Dontrelle Willis

On this date in 2003, Dontrelle Willis wins the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

"If you don't like Dontrelle, you don't like people." - Brad Penny

So Dontrelle Willis walked his first batter and injured himself with the next pitch?

At this point, I think that any team that puts him on the payroll can officially be classified as "enablers".

Sorry, Dontrelle.

Dontrelle Willis

 

Born on today's date, Dontrelle Willis.

"Well, maybe you are right-handed. Ever think of that?"

Dontrelle Willis retires

"If you don't like Dontrelle, you don't like people." - Brad Penny

The Orioles signed Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract?

Well if it's consistency, you want, Dontrelle's your man.

One win for the Tigers in '09.
One win for the Tigers in '10.
One win for the Diamondbacks in '10.
One win for the Reds in '11.

Now if the Orioles thought they were "one win" away from a playoff spot, I could see it but......

Profound clubhouse thoughts - Dontrelle Willis edition

"These guys really battled for me today."

1 star out of 5 on the "cliche-meter": Brothers in arms! Never leave one behind, you know.

Hey, Dontrelle Willis is pitching "ok" with the Reds!

I am thinking a rotting corpse and a pet sematary.

But that's just me.

Cannot confirm.

So Adam Dunn is 0-33 against lefties

Is the White Sox batting practice pitcher right-handed or left-handed?

Well there you go!

Oliver Perez needs work!

So does Dontrelle Willis.

So what if they're wild! Dunn has to learn how to hang in there!

Notice I am not bragging about solving this whole thing.

"He just needs somebody to give him an opportunity"

Dusty Baker on Dontrelle Willis.

Four teams in ten months.

So the Reds signed Dontrelle Willis

That should really help them in 2004.

Well, Dontrelle

Maybe you are right-handed.

Ever think of that?

It's a genie and bottle thing, dont'cha know?

I notice that the Giants only seem interested in guys that are really old or really bad.

Hey Giants! Neifi Perez is still out there and he's both!

And they have fans why?

Some things just can't be fixed

Dontrelle Willis stats while with the Diamondbacks this year:

5.91 ERA
2.25 WHIP
27 walks in 21 innings

Throwing behind batters unintentionally last night.

Arizona announces that he is going to the bullpen.

Hey D-Backs!

You can't get something for nothing. Even if someone else is paying 99% of his salary.

You just can't. It would be nice if you could.

How much is a roster spot worth to you?

You have nobody in AAA remotely promising?

Same clubhouse

"I definitely feel like there's some momentum. We're pitching well, hitting well and playing good defense. That's how you get on streaks."

Justin Verlander

"Momentum is only as good as your next day's starter."

Jim Leyland


I am going with the young guy.

That said, I can understand where the old guy is coming from as he had Dontrelle Willis for over two years.

An overweight* wild pitcher who never wins (ok, two wins in three years)?

The Diamondbacks say, "We're in!"

Look, I know the Tigers likely will be paying like 99.99999% of his salary but have you been paying attention?

I was at one game where the catcher barely got in a crouch.

*He can't fit into the uniform in that card now, I can tell you that.

Dontrelle Willis released

3 years, $29 million, 2 wins.

I am not much into that, truth be told.

One thing that I did kind of "like" were the DL stints for "anxiety" at which time Dontrelle would tell the press that he had no anxiety and there was nothing wrong with him and he was only on the DL because he could not pitch (well). The Tigers would respond that Dontrelle was in denial and in fact really anxious and they had a doctor that would say so.

Classic stuff!

Couldn't make this up if you tried!

I think no other team complained because they wanted the ability to do that in the event they ever needed to.

Oy!

Dontrelle Willis

So Dontrelle Willis had a rehab start (he is on dl due to "anxiety") in Toledo and gave up 5 runs and more significantly 8 walks in 4 innings. In other words, no change.

Ok, obviously there is no hope for any help from him for the playoff push.

(Oh gosh no, I was not referring to the Tigers playoff push. I meant Toledo's)

(Don't much like that scribble either)

Dontrelle Willis has this "anxiety" thing again

Ok, so in his last start, Dontrelle Willis walks 8 (2 with the bases loaded) in 3.2 innings. Don't ask if the Tigers won. For the year, he has a 7.49 ERA and 28 walks in 32 innings. The Tigers look at this and say, "We gotta get this guy back on the DL somehow" and sure enough, it is announced that Willis has been placed on the DL for the second time this year for an "anxiety disorder". Let's not overlook the fact that the first time this happened a few weeks ago, Willis said he was fine and told Jason Beck at mlb.com, "I'm a guy that shoots from the hip. I was just playing bad." OTAY!

To begin with, I do not know why major league baseball allows these pseudo DL stints but as as long they do, I guess you can't blame the Tigers for taking advantage of it. That said, I do think the Tigers will need to get with Dontrelle this time so he at least plays along with this "anxiety disorder" diagnosis.

I do see that the Tigers trotted out their trainer, Kevin Rand (when was the last time a trainer talked to the press) to speak to the media. Per Booth Newspapers, here are some gems from Mr. Rand regarding Willis' "anxiety disorder" and mechanical issues: "They are intertwined. Mechanics is thinking through the motion, a lot of moving pieces trying to be put together. It's a very, very complicated issue, there's no doubt about it. It's a situation where you get in front of the crowds and have to put it together. It is one of the more complicated issues I've had to deal with."

Come again?

Come on Tigers, just admit you don't know what is going on here rather than bring out Mr. Rand to engage in some attorney-like gobblygook double-speak with media. You don't know what is wrong with Willis. That is ok. Neither does anybody else.

While I recognize that this is probably not the "be all and end all" of this, but here is one (pretty obvious) tip. Take a look at pictures of Willis during his early years and those of him now. See a difference? Uh YEA, he has gained about 25-30 pounds and not of the "muscle variety" either. I am not a trainer but this cannot be a good thing.

Tiger brass, PLEASE reassure us that you have discussed this "weight" issue with Dontrelle. If he doesn't want to do anything about it, well then I guess you are stuck as he has a guaranteed contract which runs through next year. A pity, really.

Tigers, you gotta at least tell us that this issue has been put on the table for Willis. Please don't say you haven't.

What does the trainer think about that?