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
I never thought I'd be in a situation like this ? to get that many wins in a single season, ... I'm definitely rolling with it.
That's B.S. We lost. I don't pat myself on the back for that stuff. I don't need to make myself any excuses or any pick-me-ups. I can pick myself up. I'm a man and this is what happens. This is what comes with the game, all types of different situations and this is one of them.
Everything was good today -- getting my legs back into it. I was just trying to get into situations where I have to make a pitch. It was all fun getting back into it.
I remember going to the games and being a little boy and watching him and watching the classics, ... And everything he meant not only to the team but to the city. I never thought I'd be in a situation like this.
I was trying to tell him to call time. Next thing you know, (Rollins) was running. The situation got out of hand quickly.
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.