Dontrelle Willis and Edwin Jackson return to Detroit: This should be fun!

by Kurt Mensching on Jun 18, 2010 6:00 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Links

Homecoming. It's a wonderful excuse to wear silly clothing and have fun in high school. (Moreso than normal, anyway.) Which might explain the featured photo today of Dontrelle Willis.

A Diamondback for just a couple of weeks, Willis (Fangraphs stats) is headed back to Detroit today wearing Arizona's uniform. He'll set to start today opposite of Armando Galarraga, who interestingly enough stole his job and pitched a (near) perfect game soon after. Later in the weekend, Edwin Jackson will make a return trip to the mound in Detroit, too. He's scheduled to face Rick Porcello.

And not quite a homecoming, but another member of the Winter Meetings trade, Max Scherzer is currently scheduled to face his former team on Sunday.

Here's Willis's two starts for the Diamondbacks:

Rk	Date	Opp	Rslt	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HBP	Pit	Str	GB	FB	LD
10	Jun 5	COL	W,4-3	6.0	5	0	0	4	3	1	106	60	10	9	5
11	Jun 10	ATL	L,7-11	4.0	3	2	2	6	2	0	96	49	5	7	2
	Season			53.1	56	26	26	39	38	3

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Willis is the most interesting one to me. I don't see him pitching any better for the Diamondbacks than he pitched for the Tigers. His two starts so far for them show that much. Willis threw just 49 strikes in 96 pitches his latest time out, resulting in six walks in four innings.

Detroit's strategy should be simple: Make Willis throw the ball in the strike zone. No freebies. But even then, Willis always has the potential to get better results than you think he ought to, as the runs allowed show. So we could be in for some frustration tonight.

Edwin Jackson struggled mightily for awhile -- at one point his ERA was as high as 8.07. More recently he threw a complete game, three-hitter against the Dodgers, though. What's Jackson's big problem? Mainly his control problems have cropped up again. He's striking out more, but he's walking more too. He's also giving up too many hard hit balls, as shown in his line drive rate and home runs per fly ball.

And, yes, he's gotten a bit unlucky too. His ERA, at 5.18, is a full run higher than his FIP (4.16) and xFIP (4.10).

Jackson has the potential to leave the home fans unhappy on Saturday, especially with as poorly as Porcello has been pitching.

Just to glance at Scherzer for any Diamondbacks fans who may be stopping by: He started off terrific, then fell into a funk that resulted in a trip down to Triple-A. The way he tells the story, he took a look at the video and noticed a slight error in his mechanics. With those fixed, he tore up his minor league competition and returned to Detroit.

He's pitched four games since that return:

Date	Opp	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HBP	ERA	Pit	Str	GB	FB	LD
May 30	OAK	5.2	2	0	0	4	14	1	6.42	113	75	1	4	2
Jun 4	KCR	5.0	9	5	5	2	3	0	6.66	85	52	4	15	9
Jun 10	CHW	7.1	5	3	3	1	7	0	6.30	107	69	9	10	1
Jun 15	WSN	6.0	7	4	3	2	9	0	6.14	112	72	7	9	3
Season		66.0	77	50	45	25	59	4	6.14

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

The second game back was a bit of a let down. He's still walking too many and allowing too many hits too.

So maybe that portion of the Great Trade of 09 was a bit of a tie.

In any case, three pitchers going up against their former teams in three days is a great homecoming for the fans, indeed.

In other news:

I got name-dropped by Rogo in another of his bits that's pretty enjoyable, so go give him a read.
Detroit News' Lynn Henning -- OK, Rogo is not going to like that segue -- wrote that the Tigers have to take advantage of their schedule. So far it's let them catch up three games on the Twins in the past week, but they've just got to keep winning.
Oakland Press' Jim Hawkins wrote about Patrick Leyland following in his dad's footsteps. Hopefully his playing career goes better than dear old dad's!
Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi: All's Quiet on the Tigers' Trade Front
Samara draws. You look. Those are the rules. You must obey.
Fangraphs asks the question we do around here: why do managers bat replacement players in important lineup spots? They conclude ... they don't know either.
Now if you don't mind, I must commence freaking out about soccer. But Rogo-nac already knew that...

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Comments

Even if the performance is a tie

I’m still ok with having Scherzer over Jackson because of the difference in salary and minimal age difference.

by ozymandius1024 on Jun 18, 2010 6:26 AM EDT reply actions

This

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jun 19, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Knowing our luck...

Dtrain will come out and dominate us. I think it will either be one extreme or the other… either he comes out and pitches with a chip on his shoulder and lights us up, or completely unravels and we win easily. I sure hope its the latter

by tigers22 on Jun 18, 2010 7:53 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think so.

I think he will be powned

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Jun 18, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Willis

I feel better with him pitching against us instead of for us.

by linuxit on Jun 18, 2010 8:09 AM EDT reply actions

Scherzer over Jackson

I was at the game vs. Oakland – Scherzer’s first game back. (Galarraga was scheduled to have started.) We saw him strike out 14 in that game, so I have to say I’m probably going to be a Max fan from here on out.

To Rod Allen: please don’t let your bias in favor of the opposing starters of the next two games get too overwhelming. When you fawn over them like a school girl, it gets a little sickening.

by wowjimi on Jun 18, 2010 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

Zumaya and Allen

I am not sure if any of you heard the “Zumaya should be in the All-Star Game” discussion yesterday, but as much as I do like our flame-thrower, I was sure that Allen was auditioning to give him a blow-job after the game. I threw up in my mouth at the ridiculous comments he just continued to make over and over as Zumaya proceeded to get 2 outs, give up 1 hit and allow an inherited runner to score. I believe that I am not alone in wishing that there was a “Rod Allen Mute Button” – I would double my subscription price to MLB for this feature.

The Chairman of the Steve Yzerman for President fan club.

by Christopher Horvath on Jun 18, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Mute Allen

yeah – he has to say everything at least twice, as if that makes it more valid. As in, “He is the best pitcher on the PLANET, he is just the best on the PLANET…..”

Funny, Ernie Harwell went his whole career without ever calling a ball a SEED, but Rod cannot go one game without someone hitting a SEED, or throwing a SEED.

Mario is just too nice a guy to tell Allen to stop.

by wowjimi on Jun 18, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Allen favors opposing starters?

I guess ive never really noticed. maybe you are right, just never noticed.

by BennieBladesFan on Jun 18, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Rod pretty much has positive things to say about everybody

Which does beat the alternative. I’d rather he be too positive than too negative.

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by SabreRoseTiger on Jun 18, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Very True

by BennieBladesFan on Jun 18, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

not all opposing pitchers

sorry bennie i didnt mean ALL opposing pitchers, just 2 of the next 3.

Rod Allen will talk up Dontrelle Willis and Edwin Jackson like they were gods – just my prediction. lets watch and see.

Then you can decide what his criteria for praise is and judge if it makes sense or not.

by wowjimi on Jun 18, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

So when has being excited to see African American’s make it in a sport in which they are dwindling by the second become sickening? I have no problem with it, and Joe Morgan is even a bigger homer with it if you want to get down to it. It’d be great if African American kids are watching it and seeing that baseball is as much as a viable option as football and basketball when it comes to sports and become fans of one of these two pitchers. He talks up Austin Jackson in the same way, yet you have no problem with that?

I don’t post in these forums much but I certainly don’t like seeing blatant racism like that around here.

by ShaneShirey on Jun 18, 2010 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

hey

shane – i am not the one being biased about race – I do think Rod Allen is, and I just don’t think it is right.

Believe me, the true tone of our conversation does not translate via internet. I am not trying to post hate here.

I just think he shouldn’t go on and on about how the US has 12% blacks, but MLB should be 20+% black. Explain to my kids why they should be left out. Why bring this up?

My point is – Rod, stop the prejudice, and stick to baseball. Please. Guillen hit a walkoff homer and Rod says " thank you Lou Whitaker – he taught him how to do that" wtf?

And yes, you are right Shane, he does “talk up Jackson in the same way” – much more than great plays by the other Tigers.

I don’t want to start any argument on this. I did not bring up race – you did. I was all behind Dontrelle when he was a Tiger.

Enjoying sports has nothing to do with race, so please Rod, don’t spoil our game.

by wowjimi on Jun 18, 2010 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

“sorry bennie i didnt mean ALL opposing pitchers, just 2 of the next 3.

Rod Allen will talk up Dontrelle Willis and Edwin Jackson like they were gods – just my prediction. lets watch and see.

Then you can decide what his criteria for praise is and judge if it makes sense or not."

You didn’t “mention” race but you alluded to it, which most people do just so they can say “I DIDN’T BRING IT UP YOU DID!” when, you in fact, did bring it up. I’m not going to argue or compound upon this but I have absolutely no qualms about him being proud of his heritage and the current players representing said heritage. If Fernando Viña went on about Aroldis Chapman or Jose Conteras, I’d have no issue with it. It’s great to be proud of your heritage, especially in a melting pot such as baseball.

By being annoyed with it, you are showing that you can have issues with the other race. It’s just the way of the world, and that’s unfortunate.

by ShaneShirey on Jun 18, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

wrong

nope – you are incorrect. I am saying bias is wrong, black or white.

Hey it’s baseball, not politics. Let’s treat everyone the same and just have fun. Do not pick out ONLY certain players to praise – especially if that (broadcasting) is your profession.

If someone is being biased, it is wrong and they should be called out on it. Period.

I don’t care if they are from Miami, Venezuela, or Antarctica, if they are on the Tigers team, I am rooting for them.

If some broadcaster said 80% of the NBA should be white, they would, of course be fired. But not Rod.

No hate for Rod, I love when he and Mario joke around comfortably. It’s great.

Just get off the race issue Rod. It isn’t right.

AND FYI shane, so far in this game I AM WRONG – Rod hasn’t gone overboard about Willis yet. (2 innings) It was just a prediction anyway.

by wowjimi on Jun 18, 2010 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

talking about jumping the gun.

he/she never said a thing about race. Nor did he allude to it. You assumed he was alluding.

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by madpoopz on Jun 19, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

To be honest, I hope we pound Willis and he has a nervous breakdown.

by rcpratt on Jun 18, 2010 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

Willis throw 10 BB , his WHIP is 1.8

And it doesn’t matter that his ERA is 1.80

NL always has a weakest batters. 4 of 5 with the bets WAR in NL are SP [Ubaldo , Johnson , Hudson and Gallardo – Adrian Gonzalez is only batter]
WAR in AL – Cano , Morneau , Youkills [WTF ? , Longoria and Migyy

I WANT 3rd SWEEP MY LADIES

by Grzesio on Jun 18, 2010 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

Our Mission is the same

I dont worry about the past, theres no “future” in it. I suppose its a nice story about Jackson & Willis coming in to pitch. But, we still need to focus on the prize and keep the “winning games engine” going. They are opposing pitchers whom we have to beat.
Nothing more, nothing less. One thing I’ve learned about all of sports is you cant take your oponent litely. We still have to execute and take care of our business. And, I was never a big Jackson fan to begin with. We need to continue to light up the starters no matter who they are. A sweep of AZ would be nice, but I’ll settle with 2 out of 3 if I have to.
But the next 9 after these 3 are not going to be a walk in the park. Go tigs.

by blueleo1 on Jun 18, 2010 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

I looked at that chart...

and my first reaction was, “Someone said Dontrelles been pitching great?”

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by madpoopz on Jun 18, 2010 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

On an unrelated note

I have tickets on the 3B line for Strasburg’s start tonight against the Black Sux. I can’t wait to heckle Ozzie and AJ as their lineup is singlehandedly destroyed.

A lifelong Tigers fan

by ewild on Jun 18, 2010 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

I would also enjoy that,

as I hate AJ and am always amused by Ozzie’s antics. Have fun

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Jun 18, 2010 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I cannot wait to see Dontrelle

get his ass whipped up and down the mound tonight. I believe our 2,3,4,5 and 6 hitters will own him. I don’t think the 7,8 or 9 hitters will have that much of an issue with him either. What the hell, I think the whole lineup will do famously against him.

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Jun 18, 2010 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah!

He may have only give up two runs so far in his two Diamondback starts, but he also had a WHIP of 1.80! So he stranded an unbelievable number of runners. As long as we can stop the squandering and be patient at the plate, we should be sitting pretty.

A lifelong Tigers fan

by ewild on Jun 18, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree.

Our boys are looking pretty good out there. I believe they are batting over .300 as a whole for about a week now. I am sure they already have the ins and outs as far as his tells and things like that. And I don’t think the DBacks are too familiar with Armando. I’m not even going to CoPa tonight, but I am counting down the hours till this game starts. I am way more excited than I should be. haha.

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Jun 18, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

really all we need to know at this point is that it's Dontrelle that we're facing.

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by madpoopz on Jun 18, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Armando faced the Diamondbacks once, back in 2008

He got the win, and he only gave up one hit, but he walked five (I’m thinking it was, like, a 3-2 win for the Tigers or something). Oddly enough, he was pitching opposite Max Scherzer in that game, and Scherzer’s downfall was that he walked Armando, who eventually came around to score the first run of the game for the Tigers in that inning. It’s still one of the weirdest games I’ve ever seen. However, Armando’s been pitching as well as he ever has recently.The only thing I’m worried about from an offensive standpoint is that Dontrelle has had a knack for getting himself out of trouble, usually by getting some timely double plays.

Tigers Amateur Analysis

Doña of the VZ Mafia

by SabreRoseTiger on Jun 18, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

by Detroitchik on Jun 18, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

you say that but im tellin ya

still got a feeling he might come out and give us the big middle finger

by tigers22 on Jun 18, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Vietnam? We've got this in the bag!

French military advisor, 1946.

Dontrelle Willis apologist.

by 13194013 on Jun 18, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Bummer

I wish the matchups had lined up so Scherzer and Jackson pitched against each other. Would’ve been a good chance for comparison. I am glad Dontrell has to pitch against the guy who replaced him.

by Sutelc on Jun 18, 2010 4:17 PM EDT reply actions