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 was trying to tell him to call time. Next thing you know, (Rollins) was running. The situation got out of hand quickly.
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'm trying not to get ahead of myself. I'm taking it one game at a time.
I don't even really care, to be totally honest. I'm really concerned about the lineup. I know I'm not betting on getting any hits off him, I'm just trying to keep the game as close as I can to give my team a chance.
I felt great. I could've thrown more. I was pitching off of my fastball, trying to get into a good count where I could throw something with some tilt.
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 just have enough trouble trying to concentrate on myself, to be totally honest. I'm a high-energy guy, and I'm a young guy, and I still battle every day going out there and controlling that and trying to focus on doing the job at hand.
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.
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.
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.