Dontrelle Willis. . .

I was kinda hoping the bit after the ellipsis would be "....is fucking in heaven".

Have the Marlins won a non-shutout yet this year?

In 2005:
Huge jump in pitches per PA (which should come down when this page is updated)
Declining K/9 rate (which should go up with the update)
His BAA is about the same as 03-04, his OBP/SLG radically dropped (he's been pitching at home (pitcher's park), no? wait til he goes on the road)
His GB/FB has really spiked up (which is a good thing).

(and no mark, i don't have TV).

BTW: 5 wins, 4 complete games, FOUR SHUTOUTS (one combined, on Opening Day).

And props to my boy Burrell - he got one of the Phils' three hits!

Since Mark brought it up - saw another A's promo last night. Promo director's talking w/ Kendall (suited up) on the field. "OK, so what's gonna happen is Eric Chavez is going to barrel into you at top speed, then Ken Macha will douse you with gasoline, and then Nick Swisher ..." (dressed in fire-protection gear) "... will light you up. Hold onto the ball." "But what about the bulldozer?" Kendall asks, pointing to one waiting on the 3rd base side. "Don't worry about that yet." Cut away for the shilling, then cut back to the bulldozer @ home plate, & a dirty Kendall crawling out from underneath. Fun stuff.

Something tells me the A's hired the folks that did the Mariners' "Mojo Dojo" campaign from a while back.

rookie #1: (nudges his buddy) "hey how old is this guy anyway?"
rookie #2: (disbelievingly) "twenty... six..."
*beat*
rookie #1: (eyes like saucers) "i wonder if he pitched to the babe."

(the rookies are Haren & Blanton, no doubt - Danny & Joe, respectively)

   
IP  	H  	R  	ER  	BB  	K  	HR  	SeasonERA 
6.0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	4 	0 	0.00 	

you read that right, ANOTHER shutout (through 6 IP)

String broken at 24 innings.

d-train removed after 6 innings & 94 pitches!

!

1st start: 97 pitches
2nd start: 114 pitches
3rd start: 87 pitches

that NL East race is gonna be a doozy between Atlanta and Florida.

I totally f'd up and missed a foul ball that Juan Pierre hit (the next batter after the FIRST of Dontrelle's hits) that bounced off MY SEAT!!! How embarassing. Closest I've ever come to a foul ball EVER and I BLEW IT. Luckily one of our party (not the Bearman) did wind up with it...

	ERA	WHIP	BAA	K/9
 April	1.29	0.83	.189	6.43
 May	2.06	1.23	.250	8.23
 June	3.32	1.34	.306	5.94

If he keeps up that WHIP & BAA, tho, his ERA's gonna be higher than 3.32.

keep in mind we're only talking abt 3 starts there dave, and this is a guy who's only given up 2 hrs all season.

as far as i can tell, he's a guy who's gotten off to 3 lighting starts, then pitched very well over a couple rough patches for the remainder of the season.

also arbitrary stat that's biased very much in my favor but illustrates my point nonetheless: in 03&04 he had 3 months w/ an era under 3.00 after june, 1 month before. (that was actually june 2003)

	ERA	WHIP	BAA	K/9
 April	1.29	0.83	.189	6.43
 May	2.06	1.23	.250	8.23
 June	1.91	1.23	.273	6.04

And another complete game shutout. And one run over his last 23 innings.

Dontrelle Willis Career ERA:
Pre-Allstar 2.64
Post-Allstar 4.30

and that pre/post all-star split everyone just loves to throw around is pretty much entirely a result of his first season; in fact, he you could easily argue he pitched BETTER in the second half last year.

A) He's a proven quick starter
B) He pitches in a pitchers' park (#5 in the league according to ESPN's ballpark adjustments)
C) His hot start can be easily attributed to 9 of his first 10 starts taking place in the top 5 rated pitchers' parks.
D) 4.08 LUCK

He's a great pitcher and he's improved quite a bit in a couple key areas (pitches/batter faced, groundballs vs. flyballs) but just wait until he goes out on the road some more*.

*unless that's what you're referring to as "regression".

Me: Wow he's pitching great!
Gyg: He's pitching at home soon he'll come back to reality.

Me (couple of weeks later): He's still pitching pretty great!
Gyg: Yeah, but he'll come back to reality soon enough.

Gyg (pointing at mid-June stats): Look he's totally fucking up!

Me (at ACTUAL end of June): Um no he still looks pretty good.
Gyg: Yeah, but he'll fuck after the All Star break. He always does.

What do you have against the guy? I can't imagine anyone I'd rather see doing well than Willis. He's pure likeability!

I realize there is a touchy significance behind the marketing of Dontrelle as he is one of the few young black american stars in the game while there is a true void in that which used to be plentiful and famously-celebrated. That spin may be at work and I respect that but I'm skeptical about the concept of affirmitive active marketing in baseball, a sport recognized today in its racial diversity.

xpost to Gear!: yeah! including starts in such cozy spots such as Dodger Stadium and RFK which are the #3 and #1 pitchers' parks according to ballpark adjustments.

and do you seriously not think it's vitally important to market young black ballplayers?

I remember that being a problem for Willis last year - he was telegraphing pitches, pitching really erratically out of the stretch, and having a hard time stranding runners. I realize his 2005 HR rate is a huge outlier, but his BABIP isn't - and his K/BB and G/F ratios are certainly improving.

I'm probably biased, since he's the only thing keeping my pitching staff afloat at this point, but I just don't think he's gonna come crashing down to 2004 levels anytime soon.

meanwhile webb is looking like a super-lowe. 4.26 g/f (!!) and nearly 7 k's/9ip.

at the same time, carpenter kinda deserves the attention.

Month ERA  WHIP
April 1.29 0.83
May   2.06 1.23
June  2.62 1.30
July  7.58 1.37

Hahaha I'm sorry. I would totally do this, but it's an evening game and I can't swing it.

willis has totally gone to shit. maybe it is fatigue!

If Clemens continue to perform as he has, I don't care who wins the NL Cy; anyone with eyes will know who the best pitcher was. Considering the era (as well as the ERA), he's threatening to better Gibson in '68, at age 43 to Bob G's 32.

He's allowed zero ER in eleven starts this year (vs Clemens' ten). Take away those three terrible starts he had in a row and his ERA is nearly cut in half.

For some real excitement, check out what's going on over in the ALCentral right now ...

and right gygax, clearly anyone could pitch a 5 hitter against san diego in THAT park. it's not like there's any precedent w/ willis here; obv luck.

I like to see good pitchers outduel good teams whereas you are a Yankees fan.

G! I didn't know you gave up on the Giants!

I also am a big fan of all this "throw out every game he got 7-8 runs scored on him and he's the third best pitcher in the NL" talk.

But back to Dontrelle... Chris Carpenter has given up fewer earned runs in his last 16 starts than Dontrelle did over the span of those 3 meltdown starts.

(yes carpenter is good)

Me (at ACTUAL end of June): Um no he still looks pretty good.
Gyg: Yeah, but he'll fuck after the All Star break. He always does.

In your own words dude!

We had the same discussion a couple of months ago re: Johan Santana, and it was generally agreed that he'd been hit hard a few times but in most of his starts he'd been excellent. Most teams would prefer a guy who's excellent most of the time to a guy who is consistently good all of the time.

Johan is obviously a slow-starter although his K-rate nearly disappeared for a while and his slugging%-allowed began spiking. Now Johan I would definitely love on the Giants.

(PS: Pierzynski was another Giant I hated Alex, and the fact Sabean gave up Nathan AND Liriano for that lousy POS is another reason to hate him. So to answer your question: yes, it is subjective whether I'm a weirdo or not.)

If you don't throw out any stats DW is somewhere around 5th-7th best NL pitcher.

I was thinking closer to 5th than 7th, but either way he's pretty good, def a far cry from overrated or simply a "fast-starter".

granted even i don't really think he's THAT good, but he is a damn good pitcher - and a fun guy to watch. so i don't think he's overrated in the slightest. he's like ichiro for example.

Could it be agreed by all that Dontrelle:
1) occasionally pitches like "A GOD WTF"
2) tends to pitch more like "A GOD WTF" during the beginning of the season
3) struggles with bouts of inconsistency
4) is "good" (ie, a top 7 NL pitcher with lots of upside)
5) has the benefit of pitching in a pitchers' park

Because I think we're all on the same page if so!

i can also deal (even agree) w/ the "fast starter" label, but i still call bs on the "fader" one (this isn't directed at gygax, i don't think). that's not supported at all; tho he does tend to have one or two horrible months a year and they have been predominantly in the second half - but other than those bad bunches he's been just as good in the second half as the first...why exactly this is is an interesting question, so mebbe we can conjecture a bit about that if we're done sniping at each other, fun tho it may be.

he's gotta be the most inconsistent starter in the majors. i wish a pitching coach could come along and get his shit together, if it's some mechanical thing. any info from the marlins as to why this is?

against the light-hitting Dodgers who are 3rd in the NL West (quite possibly the worst division in the history of MLB)

at home (spacious Marlins Stadium)

ok, so there's still a massive amount of luck involved, but he's no fader.

7 IP 0 ER
5 IP 1 ER
8 IP 0 ER
8 IP 1 ER
9 IP 0 ER
5 IP 2 ER
7.1 IP 1 ER
8.1 IP 1 ER
6 IP 1 ER
9 IP 1 ER

(hope i didn't jinx ya)

Still in Dontrelle's start before last against the Astros, he jacked a 429 foot homer!

Dontrelle and Carlos Zambrano are both good enough hitting pitchers to bat up in the lineup. Zambrano is also having a great year at the plate hitting .292 and legged out a triple last week.

``I couldn't believe it,'' he said. ``Seventh? I want the lineup card. I don't think anybody will believe that. I was nervous about it. I had fun. The guys were making fun of it, saying he would have me bat leadoff.''

He went 1-4 with a Sac.

-- gygax! (gygax0...), June 24th, 2005.

Could it be agreed by all that Dontrelle:
1) occasionally pitches like "A GOD WTF"
2) tends to pitch more like "A GOD WTF" during the beginning of the season
3) struggles with bouts of inconsistency
4) is "good" (ie, a top 7 NL pitcher with lots of upside)
5) has the benefit of pitching in a pitchers' park

Because I think we're all on the same page if so!

-- gygax! (gygax0...), August 18th, 2005 1:38 PM. (gygax!)

Dontrelle looks great through 6IP and about 90 pitches with Florida up 5-1... but then gets into trouble in the 7th at around 100 pitches with the game tied. Girardi then leaves him in for the 8th and he gives up a homer and then puts 2 guys before he gets taken out.

A Grand Total of 8 ERs which would have been 1-3 if he'd been taken out around 90-95 pitches. Is Florida's bullpen that bad?

HI DERE MARKERRY PRIORSCHMIDTWOOD

PacBell/SBC/AT&T Park is home to his worst career splits which include a 1-2 record (in 4 starts), 9.00 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and a .322 BAA.

Those stats do not include the 03 NLDS playoffs where Dontrelle made a relief appearance at Pac Bell, giving up 2 hits and recording one out.

Is Dontrelle's "poor performance" this season actually the result of Marlins mgmt. selling off their infield (cf, Brandon Webb in 2004)?

I guess I could look at his G:F ratio or BABIP-allowed, any other ways of validating this theory?

I read somewhere that Cabrera's defense this year ranks towards the bottom of the NL. Those other guys have bats, but as usually the case with infielders with big bats is that you give up a lot of D.

:-(

I wish I had him on my HACKING MASS team.

The last time I saw a pitcher this out of sync, it was the "staff" of my dad's slow-pitch softball team after having a few Ankiel.

I thought Hacking Mass was based off players expected to be good.

:-( otm

It's based off players expected to be good by their organizations for little or no reason.

Yeah basically you want to pick players who are lousy, but who managers put out there every day (or every five days) anyway.

So Jason Kendall, Juan Pierre, Steve Trachsel, etc. . .

Willis sent to class-A Lakeland.

trachsel was just dfa'd!

Part of me can't even believe Trachsel lasted this long.

The other part won't be surprised when the Reds pick him up and start him in place of Johnny Cueto.

Everything about Trachsel lasts way too long.

Yeah basically you want to pick players who are lousy, but who managers put out there every day (or every five days) anyway.

-- Alex in SF, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 4:10 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Thought they factored in the previous season so what you really wanted is someone who dropped off the cliff (i.e. D-train has had problems for awhile), may be wrong though. Verlander would have been a good pick unless he has righted himself recently.

I don't believe they factor in the previous season. I think they just show the 2007 rating when you are picking your teams.

Everything about Trachsel lasts way too long.

That's not what she said.

Single A Lakeland is harsh... Suck it up D-Train, hope to see you soon.

his delivery must be even more awkward than usual

The reasoning in sending him to Lakeland is because there is less pressure (but maybe more humiliation?). From the outside, his issues seem more mental, which would partially explain the mechanics. (And he floated a 3-0 fastball last night at around 80 mph.)

I wonder if he'll bat cleanup on non-pitching days. Dude can "rake".

"projectable body"

It would not be outside of the realm of possibility to see an Ankiel-like comeback from D-Train.

dan (nyc): rob, have we seen the last of (the good) dontrelle willis?

Rob Neyer: (12:18 PM ET ) I think he has an operation, and eventually comes back as the highest-paid LOOGY ever.

:-(

4.1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 37 strikes, 36 balls in his last appearance.

:-( indeed

Not so much a new windup as a more balanced, controlled, and not-as-fast version of the original. No walks in his start last night.

From a couple weeks ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF_9mQVnWoY

is that high-A?

Florida State League, yes.

trelle <3 <3 <3 <3

one more good start and ill be forced to break out my d-train whistle

http://beck.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/05/willis_takes_a_hard_look_at_hi.html

Dontrelle Willis said the biggest change to come out of his stint on the disabled list is the ability to not worry about perception anymore. That includes not only his pitching, but the perception of his diagnosis with anxiety disorder. He has his thoughts, and others have theirs.

"I'm a guy that shoots from the hip. I was just playing bad," Willis said. "And that happens. I'm not a doctor. I'm not trying to be a doctor. I'm trying to be a baseball player. I'm not getting into that.

"Even when I went on the DL, I felt fine. You can ask anybody in here. I'm not a depressed guy. Maybe I'm hard on myself, but I wouldn't have gotten here if I wasn't. But there's a fine line to knowing what you can control and what you can't control. As far as how I feel, I don't have a condition. My condition is me going out there and playing baseball and having fun. If God doesn't want me to do it, then I'll find something else to do."

Clearly, he wants to get back to baseball instead of talking about his health. Still, he was able to make light of it when he talked about what his family thought.

"The whole situation, to be honest, they were just laughing," he said. "They were saying, 'Now the whole world thinks you're crazy, but we all knew you were.'"

As for his pitching, Willis said he has been able to take his games one pitch at a time. He wasn't thinking ahead too much, he said, but he was worrying about his past pitches when he couldn't do anything about them.

Asked if there was a specific pitch or situation when he knew he was better, he cited the home runs he allowed.

"Every time I got a ball hit hard for a home run," Willis said, "(I was) coming back and focused to continue to work and continue to push forward. You can't give up."

That, he said, was the big thing he got out of talking with coaches and doctors and instructors: He has been able to shake off some of the pressure of being in his shoes.

"Everybody says they want to have fun, but when you struggle, it's not as fun as when you're playing well, obviously," Willis said. "Now my mindset is just simplified, going out there and really just thinking about myself and not really caring about anybody else as far as what they think. I'm not going out there and, excuse me, pitching with a gun to my head instead of just going out there and having fun. You make a pitch, and if you don't (execute) it, go on to the next one."

Talking with him, there's very much a sense that he's at peace with his situation, whichever way his comeback goes. If he's going out, he's going out trying to enjoy the game.

"Whatever the outcome may be, I'm going to really go out here and enjoy this game of baseball," he said. "Only a few of us to get to play until we're 35, and I'm not Tom Glavine, so I'm going to enjoy this."

<3

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/location.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2009/month_06/day_14/gid_2009_06_14_detmlb_pitmlb_1//pbp/pitchers/425883.xml&batterX=0&innings=yyyyyyyyy&s_type=1&sp_type=1&h_size=700&v_size=500

how embarrassing that he performed like this in those horrible throwback uniforms. would've made me hate myself so much.

Pure fucking carnage.

Uncle.

I feel bad for the guy. Glad I got to see him play when he was pitching like fucking god.

i aint gonna clown dude, never really bought into the hype but once saw him shutout the mets.

i blame the pitching coaches. nothing could be worse then old man coaches trying to firm up mechanics on a junk ball pitcher.

look at the bright side, at least nolan ryan didn't get his hands on him.

mets should pick him up

he's not 36

Start for Toledo today:

4 IP
3 H
5 R
5 ER
8 BB
1 K
44 strikes
55 balls

Fucking sad.

man I really like this guy. was hoping to follow his career through many productive years. so so bummed.

Two outings into what could arguably be a make-or-break spring training, Dontrelle Willis looks far better than he has at any other point as a Tiger. Yet if it seems like there's a bad break ahead for the D-Train, it's possible he found it Monday in the form of a hyperextended left elbow suffered on a quick pickoff throw.

Willis said he's fine and that he'll be playing catch tomorrow. Still, his voice was just a little more downtrodden than one might expect from someone who just tossed his second consecutive outing of two scoreless innings. As of Monday afternoon, Leyland had yet to hear from the team medical staff as to whether the injury is bad at all.

"I'll be out there tomorrow long-tossing and stuff," Willis said, "so I'm fine. Just tweaked something. They're just doing precautionary on me, but I'm OK."

If it indeed isn't bad, then Willis will start Saturday at home against the Yankees to try to continue what could well be the early stages of a career comeback.

Willis entered after the Braves had roughed up Max Scherzer and Fu-Te Ni for eight runs over the first two innings. He retired the side in order in the third inning in just seven pitches, six of them strikes. He headed back into the dugout to a seriously enthusiastic ovation.

"Just trying to focus, understand I'm one pitch away every time I throw the ball, and every pitch is for a purpose," Willis said. "I was able to establish that and get some good ground balls. As long as they're taking a right turn, that's a good thing."

Willis came back out and, like he did in both innings of his previous outing, gave up a leadoff walk to Jason Heyward, who hit about a 450-foot homer off Max Scherzer in his previous time up. Willis' first-pitch ball to Freddie Freeman was his last of the day he hit the zone for his next three pitches before getting Freeman to swing and miss at a fastball with movement for the first out.

Up came Eric Hinske, and down he went on three pitches -- a slider and two fastballs -- taking a called third strike.

It was then that manager Jim Leyland and assistant athletic trainer Steve Carter came out to check on Willis, who was telling him he was fine before they could even get to the first-base line.

Willis finished off his outing with a slow groundout from Lakeland native Matt Diaz, who's 10-for-24 off him in his regular-season career.

"I think Matt Diaz is like 99-for-100 off me," Willis said.

http://beck.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/03/dontrelle_effective_again_but.html

we should have a Dontrelle '10 poll.
"total disaster" has my vote.

that or cy young.

Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni Fu-Te Ni

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/03/24/dontrelle.willis/index.html

Willis, who still has serious control issues, will begin this season as the Tigers' fifth starter.

beckjason
Apparently Leyland told Dontrelle he made the rotation while on the mound to take him out of the game today.

Willis' stat line in today's exhibition: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 3 SO

Today vs KAN: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB (both first inning), 4 K. Fastball peaked at 94. Looked like a passable fifth starter.

heh, the AL East awaits...

Currently leading his team in quality starts.

D TRAIN
D TRAIN
D TRAIN
D TRAIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSYrg36eAXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkKXlCkt6RE

Designated for assignment

http://www.photobydjnorton.com/RailwayPictures/LOR/TrainLeavingPierHeadStn.jpg

next stop, the hate state
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/report-dontrelle-willis-traded-to-diamondbacks.html.php

I read somewhere that he recently bought a place there.

Looks like he's going to start Saturday vs the Rockies. Is it bad that I'm kinda pleased about this?

I don't think so. you're a Rockies fan?

Yes I am (the Rockies thread is dormant so I just scurry about the other threads adding my tuppence'th)

none of his first 20 pitches have been over 88mph iirc

NYY broadcast team were giving his baseball eulogy, then lol baserunning

2.1 IP, 7 BB, 66 pitches, 27 strikes

:-(

doesn't look good.

:(

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/The-fall-of-Dontrelle-Willis-is-one-of-baseball-;_ylt=AgV3.k_wIJdLuSn0IGEJMbwRvLYF?urn=mlb,253722

wtf @ this lame-ass ilx code... click here

SF signs D-Train to AAA:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/15/SPUD1EEHGP.DTL

As for left-handed relief, of which the Giants have none with Jeremy Affeldt and Dan Runzler shelved, they're serious about Dontrelle Willis eventually being an answer. Willis threw to batters Monday in Arizona for the second straight day, showing an impressive fastball, and is expected to pitch for the Giants' rookie-league team within days.

Currently enjoying a pretty decent season for Reds AAA affiliate Louisville Bats.

Good signs: 8.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9

how can d-train still be in the minors while SHIRT THIEF MIKE LEAKE is still in the show??

With Dontrelle Willis not on the 40 man roster, they would have to make a move there to bring him up. Reds kind of have a log jam on the starting 5, especially with Johnny Cueto coming back next week. Leake has been moved to the bullpen.

I think definitely Dontrelle would be the guy called up if something happens to Chapman or Bill Bray. If Travis Wood continues to struggle, Dontrelle Willis might be given a shot to replace him in the starting five. Reds starting pitching has been pretty bad so far, so if it continues, I think the chance will come.

Starting Sunday versus the Brewers -- 8 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 71 H, 2.63 ERA in 75.1 IP for Louisville

man I want this guy to have the comeback of all comebacks.

Me too. His AAA numbers look pretty solid.. 3:1 k:bb ratio

Really hope he can become an adequate fifth starter and ENJOY HIMSELF again.

if it doesn't work out i hope he tries to become a hitter

I also had no idea Edinson Volquez turned into a pile of poop..

yeah, I guess tommy john doesn't always work

tommy john can't fix your inability to throw a pitch where you intend to

J0rdan that gave me an idea for you to write an airport bookstore book of "things Tommy John can't do for you"

c'mon do it man

haha, i'll draw up a pitch

btw in case anyone was wondering i WILL be breaking out my d-train whistle on sunday

IRL lol

i like how you don't even need to say surgery after tommy john anymore

It wasn't a disaster. Didn't catch much but he seems to be driving toward the plate more aggressively. Frequently opened up/missed high and outside to righties like he has the past few years.

Why did he get pulled in the fifth? 69 pitches, 51 strikes(!), one walk, five Ks, five hits allowed (all singles)...

That was probably his best start in four years.

There wasn't another rain delay AFTER the first inning, right? That first-inning delay would not have been a factor since it occurred during the top of the inning, while the Reds were up.

3.71/.429

what's the .429?

his batting average

nice

:)

HOMER

Noice!

with the bat flip!

authoritative dinger

8 IP, 10 K, 1 BB, 3 ER, and an RBI triple tonight.

<3<3<3<3<3

too bad he's gonna lose

yea sucks that votto-phillips-bruce go 0 for 9

there's only so much you can do off esmil rodgers

just got roughed up in the third and left the game with a hand injury?

3-3 at the plate tonight, now has a 1.250 OPS on the season

#flocka

His current Twitter avatar:

http://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1841935332/l84QWPnf

to the O's minors, poor guy

@jay_jaffe
Dontrelle Willis held LHB to .127/.169/.200 in 60 PA last year. Small sample, but good enough reason to keep giving him a shot. So hush.

AWOL Train

train in vain

...is fucking retired!

signed by the angels, assigned to triple-a salt lake!

5-4, 2.57 in 14 starts for the long island ducks this year

turns 33 today : /

That's pretty amazing.

minor league deal with the brewers!

wowwwwww

BB/9 during last three seasons, since his last demotion, still extremely high.

retiring ;_;

and tonight he's back! (technical difficulties)