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
I was trying to tell him to call time. Next thing you know, (Rollins) was running. The situation got out of hand quickly.
I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. I'm taking it one game at a time.
I felt great. I could've thrown more. I was pitching off of my fastball, trying to get into a good count where I could throw something with some tilt.
I don't even really care, to be totally honest. I'm really concerned about the lineup. I know I'm not betting on getting any hits off him, I'm just trying to keep the game as close as I can to give my team a chance.
Everything was good today -- getting my legs back into it. I was just trying to get into situations where I have to make a pitch. It was all fun getting back into it.
I just have enough trouble trying to concentrate on myself, to be totally honest. I'm a high-energy guy, and I'm a young guy, and I still battle every day going out there and controlling that and trying to focus on doing the job at hand.
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.
He's one of my favorite players, if not my favorite player, the way he goes about his business. He makes them go. I was thinking, 'If I could stop him from getting on base and causing havoc.' I was trying to disrupt him any way I could. I wish him all the best.
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 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.