Healthy Guzman stepping up for Nats
(Ben Goessling, Washington Times) - Some look at Cristian Guzman's stellar spring and see a surprise. Jim Bowden looks at it and sees the player he paid for three years ago.
It has been tough to assume that player is still there after a succession of nightmarish seasons. And it's always easy to manufacture optimism this time of year.
But Bowden, who gave the shortstop a four-year, $16.8 million deal shortly after he became the Washington Nationals' general manager in 2004, sounds like he's about ready to cash in on that investment.
"The first half of last year, he was making plays. It was the same thing last spring," Bowden said. "His best years should be ahead of him."
That's a bold statement, considering Guzman has only played 46 games since hitting .219 in his first season with the Nationals. Everything the shortstop has done this spring, however, would back it up.
Guzman is hitting .412, leads the team with 10 RBI and homered from both sides of the plate Sunday against Cleveland. That, coupled with the numbers he put up in 46 games last season after having Lasik surgery (a .328 average and .380 on-base percentage), has the Nationals optimistic Guzman can be the force that helped the Minnesota Twins win three division titles from 2002 to 2004.
"I know it's not easy for me, but some things happen," he said. "I'm healthy this year, so I want to be able to play 162 games -- come every day to the stadium and do something."
Ream More: Guzman still may pay off [Washington Times]
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