D-Train Walks the Plank: Pirates 6, Tigers 3

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2009 9:50 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Do we really have to go through this again?

Apparently, the answer is yes, since the Tigers continue to subject themselves and their fans to Dontrelle Willis in their starting rotation and on their roster. I feel like we already went through this 10 days ago against the Red Sox. No other major league team willingly deals with the possibility of a total pitching breakdown every five days. And Willis continues to make the Tigers look utterly foolish for continuing to employ him.

Six runs, six hits, and eight walks in 3.2 innings. That's the most walks by a Detroit pitcher in eight years. Willis walked the leadoff batter in each inning he pitched. He loaded the bases five times, and walked in a run twice. Only 43 of his 88 pitches were thrown for strikes. The Tigers were already out of this game by the time Willis recorded an out.

The D-Train has gotten every chance he's entitled to. (Probably more, thanks to that $29 million contract.) Regardless of the final result, he's worked hard and fought through who knows what to keep his job. The front office, coaching staff, and players have given him support and shown compassion. They've all done the decent thing here. But it's long past time for a baseball decision to be made. How many debacles is it going to take?

Whimper:

The Tigers weren't going to win with the way Willis pitched today. But that doesn't mean Jim Leyland can't field a lineup that gives them some sort of chance on the other side of the ball. And a batting order with Josh Anderson - whose average was .248/.285/.325 with no home runs and 10 RBIs coming into the game - batting third isn't it.

Don Kelly batting leadoff? Ramon Santiago batting second? Who exactly did Leyland think Miguel Cabrera or Curtis Granderson was going to drive in? The top three of the Toledo Mud Hens' lineup - Will Rhymes, Wilkin Ramirez, and Clete Thomas - looked better today.

At least Leyland didn't send that lineup onto the field at Comerica Park. No home crowd should have to see that.

Comment of the Day:

When the afternoon's entertainment comes from seeing how far to the right a comment thread will indent, you know it wasn't a good baseball game. But hey, the software is supposed to be user-friendly, and it's nice to see that the BYB Bunch still tried to have some fun.

I have all of my necessities at hand...

1. a sign hanging up that says “remember to breathe”
2. a paper bag ( to breathe into – in case the sign doesn’t work)
3. tranquilizers (in case the above doesn’t work)

by Detroitchik

And no, I did not fall asleep. I, um, went grocery shopping. Carry on.

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Comments

I was having trouble remembering who #13 on our roster was, and then the “3” went up next to Pittsburgh on the Wrigley scoreboard, and i remembered…and was sad, because I figured that scoreline wasn’t gonna get much better…

For the record, Jesse Crain is the Twins’ version of (Nate Robertson/Dontrelle Willis/gas can blower upper)….my Twins fan buddy with whom I made the pilgrimage from Madison down to Chicago for my first game ever at Wrigley, right as soon as it was announced that Crain was coming in, rather than Joe Nathan who was also warming up, in case the Twins scored in the top of the 9th, said, and I quote,

Oh, Shit

Two sharply hit ground balls past (not Joe Crede) at third, an intentional walk to Mike Fontenot, and a game winning hit from light hitting Ryan Theriot later, the commentary got far sharper….

So even though the Cubs won, and gained a game on Brewers, who gave up a late run to lose to the White Sox, at least I saw them stop the Twinkies from gaining on us. (Even if I kinda mighta been cheering for the Twins….I blame my friend’s influence, and the copious amounts of Old Style….as well as the fact that I’m not a Cubs fan by any stretch of the imagination….)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go apply a cool, wet towel to my charred neck….

by ahtrap on Jun 14, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Well.....

……My bot Dontrelle clearly isnt the answer….What do we do about the 4th and 5th spots in the roatation?

by BennieBladesFan on Jun 14, 2009 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

I can't believe I'm saying this, but

perhaps you put Miner back in the rotation. (?!) While both he and Robertson tend to throw BP out there from time to time, at least they force the other team to get hits to score runs. That said, with how this lineup has been hitting, I’m really not sure it matters who pitches in the 4th and 5th spots.

by BarbaroGarbeyc1984 on Jun 15, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

Staff...

… what about this? (1) Verlander (2) Jackson (3) Porcello (4) Miner and (5) Galarraga. No doubt that Dontrel has worked hard, but in order to win games, we need to be able to go into a game knowing that our starter won’t walk 8 batters in less than 4 innings.

And that would leave the bullpen: Rodney, Zumaya, Seay, Robertson, Perry, Lyon, and Ni (would have to be added to the 40 man by transferring Bonderman to the 60 day DL). In the event that a long reliever is needed for Miner or Galarraga, Lyon and Robertson can go multiple innings… and Ni has 28+ innings in only 20 appearances in Toledo.

by trross1200 on Jun 15, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

Ni.....

…..I noticed his numbers and they are very impressive…Plus his delivery is deceptive…..He isn not on the 40 man roster though

by BennieBladesFan on Jun 15, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Lineup against lefties...

Granderson (CF), Ordonez (DH), Cabrera (1B), Thames (LF), Inge (3B), Polanco (2B), Laird ©, Thomas (RF and with a shortened swing when he returns from AAA), Everett (SS)

by trross1200 on Jun 15, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions

Lineup against righties...

Anderson (LF), Ordonez (DH), Cabrera (1B), Granderson (CF), Inge (3B), Thomas (RF, see above), Polanco (2B), Santiago (SS), Laird ©

by trross1200 on Jun 15, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Falling asleep and other debauchery!

Ya, I was having fun with that. There was also a comment about how many posts you were going to have to skim through….so, in a sarcastic moment*, I posted that you had an assistant to complete that task for you! I am patting myself on the back right now…..

"Remember there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."

by Zappatista on Jun 15, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I promise I skimmed through them all

In case anyone thinks I cheated by picking one of the earliest comments in the GameThread.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 15, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

If Bonderman can regain his form, swaping him for Willis would be easy… why not give Miner a shot at starting

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 15, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

D. Willis

I’m preaching to the choir when I say the Tigers made a mistake and inked Willis to contract that we shall call “an anchor around the neck”. The guy has less than zero trade value and the poor guy can no longer pitch. Hence, we cut the guy and eat the contract or is it possible to convert this guy to an outfield position? I have no idea how athletic his guy is but Rick Ankiel converted pretty well. Probably a pipe dream but before barfing in my puke bucket by sending him packing and eating the contract, I’d try anything at this point.

by Gromac on Jun 15, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions