Guillen Sets Expectation’s Early for Injured Marlins Players

Guillen: Now, it’s time for the Marlins to take it our way

Ozzie Guillen is never going to be accused of having lots of patience. What he does have has expired. With 30 or so games left in the 2012 season, Guillen sent a message to players who hope to be the team in 2013.

Guillen has made it clear that he doesn’t want to have a repeat of the 2012 season, when it comes to injuries.

Essentially, he wants players to stop delaying surgery, if that’s what they need, to get healthy and get back on the field.

“I’m not a doctor, but I don’t know why people have to wait so long to have surgery,’’ Guillen said, referring specifically to OF/1B Logan Morrison who announced earlier this week, that he will have a second surgery to reconnect the torn patella tendonin his right knee. With that surgery comes six months of rehab.

“It ain’t going to happen here like it’s happened in the past. … Agents and people and doctors and different opinions make those guys go different ways. Now, it’s time for the Marlins to take it our way.’’ said Guillen.

Morrison began 2012, Limited in spring training and early in the season after having surgery in December on the same knee that will be repaired next week.

In late July, Morrison was placed on the DL and at that time surgery was thought to be a possibility.

In 93 games Morrison hit .230 with 11 home runs. Morrison expects to be healthy by spring, When asked if he’ll finally be healthy following this surgery, Morrison said, “I hope so. If not we got a problem.” That problem looks like it may begin and end with the Marlins skipper.

“This year, he’s going to have surgery and I expect LoMo to back in spring training ready to play with the full squad the first day of spring training,” Guillen said. “I don’t plan to play LoMo in B games, in minor league games to see how it works. If LoMo can play A games in spring training, he’s got to work hard because if not he’s not going to have a job here.”

Last November, the Marlins allowed Morrison to play in All-Star tournament in Taiwan, after having a history of knee issues over the course of the 2011 season.

Guillen took issue with that, but also with lingering knee issues with outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton required surgery in early July, and returned to action in early August.

Emilio Bonifacio went on the disabled list last week and was shut down for the remainder of the season to get healed. “If you need to go in, clean it up, do it right now and I’ll see you in spring training,’’ Guillen said of Bonifacio.

Guillen’s first year with the Marlins has been anything but routine. Guillen was suspended for five days by team management, for insensitive comments he made about Fidel Castro.

Then team management decided to trade away, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante, Gaby Sanchez and Randy Choate and changed the direction of the team midseason.

Guillen is understandably concerned with the future of the franchise, and the future of his employment, and wants his players healthy come the spring of 2013.

” If I’m going to get fired, I’m going to get fired my way. I’m going to get fired because I was bad.”