Bless You Boys: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: RSL Soapbox for Real Salt Lake Fans!

Breaking Down the D-Train

If you didn't see it after last night's Tigers game, John Kruk and Buck Showalter talked about Dontrelle Willis's demotion to Single-A on "Baseball Tonight," comparing videotape of the 2007 version of D-Train to his 2008 counterpart.

Something Kruk and Showalter didn't look at, however, is how added bulk on the D-Train might be affecting his delivery.  That's a point both Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal brought up in their most recent postings.  I already quoted Olney in a FanShot earlier today, but here's what Rosenthal wrote in his latest column:

One theory circulating among the Tigers is that left-hander Dontrelle Willis is much more muscular than he was during his 22-win season in 2005, making it much more difficult for him to repeat his mechanics.  Willis requires great flexibility to achieve the contortion in his delivery; he might need to work with a strength and conditioning coach to regain the suppleness he once had.

So maybe D-Train needs to lay off the weights while in Lakeland, while the Tigers invest in some yoga and pilates instructors?   Send Javair Gillett down there with some resistance stretch bands?  Hey, try anything and everything.

(Thanks as always to Eric Seidman for providing the video clip on request.  If you haven't done so already, check out the good stuff he's been writing for Baseball Prospectus recently.)

0 recs  |  Comment 1 comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Well, I’ve got a few problems with Kruk’s analysis… obviously.

It appears as if Florida and Detroit have different camera angles, pretty much rendering any angles and release points not measurable.

It’s clear to me his knee ain’t healthy and it’s affecting him mentally.

by EddieB85 on Jun 13, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

"Bless You Boys" was the catchphrase used by former Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman when reporting a winning Tigers score.
Start posting about the Tigers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Boognish_small
Tigers Spring Training
Knights-09_small
Disenchanted Blue Jays Fan Looking For A New Team
Capt
MLB in the Community
Img_1415_small
The Anti-Climactic Flamethrower...
000tigs_small
Binge's buddy--Noah Biorkman
Tiger_s_game_1_small
Tigers Top 20 Prospects
Sifl_and_olly_small
The Offseason Twitch Outpost.
Dsc05841_1__small
Congratulations to Curtis Granderson
Detroit-tigers-logo_small
This Year in Baseball Awards-MLB.com
Dsc05841_1__small
Television question

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Ron_swanson_small Ian Casselberry