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I'll be rooting hard for this guy tommorow.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ss...lis_looks.html
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ss...lis_looks.html
Tigers' Dontrelle Willis looks forward to first start
By Steve Kornacki
April 07, 2010, 11:35PM
Dontrelle Willis
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Dontrelle Willis makes his first start of the season for the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon, and was asked if it was special in light of what he’s accomplished to earn a rotation spot.
“No, no,” Willis said. “They all mean the same. I’m just excited to play, and hopefully will have 32 or 35 of these.”
Willis has started 14 games with one win in two seasons with Detroit. Knee injuries had him on the disabled list two months during 2008, and he spent nearly all of 2009 on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Much of his pitching came on rehabilitation assignments in the minors.
But the wild throwing that led Willis to average more than one walk per inning when he was able to pitch for Detroit has been remedied. He walked 12 in 22 1/3 innings and had a 3.22 ERA in Grapefruit League games.
“He’s showed confidence and I’m anxious to see him,” Leyland said. “I think he’ll be fine. He was around the plate all spring even when he walked people.”
Leyland said he wasn’t sure what the measuring stick for Willis was in regard to whether his control is adequate.
“All I care about is he gets outs,” Leyland said. “He’s moving forward, and we’re moving forward. And he’s extended his velocity.”
Willis’ fastball registered 93 mph late in spring training.
“I’m not a complex dude,” Willis said. “I just try to win that day. I feel great. I had a good spring and I’m anxious to go out and start.”
He had a little fun with the media for repeatedly asking him for thoughts on his comeback, saying, “I know I’ve given you the same answers because I was there when I said it.”
Everybody laughed. Willis likes to say that he’s just trying to have fun, and it’s evident that he is.
The Tigers chose Willis and Bonderman for the last two rotation spots, and traded Nate Robertson to the Florida Marlins for relief prospect Jay Voss.
Willis had between 32 and 35 starts in each of his last four seasons with the Marlins, who traded him to the Tigers after the 2007 season. He made the National League All-Star teams in 2003, when he was Rookie of the Year for a world championship team, and 2005, when he was second in Cy Young Award voting and 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA.
“Now, I just want to leave it all on the field,” Willis said. “If they line out 27 times, I don’t care. I just want outs; I’m not a prideful person.”
By Steve Kornacki
April 07, 2010, 11:35PM
Dontrelle Willis
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Dontrelle Willis makes his first start of the season for the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon, and was asked if it was special in light of what he’s accomplished to earn a rotation spot.
“No, no,” Willis said. “They all mean the same. I’m just excited to play, and hopefully will have 32 or 35 of these.”
Willis has started 14 games with one win in two seasons with Detroit. Knee injuries had him on the disabled list two months during 2008, and he spent nearly all of 2009 on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Much of his pitching came on rehabilitation assignments in the minors.
But the wild throwing that led Willis to average more than one walk per inning when he was able to pitch for Detroit has been remedied. He walked 12 in 22 1/3 innings and had a 3.22 ERA in Grapefruit League games.
“He’s showed confidence and I’m anxious to see him,” Leyland said. “I think he’ll be fine. He was around the plate all spring even when he walked people.”
Leyland said he wasn’t sure what the measuring stick for Willis was in regard to whether his control is adequate.
“All I care about is he gets outs,” Leyland said. “He’s moving forward, and we’re moving forward. And he’s extended his velocity.”
Willis’ fastball registered 93 mph late in spring training.
“I’m not a complex dude,” Willis said. “I just try to win that day. I feel great. I had a good spring and I’m anxious to go out and start.”
He had a little fun with the media for repeatedly asking him for thoughts on his comeback, saying, “I know I’ve given you the same answers because I was there when I said it.”
Everybody laughed. Willis likes to say that he’s just trying to have fun, and it’s evident that he is.
The Tigers chose Willis and Bonderman for the last two rotation spots, and traded Nate Robertson to the Florida Marlins for relief prospect Jay Voss.
Willis had between 32 and 35 starts in each of his last four seasons with the Marlins, who traded him to the Tigers after the 2007 season. He made the National League All-Star teams in 2003, when he was Rookie of the Year for a world championship team, and 2005, when he was second in Cy Young Award voting and 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA.
“Now, I just want to leave it all on the field,” Willis said. “If they line out 27 times, I don’t care. I just want outs; I’m not a prideful person.”
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