Comments on: This has to stop now

By: Link Love for 6-18-09

Link Love for 6-18-09 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:27:01 +0000

[...] Detroit Tigers Weblog has some tough words about Dontrelle Willis. Bill Ferris also makes the case that Brandon Inge is worthy of an All-Star bid (H/T to Bless You [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:20:03 +0000

Galarraga still has options…

By: scotsw

scotsw — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:36:44 +0000

“Anxiet disorder” = stage fright, and it’s very, very real. For a performer like Willis, it’s literally a disability. He hasn’t conquered it yet, obviously.

It’s a shame, because he has a great arm.

By: scotsw

scotsw — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:33:09 +0000

I don’t think there’s any evidence that Bonderman “burned out,” is there? He had a structural problem in his torso that made him susceptible to blood clots. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve never heard any suggestion that his condition was related to being “rushed.”

He was going to pitch somewhere in 2003, and the big club was god-awful. Historically so. So they let the kid pitch in the bigs.

I agree that the Tigers have to be in the market for an unsigned veteran at this point. Pedro or Kenny (who started strong last year before fading in the second half) might fit the bill if not asked to do too much. I was never certain we’d seen the last of K.R., actually.

By: Joey in Portland OR

Joey in Portland OR — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:11:32 +0000

Tough game to watch, Bob Walk one of the Pirates broadcasters was great, he was so grumpy cuz the Pirates were so impatient and swinging when Dontrelle couldn’t even sniff the strike zone. Which was a totally valid point, even a semi-patient team and it would have been a lot worse. We can’t keep giving up two automatic L’s when our 4 and 5′s pitch.

By: Kramer

Kramer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:23:39 +0000

Might be time to Ankiel him. It wouldn’t solve our pitching problem but it might solve Dontrell’s anxiety.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:31:08 +0000

Don’t know why it won’t let me reply to Mith’s comment, but there have been plenty of pitchers who’ve been starters for a period of time. Just because their arm doesn’t blow out immediately doesn’t mean that their mechanics aren’t still bad and high injury risks — like Zumaya’s are.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:35:32 +0000

Does anybody have a suggestion on what injury Galarraga should go on the DL for? The tean can’t just put him on there because they feel like it, and given how sketchy the ‘anxiety disorder’ was for Willis, I would bet that any chance of a phony injury will be closely scrutinized.

By: Ryan P.

Ryan P. — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:11:27 +0000

What are you smoking this morning?

By: jason

jason — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:06:32 +0000

Did you hear this? or are you speculating? Your post is very ambiguous.

By: Mith

Mith — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:55:47 +0000

Yet he was previously a starter, right? Hmm, weird how he could do it before, but can’t now. But of course you know best, Mike.

By: MCM

MCM — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:16:56 +0000

Willis out. Gallaraga on the DL. Miner and Lyon 4th and 5th in the rotation.

By: Jerry the Tiger Fan

Jerry the Tiger Fan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:32:41 +0000

One thing to say: Free Zach Miner! It is obvious to anyone with a set of working eyeballs that Miner (while not great) is the most viable candidate for the fifth starter on this team. The Willis experiment is bizarre, what other major league team would be this patient with such an obvious lost cause. His velocity is so-so, his command is Stevie Wonder-like and yet we keep running him out there every fifth day when we have a guy who is serviceable for that role (Miner). I know they’re paying Willis a lot of money, but if it isn’t obvious by now to the Tiger’s braintrust that Willis is done I don’t know what more Willis needs to show them to get it thru their heads. Maybe he needs to walk 10 in a row before it sinks in? Maybe DD is afraid to admit he made a colosssal mistake in giving this guy a three year extension, but really Dave, the gig is up. I think everyone knows you screwed up royally here with Willis’ contract. Its time to man up and admit you’ve made a mistake.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:16:31 +0000

Dontrelle definitely says all of the right things in the Beck blog post. That said, I’m confused at his “I’ve come back before” comment. He’s been terrible since before we accepted him in the Miguel Cabrera trade and gave him that ridiculous, unearned contract. I’m not sure what he’s “come back before” from.

Bottom line is that he seems like a great teammate, is charismatic and would be a great face of the pitching staff. But he’s a brutally bad pitcher. I wish him all the best, but he cannot be in the rotation anymore. I’m certain that he’s not getting released (pretty sure we don’t want to eat that contract, even though we should), but I’d much rather his spot in Toledo goes to someone else. I see no place for him in the organization, unfortunately.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:12:54 +0000

It’s not the mindset I’m worried about. It’s the fact that he’s pitching on a surgically repaired pitching shoulder and has bad mechanics. Arm comes up over his shoulder level, his grip on the baseball leading to a tense arm and his motion is 100% effort. He will not last in a starters role at all. I’d be willing to put bets down on that.