go through a rehabilitation routine with team trainer Rick Griffin. Because Guillen had reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder before last season, Griffin is trying to strengthen the slugger's entire upper body.

A healthy Guillen is capable of hitting .280 with 30 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Or, as he said with his trademark grin, "Trust me, if I stay healthy this year, who knows what can happen?"

Guillen said "trust me" six times during our conversation. He said it unknowingly. He said it purposely. He said it while describing how much he has grown. He said it while defending how he doesn't need to change too much.

"I have to prove I can stay healthy," Guillen said. "And that's it. Because if I stay healthy, everything is going to come into place. Everybody knows what Jose Guillen is all about."

Everybody knows in great detail, unfortunately. He's as exposed as any player in the Mariners clubhouse. There will be no surprises, whether he plays excellent or struggles and sulks, whether his arm strength returns or he can't even make an accurate throw from right field to second base.

Fascinating gamble, this Guillen.

Trust me, with him around, this won't be another lifeless Mariners season.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com.