Guillen Wants to Come Back

The more the Angel offense sputtered in the first two games of the playoffs, the deeper the sense of remorse Jose Guillen seemed to have for his actions that led to the Angel left fielder’s Sept. 26 suspension for the remainder of the season.

“It’s been tough to watch,” Guillen said in an interview with ESPN that aired before the Angels lost to the Red Sox on Friday. “They need something. I think they’re missing something.”

You think? Guillen hit .294 with 27 home runs and 104 runs batted in and clearly the Angels missed his bat against the Red Sox. His replacements, Jeff DaVanon and Adam Riggs, combined to go two for 11 with one run in the series.

“I think that speaks volumes on what the issues were,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It was unfortunate what happened. It certainly took one of our better players away at a critical time.”

Those who believe the Angels were too harsh with Guillen, who was suspended for his tantrum after being pulled for a pinch-runner Sept. 25 and a verbal dispute with Scioscia after the game, think it was the Angels -- and not Guillen -- who suffered the heavier loss. Without Guillen, the Angels seemed short-handed against the Red Sox.

“Everyone has an opinion, and that’s what makes the world so interesting,” Angel bench coach Joe Maddon said. “Would we have made the playoffs with him? You can’t assume anything. There’s no denying Jose is a tremendous talent, but we played fine without him down the stretch. The guys who replaced him did a nice job.”

Guillen felt the Angels overreacted. “This should have been handled in a different direction,” he told ESPN. “I always believed whatever happens in the clubhouse stays between us.”

Guillen, who is under contract for $3.5 million in 2005, said he would begin anger-management classes next week.

“That’s something that will help me the rest of my career,” he said. “It’s been one of my problems. That’s the first step.”

Scioscia has maintained “the door is open” for Guillen to return next season, “but some issues need to be taken care of.” Guillen hopes to walk through that door next spring.

“I really want to play for the Angels,” he said.