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Why the Tigers had to release Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis is gone. The question, still a sticking point from spring training, is why he was ever brought north, why the Tigers believed a man with heartbreaking control challenges was viewed as having any reasonable chance for success in 2010.

The answer, of course, is that the Tigers didn’t opt for a pitcher as much as they opted for a contract when they decided to make Willis part of their five-man rotation.
Nothing about his performance in Florida seriously stated that Willis should have made the team, let alone be entrusted with a fifth rotation spot.
He still battled the strike zone. He was still prone to back-to-back walks, if not worse. The double play was his godsend any number of times an inning, and his place in the rotation, were perhaps one batted ball, or one more walk, from blowing to pieces.

Click here to read the full article – By Lynn Henning of The Detroit News


June 1, 2010 Posted by GameSetMatch | Detroit Tigers | , , , , , , | No Comments Yet