The D-Train Belongs in Oakland:
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 6:18 PM PDT
82 comments
Today, Alameda Native, D. Willis, was sent down to the minors. Actually, I take that back, he was SHIPPED OFF to the minors, as in he was told to report to A-Ball.
That's right, A-Ball, the same level that kids like Trevor Cahill and Sean Doolittle are trying to cut their teeth.
Yep, the same level where everybody takes LONG bus rides and gets dressed under the bleachers.
This move wreaks of DUM-Browski's ego getting in the way doing right by someone that HE traded for.
As an Oakland Native, I have rooted for Willis since he was drafted and have seen him win a ROY, WS Title and finish second in the Cy Young voting.
He did well in the small market confines of Miami's ORANGE BOWL, and I am petitioning the A's to bring him home.
There is enough talent in the minors to pull off a trade and Lord knows that we are far enough under our "Salary Cap" to take on some of the D-Train's salary.
I bet we could send them Braden and Denorfia and split his salary with them.
Willis is owed "roughly" 24 million dollars over the next 2 and a half years and I am sure that something can be worked out to bring him home.
If the A's brass wants to know how they can bring more fans out and develop loyalty with the Oakland fans before they leave for the ex-dump in Fremont then signing Willis would do JUST that.
I can see a Dave Stewart like re-birth. The thing about Oakland is that players that are from here do REALLY well here.
Here is to hoping that the D-Train finds it's way to the Amtrack terminal under the BART Bridge.
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Bad Move
He’s a flashy player. Not really the A’s type. And he is expensive. And he isn’t any good anymore. He has totally lost control of his stuff and really hasn’t shown much sign of improving. 8 ER last night? No bien.
Seriously the guy hasn’t just been bad this year, he has been steadily getting worse since his Cy Young year. Yes he won a Cy Young, but big deal. So did Barry Zito and we don’t want him.
The day the A’s get D-Train is the day they sign A-rod.
by JamesCaprio on Jun 10, 2008 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Uh
Actually Chris Carpenter won the NL Cy Young in 2005. But Dontrelle was second.
by Philip Christy on Jun 10, 2008 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Was Thinking About The Award He Won:
And got confused between ROY and Cy Young…He NEARLY won the Cy Young, finishing second, buut he DID win the ROY.
And by the way, I’d take Barry back for 4.5 milayear, wouldn’t you?
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As good as he was for a stretch,
I’m not convinced he has a great future. His mechanics are so poor that he has difficulty correcting his problems. Just as you could see a Dave Stewart type rebirth, I could see a Zito like decline.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jun 10, 2008 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
I cringe very time he throws. Elbow way above his shoulder and holding that glove arm below his waist….always looked like it was a matter of time before that fell apart.
"My boyfriend drinks ALOT, you know, because he's a rebel."-Reyna
by tresselfan on Jun 11, 2008 5:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The key that I saw was his landing foot:
I’ve coached some kids in Oakland that throw that way and it may look odd, but it is sound “enough” as long as they finish properly.
His landing may give him a world of hurt in the very near future if he doesn’t get it figured out.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
dontrelle willis is garbage, we have another entry for the top 5 worst ideas on AN list
As an Oakland Native, I have rooted for Willis since he was drafted and have seen him win a WS and a Cy Young.
that’s really amazing, because NO ONE else besides you has seen willis win a cy young.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 6:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
okay, only saint and jamescaprio...
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
HAHAHA!!! My Bad!!!
I’ll take second though…I must have been thinking of Vida Blue?! ;)
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
well vida will win cy young #2 before dontrelle wins one
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Vida gonna win a Cy Young
hawking cars for the Little Giants?
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 11, 2008 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ya know, Barry Zito ACTUALLY won a Cy Young
And nobody is suggesting he come back to Oakland.
And Willis getting demoted to A-Ball doesn’t really mean anything bad (relative to getting sent to another minor league level). In A-Ball, Willis is more likely to focus on his mechanics and finding whatever it is he lost, not the result. They aren’t punishing him, but trying to get him fixed.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on Jun 10, 2008 6:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Willis is 1/2 the price and he is just lacking command:
Not 5 MPH off his fastball.
If they wanted him to work on his mechanics they should have sent him to the developmental league, then had him make a couple starts in A Ball, then AA, Then AAA or call him up when he has worked it out.
I do agree though that it may not be as bad as I let on. But have you seen the difference between A-AA-AAA-ML…I wonder if they will have him race a dog or try and break the window of a car while he’s down there?
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're an expert on the Tigers org, aren't you?
Maybe, just maybe, Dombrowski feels that the coaches the Tigers have most suited to working on Dontrelle’s command are at A.
Or did Jon Daniels send Edinson Volquez down to A last year because of his ego too? Daniels also had Volzquez race dogs.
Also, Dontrelle agreed to the option.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jun 10, 2008 11:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or, they just figure there'll be less stress down there.
Less press, easier competition, let him win a few by blow-out and get his confidence back… frankly, I think it’s a smart move.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Jun 11, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of Course he Did:
And now you want to compare this to ANYTHING that the rangers did with a pitcher? Maybe you are actually supporting the idea that it was a bad move, and you don’t even know it.
The Yankees have or at the very least had a pitching coach named Connors that lived in Florida and they would send guys like David Cone and Dwight Gooden in his later years down to work with him until their mechanics were sound and then they’d bring them back up.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pitching in A-Ball, when your mechanics are screwed up:
is the wrong move in my opinion.
First you get the kid on a mechanics program that doesn’t include bus rides through Florida then you work him back into shape against live hitting. But, that is just my opinion and I guess it sides more with the Yanks than with the tigers and Rangers.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to Tigers fans on BBTF
most of the Tigers best coaching staff is there. Their roving pitching instructor is there.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jun 12, 2008 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cool, that makes sense then:
That is the best case for him. he needs to work with a Romanick type.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 13, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are aware that the Rangers fixed Volquez
yes?
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jun 12, 2008 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't believe that:
It is against my nature to believe that ANYTHING they did to a pitcher was good. :)
I’ll hang this one on the “Thank Gawd I Gawt Outta Texas” pitching success.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 13, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, all my friends who are Giants fans are always suggesting we take Zito back
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 10, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take him back for 4.5 milayear..
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take him back if they offer Lincecum and a bucket of chicken.
The chicken will be the centerpiece of the deal.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 11, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did well in the small market confines of Miami’s ORANGE BOWL
so… you’re choosing to completely ignore 2007, his most recent season pitching in small market / big ballpark miami?
10-15, 5.17 era, 29 hr, 3.81 bb/9, 6.40 k/9
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Whatchu talking about - Willis?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jun 10, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not at all:
But You seem to be ignoring his career before that…
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
not at all
but his lousy pitching this year and last year is a lot more relevant than how he pitched in 2005 or 2003.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rogers Hornsby was a hell of a hitter.
Sign him!
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Jun 11, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
but did he grow up in oakland?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 11, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it was a situation where we were getting D-Train for free ...
(ie Dallas Braden is fine - $12m in cash, not so much) I’d love to take a chance on him. I don’t think it’s a bet that is likely to pay off - but it’s a bet I’d really love to root for.
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Jun 10, 2008 7:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Early in his acreer I thought...
...it would have been a great PR coup for the team to get him. Now… eh.
I wish him the best, and hope he gets it worked out, though.
You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
by UncleLeo on Jun 10, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that was my point: I'd love to root for it:
And I am in the category of “Oakland is where he belongs”. That will make a difference. I feel the same about Zito. I’d take him back for 4.5 milayear!!!
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
as long as it's not our $4.5m ... ; )
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Jun 10, 2008 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on Man:
Our payroll is down 20 million!!!! This ownership group can afford the “Risk”
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 10, 2008 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No reward with Dontrelle...
So not worth the risk. He is cooked.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Jun 10, 2008 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
$48 million
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah, *down* $20 million...
it’s down more than that, wasn’t it in the 80s last year?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 10, 2008 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're putting way too much emphasis
on the “small market” issue, and way too little emphasis on Dontrelle’s wildness, and reported struggles with mechanics, and Zito’s pathetic fastball.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jun 10, 2008 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being a flyball pitcher, The Net was great for Zito:
I wonder how many outs Chavy gave him on foul balls?
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that Oakland's park helped Zito
But, back in his A’s days, Zito was also throwing harder.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jun 12, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the Tigers are willing to give him up for next to nothing and pick up 15-20mil of his contract then I don’t have a problem with it simply because of his past performace and his relitively young age. I personally have a hard time envisioning that premise though because that would be the definition of selling low….
by KarvKid510 on Jun 10, 2008 8:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Um... if I understand the situation correctly
Willis was not sent down to the minors just so ship him down. He was sent down there because the Tigers fucked up his Rehab and brought him back too soon. So now to basically give him a real rehab, they sent him dowm to the Minors
by Zonis on Jun 10, 2008 9:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't trade Dallas Braden for Dontrelle Willis (even if the Tigers ate his whole contract) in a million years
Unlike Willis, Braden actually throws pitches in the strike zone.
Willis is Rick Ankiel 2.0 as far as I’m concerned until he proves otherwise.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 11, 2008 1:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Willis = Ankiel?
Great! Give him a glove …put him in the field and let him bat!!!! ;-)
by IM4Oakgal on Jun 11, 2008 1:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the roids.
Right?
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Jun 11, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOW!!!!
You throw away 4 years of Good-Great Performance because the kid has a wild streak and compare him to a player whop had a few good months and then “Cracked”?
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
2003 and 2006 were pretty average ...
and the concern is with a.) the trend—ERA+ by year:
2005 151
2006 112
2007 83
2008 41
and his loss of control—bb9 by year:
2005 2.09
2006 3.34
2007 3.81
2008 16.5
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Jun 11, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if they lost a pitching coach in 2005 or 06?
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They had a different pitching coach in 06-07
than 05. The 05 guy, Mark Wiley, has returned for 2008.
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Jun 11, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There Could Be Something To That:
And also to the current Marlins run of success.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In Fact:
Even Willis, the 25-year-old ace of the staff, had a down year, finishing 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA. In 2005, under Wiley’s watch, the D-Train was 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA and finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting.“There are a lot of different things that can happen to lead to [a slump],” Wiley said of Willis. “There is a certain strength that Dontrelle has to have to perform at his best, and I think at some times there were certain parts of the strike zone that he didn’t command as well as he did in that year where he won all those games. That can be from a lot of different reasons.”
Wiley added a down season could come from varying a routine, or the problems could be physical or mental.
“It could be he is missing one step, as far as his focus is concerned, maybe leaving out an important point, which is something we always check out with pitchers,” Wiley said.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Players from Oakland do really well here?
Fine. Sign Sabathia in the offseason.
the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill
nothing else
fills.
by Cutthemullet on Jun 11, 2008 2:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
doesn't sabathia actually pitch very badly at the oakland coliseum?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Jun 11, 2008 3:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're thinking Zito.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Jun 11, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He pitches poorly against the A's anywhere:
Maybe his heart belongs to Oakland!!!???
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
he sold his soul to us...
at the crossroads…
in exchange for the ability to play guitar…
"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 11, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
He could find the magic here in Oakland and if he did we would have a true Ace who could bring the fans out.
Lets go A's
by Jackson_A on Jun 11, 2008 3:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
not enough Canadians in the Bay Area
Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 11, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not Mexican enough.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Jun 11, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So Are Wood and Prior:
How many starts has the D-Train missed? (Insert Barry Zito Comment here…)
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
DFA's
I would take him after he is DFA’d by the Tigers. Send him to Arizona to work on his mechanics. Build up some strength. Then, give him a shot at the 5th Starter slot during Spring Training 2009. Why not?
I would never trade for him, though.
by Colorado Fan on Jun 11, 2008 9:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll give you 29 million reasons why not.
Unless Detroit outright released Willis and ate his whole contract, then I’d give him a MLC and see if he can get it back.
However, there’s no way I want to pay that guy to play baseball right now.
by mikev on Jun 11, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I watched his last start on TV
his mechanics look really messed up. I wouldn’t be surprised if his confidence is shot to pieces as well. He was incapable of throwing strikes without throwing them in the middle of the plate. I suspect this problem has been building up over time. He may also be suffering from some strain that - in order to avoid discomfort - makes things worse.
I think the Tigers had to send him down. I hope they have someone who can patiently work with him; perhaps he needs to learn an entirely different motion. Or they might try to check him out physically with care.
by OaklandSi on Jun 11, 2008 9:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow!!!
IF Dontrelle fixes his mechanics there may be a lot of ANers that eat their words in a couple of months.
I believe that Dontrelle, Sabathia And J-Roll belong in Oaktown. Period.
Just like Byrnes belongs on the Giants…
I just cannot believe that you guys are hating on a 26 year old Oakland/Alameda Native who COULD come pretty cheap. Especially if you believe in the A’s system..Or rather, Ron Romanick’s system.
Pride And Poise!!!
by saint on Jun 11, 2008 10:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
BUT HE'S NOT A GOOD PITCHER
I mean, seriously, is it worth 29 million dollars to HOPE that his mechanics get fixed, especially considering the facts that
- There is only 1 starter in our current rotation over age 30 (Duke), and there is a 25 year old starter currently in the bullpen (Gaudin), AND there are guys floating around like Braden, DiNardo, and even Meyer who are capable of doing what Willis has done the last 2 years for about 10 million bucks less.
by mikev on Jun 11, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
D-Train in Oakland
I posted about the last D-Train visit in Oakland under the headline “Worst Game Ever” and I still believe it. 22 walks and only 8 runs scored before the Tiger pitcher neglected to cover first on a Cust bleeder. Man, that game sucked, and certainly the worst part about it was watching D-Train throw batting practice fastballs right over the heart of the plate … while the A’s didn’t score a run off of him in 4 innings. No surprise whatsoever that a better hitting club nailed him for 8 runs in 1 inning + the next time he went out.
If the A’s can get the guy for free, sure, give him a shot. Otherwise, fughettaboutit.
by solotar on Jun 11, 2008 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
isn't sabathia from Vallejo?
as far as i know that’s not part of Oakland.
by little A on Jun 11, 2008 12:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I only want to acquire players who are from Fremont
Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 11, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dennis Eckersley
is from Fremont. Sign him up!
PT-42
by norcaldevilasu on Jun 11, 2008 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hear Steve Traschel is available
But no love for the S-Train.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Jun 11, 2008 4:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
for such an obviously poor idea, it’s getting a lot of attention. I hope the A’s win tonight.
"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."
by SwampyD on Jun 11, 2008 4:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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