Dontrelle to save the day?
Don’t worry Detroit Tigers fans… Dontrelle Willis is going to save the day! Wait, are we talking about the current version of Willis or the 2005 version that went 22-10? Unfortunately for Tigers fans, it is the current beat up version of Willis.
Willis did recently post his best rehabilitation stint to date, however, in that outing he walked four batters, allowed one run and five hits over six innings of work. Detroit manager Jim Leyland wasn’t too excited with Willis’ outing, stating in the Detroit Free Press that “the performance was just OK.” But you have to wonder if this outing would have been acceptable for the Tigers’ rotation. Of course it would have been. The Tigers are 29th in Major League Baseball in earned run average, posting an American League worst 4.93 ERA. Only the Pittsburgh Pirates have a higher ERA at 4.96.
But the problem with Willis’ imminent return to the Tigers’ rotation is that he will most likely be bumping the most productive pitcher; Armando Galarraga. Galarraga is 3-1 this season with a team-best 3.06 ERA. Willis, on the other hand, has pitched only five innings and posted a 7.20 ERA.
You have to imagine that Leyland and Detroit president/general manager Dave Dombrowski will be discussing Willis’ comeback, among other things, when the two meet today to discuss the AL’s worst team.
Hang on Tigers fans… it can’t get as bad as the 2003 season… or can it?
Photo: Newscom
Tags: American League, Armando Galarraga, Dave Dombrowski, detroit tigers, Dontrelle Willis, Jim Leyland, major-league-baseball, pitchersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: MLB News, detroit tigers
2 opinions for Dontrelle to save the day?
Pat McRotch
May 19, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I actually feel bad for Tiger fans. I thought Detroit was going to be an AL powerhouse with their line-up. Their hitting and pitching has let them down in a HUGE way. Maybe they will find some luck like the 1914 Boston Braves or the 2005 Houston Astros did. The 1951 Giants started 2-12 and they came back obviously. The Tigers look dead though. They do have the talent to make a come back. Plus, the AL Central does not look too strong.
Name that Detroit Tigers pitcher
Jun 11, 2008 at 8:03 am
[…] time for another fun game of “Name that Detroit Tigers pitcher!” Why? Because Dontrelle Willis wasn’t the savior everyone thought he would be and was sent down to Class A Lakeland Tuesday by the Tigers. Detroit […]
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