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
It's big for our team because it gives them an extra day. We're definitely going to need them. I know about having days off. They can be helpful sometimes, especially late in the year. It's just key to go out there and establish early, especially in this park where they can put up some crooked numbers early.
Especially the last couple of days people were very excited, more excited than I was, ... I was eager to see how things were going to turn out, but I slept easy (Wednesday) night. ... I'm the second-best pitcher in the National League, which is not that dang bad.
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.
I never fathomed it. I never fathomed winning 15 games.
I knew the situation. You knew where they were going with all the trades, so I kind of figured I was going to go to a one-year deal, which is fine with me. Everybody wants that 'A-Rod' 10-year, $25 million deal but you have to deal with circumstances. I'm just definitely excited to make more than $375,000 (his 2005 salary).
I'm just swinging. To be able to get a big hit and put that much pressure on the pitcher is key.
I'm like a kid excited about Christmas. It's going to be very intense. It's going to be a lot bigger than what people are talking about.
I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting for the 25th to roll around. I'm ready to go out there to show my talents.
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.
I'm going to go in there being the same guy. I'm not going to let things around me dictate how I'm going to approach the game.