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
Hey, this is the highest honor of my profession. Look at Mr. Jeter over there. And A-Rod. Just riding the bus with those guys today. It's surreal to be around them.
How did I survive without this? Carrying around all those CDs ... man, how did I live like that?
I felt really confident in my stuff. Toward the end I made some bad pitches, but as far as the game and my strength I felt great there.
I can always tell my kids, even when they stop listening to their old dad, that I was in the running with Roger Clemens and Chris Carpenter to win a prestigious award. It's not that bad to be the second-best pitcher in the league.
I definitely wanted to get that guy. I definitely didn't want to get pulled with two outs.
He's very enthusiastic. The last few days he's been running around, trying to help the catchers. Things like that. I think that's a great fit for our team because we're very young and enthusiastic ourselves. He's almost like a player, running around touching base and everything.
He's always told me don't be afraid to do something special. A lot of times guys are afraid and don't want that responsibility.
I feel I let my team down today, ... My heart is bleeding for everybody else. I felt like I should have gotten it done today. That's how it is. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't.
He's one of my favorite players, if not my favorite player, the way he goes about his business. He makes them go. I was thinking, 'If I could stop him from getting on base and causing havoc.' I was trying to disrupt him any way I could. I wish him all the best.
I'm dumbfounded right now, very ecstatic just because of how my teammates felt for me today, ... They were pulling for me. I'm kind of breathtaken. It's historic. It's a beautiful thing, not only for baseball but for my team.
I'm dumbfounded right now, very ecstatic just because of how my teammates felt, ... They were pulling for me.
I'm dumbfounded right now, ... I'm very ecstatic because of how my teammates felt today. They were pulling for me. It's historic. It's a beautiful day for baseball, my team, and hopefully we can just keep going.
I'm dumbfounded ... ecstatic. It's historic. I never thought I'd be in this situation. (I feel) fortunate, and I hope African American players are proud of me.
I'm not saying we're going to to win 100 games or lose 100 games but I guarantee the effort is gonna be there.