Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis, nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseballfor the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Willis was notable for his success during his first few years in the MLB and for his unconventional pitching style, which included a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter. He was named the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth12 January 1982
CityOakland, CA
CountryUnited States of America
He's a great fit for our team because we're very young and enthusiastic ourselves. He's almost like a player, running around touching bases and everything.
I'll never forget how nervous I was. It was almost like getting transferred to a new high school in your senior year. Everybody watching you. I was so erratic they either swung or I almost hit them. But it's funny. They still believed in me. I thought I was going to get released after that.
He's very enthusiastic. The last few days he's been running around, trying to help the catchers. Things like that. I think that's a great fit for our team because we're very young and enthusiastic ourselves. He's almost like a player, running around touching base and everything.
It definitely hurts, because I felt like I let my team down. I have to find a way to get outs late in the game, especially when they're making a charge.
I'm still excited to be here. The bottom line is, I'm just not playing good baseball. I'm a man and can admit it. ... I'm hoping we advance so I'll get another start.
Keep winning and get to the postseason, ... I won 20 games and they just dumped one beer on my head. It feels good because I'm helping my team win.
That could have cost us the game, ... I've got to get that runner over somehow.
That was the first instinct I had ? to slide, ... I figured the quickest way I could get to the plate was to reach out as far as I can. I just said, 'I'm going to give up my body.' It's all about putting pressure on the other guys.
I was trying to tell him to call time. Next thing you know, (Rollins) was running. The situation got out of hand quickly.
I know about having days off. They can be helpful sometimes, especially late in the year. It's just key to go out there and establish early, especially in this park where they can put up some crooked numbers early.
Whatever I can do to win, I'll do it, even if I have to get hit by a pitch, whatever it takes.
It's not about the money for me.
I'm not a conventional guy. I've never been a conventional guy.
I was nervous batting eighth, and I was nervous batting seventh.