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
When you think of all the players in the Braves organization, when they were in Milwaukee and now Atlanta, to be one of five players to be on the wall, that's special,
We're still in this race. That's all I care about, ... We have to win out, and it started today.
When I walked into the locker room, everybody said I had to stop sliding headfirst. Before I even got in there, they were telling me, 'Would you please stop?' Even American League guys were saying that. Vernon Wells said, 'Please stop sliding headfirst.' They all love the enthusiasm and intensity I show.
I was trying to tell him to call time. Next thing you know, (Rollins) was running. The situation got out of hand quickly.
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.
That could have cost us the game, ... I've got to get that runner over somehow.
That was a tough loss. We're definitely beating ourselves up and there is not anything anybody can say that is harsher than what we're telling ourselves.
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.
Last night, I used Cabrera's bat. I just literally go into someone's locker and say, 'I want this bat.' They let me have it, and I tape it up.
We're definitely upset about this game. It was a tough loss. But I should have done better. I should have thrown more strikes and put them on their heels and I didn't.
We definitely are few, but we're a proud few, ... Everybody's been rooting for me since I was 15. It's a camaraderie, not just pitchers but African American players in general.
We definitely are a few but a proud few, ... It's historic. It's a beautiful thing, not only for baseball, but for my team. Hopefully we'll just keep going.
We are definitely a few but a proud few and we take a lot of pride in going out theere and competing.