By all accounts, Dontrelle Willis hasn't had the best spring training in history. In fact, it might not even be the best spring training during this season. The natural inclination is to consider how Dontrelle messing up during February and March will affect his pitching in April and beyond. My theory: it won't.
Willis is just 26, not quite in the prime of his career, but definitely getting close. As I said in my preview of the rotation, he's been up and down for the past few years - winning 22 games three years ago and hovering at about .500 for the past two. At the moment, he's penciled in as the fifth starter by Jim Leyland. Considering his place on the staff, is being at .500 and pitching effectively every two or three starts going to be a disappointment from a fifth starter? I say no. If D-Train pitched as he has in spring training, 8.64 ERA and all, as a trend in his career then I would probably feel differently. However, this seems to simply be an aberration.
It's important to remember what Tiger fans should expect from Dontrelle this season - he probably won't win 20 games, won't be the ace of the staff, and will not be forced to carry the team on the nights he pitches. In other words, Dontrelle isn't in Miami any more. My own personal theory is that Willis is still adjusting to the feeling of not having to be "The Man" on a team that has about 12 or 13 "The Man"s. He's pitching like he's still in a pressurized situation where he has to be at his best on a nightly basis - in reality, he only has to be good enough.
Things should settle down pretty quickly for the D-Train when the team goes up north and the regular season begins. Pitching in the cold Detroit weather that's waiting for him, he will have a natural advantage over the hitters, since making contact with the ball in and of itself is a chore when it's 40 degrees out. Once he becomes really accustomed to his new surroundings at Comerica Park and becomes comfortable with the run support he's sure to get from the bats coming to support him, Dontrelle will do just fine.
Let's just say that hitting the panic button on a guy before April seems a tad ridiculous, does it not?
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4 comments:
kyle cmon now:
1. 12 or 13 "the mans"...lets be honest, if jacque jones, edgar renteria, or even an aging pudge rodriquez (at this point in his career) is ever considered "the man" baseball has gone to shit. The Tigers have 6 or 7(still impressive none the less), and that's being generous.
2. High ERA does happen to be a trend in Dontrelle's career. An ERA over 5 last year in the pitcher's NL is not too impressive. That being said, he should garner some run support.
3. Dontrelle wants in CC Sabathia's pants. Then again, who doesn't.
Good luck this year...
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