Comments on: Dontrelle Willis makes Lakeland Debut

By: Mike R

Mike R — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:21:06 +0000

I would call Prince Fielder fat, yes. Fielder also outweighs Miggy by probably 40+ pounds. Prince came up at a robust 260 (and just 6′).

Miggy is just a big dude. Albert Pujols-like big.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:07:11 +0000

I wouldn’t necessarily call Ortiz fat. Nor Thome. Prince is a fatty boom batty, though. With 2 career inside the park HR, mind you. This probably does not help Miguel’s cause any…

http://www.bugsandcranks.com/t.....fast-food/

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:04:19 +0000

I am going to go out on a limb and say that it might not have been the smartest idea in the world to give Willis an extra year on his contract before he even threw a pitch in Detroit.

By: judpma

judpma — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:03:58 +0000

funny that some people look at Cabrearra as fat…he is a BIG GUY….would you call Prince Fielder or David Ortiz or Jim Thome fat…these are just big guys…we see so much “skinny” on tv we forget what a large person looks like

By: judpma

judpma — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:00:11 +0000

hey Dontrelle give us a call when you ain’t walking any!!!!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:16:01 +0000

Despite all my probing, unless someone knows an insider, there hasn’t been much news regarding Dontrelle until his pitching stint. I’m only speculating here but maybe they’re working with him just like any other rookie to get him back on track which might be this year and/or may be not.

Miggy just doesn’t look fat to me. Big, yea, but not fat. For that kind of money, they won’t let him get fat for very long.

By: Birdy

Birdy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:59:04 +0000

Billfer, any idea what Willis had been doing in Lakeland up to this outing? Is he just working with the coaching staff on his mechanics and throwing on a timeline? Is he also working on his conditioning? Was it ever confirmed that his conditioning was substandard, and that it was a contributing factor to his struggles? I suppose that may not be something the team would want to publicize if so, so the question for anyone there woulld have to be – does he look any thinner?
I really can’t help but think that Miguel Cabrera also could lose a considerable amount of body fat. Regardless of how it might help his overall effectiveness – which I believe it would – especially in the field, it seems that having a player with a significant salary and getting significant playing time setting such a poor example isn’t the best scenario for team success. Aren’t the best teams the ones where the best players are setting the example of hard work. Am I off base on Cabrera’s conditioning? Is he already working harder than everyone else?Is he also eating 3 times as much as everyone else? It seems like he often loses his balance when stretching for throws at first and winds up on all fours. Maybe I’m just jealous because he reminds me of me, except I’m not making millions of dollars.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:37:46 +0000

I just realized something really ironic. Isn’t it funny that Bonine (who never walks anyone) replaced Walk-Train?

By: Vince in MN

Vince in MN — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:43:59 +0000

Boy, 3 walks in 2 innings at Class A doesn’t look too encouraging to me. I guess I’d rather see him giving up some hits but not walking anybody – he’s supposed to be (re-)learning how to throw strikes, right? Well, it’s still early.

Bazardo is doing poorly at Toledo – 6.05 ERA in 61 IP (10 starts).

Lopez has started twice – so far so good – 11IP 5H 0BB 14K. Maybe they are on to something, but it is early here as well.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:34:58 +0000

We can all wait until Willis is ready to positively contribute.
It’s nice to get a good long look at some of these guys that might make the team next year in some fashion, since Jones, Rogers, and Fossum probably won’t be around next year. So that’s 3 spots we might have to fill.

Bonine looks dependable. Cruceta and Lopez will be back up sometime this season, probably September.

Whatever happened to Bazardo is the my question? I thought he was the best prospect we had out of the Jurrjens, Miller, Bazardo bunch from last year. I was glad that we kept Bazardo over the others. Now I’m like wtf happened?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:06:17 +0000

As far as I’m concerned, Willis can stay down in Lakeland until September, if need be. I feel pretty confident with Bonine in there and we’ve got Lopez down in Toledo getting stretched out to fill in in case of injury or if one of the young guys struggle. There is no need to rush Willis and the worst thing would be if he were to come back and pitch like he did earlier this month. Dontrelle Willis has become a prospect for the Tigers (albeit expensive one) and all we should hope for is that he is ready for 2009.