Reds Sign Willis

[cinreds21]

The Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract.


m_sheldon

confirmed by MLB.com colleague Alden Gonzalez -- LHP Dontrelle Willis signed minor lg deal with the #reds. Hopes to make it as a reliever
13 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[GOYA]

Not so sure about this decision. But I hope he pitches like a all-star.

[cinreds21]

I like it. It's a minor league deal, so the worse that'll happen is he blows some games for Louisville.

[camisadelgolf]

I like it. It's a minor league deal, so the worse that'll happen is he blows some games for Louisville.
If he's bad enough in spring training, maybe he can blow some games for Carolina instead. :p

[Mario-Rijo]

Really, really like it. As a loogy or an extra inning or early game PH from the left side he's not too shabby. And with Power and Price he might also learn a thing or 2.

[batsfan]

so the worse that'll happen is he blows some games for Louisville.

Which was the first thing I thought of when I saw this.

[cinreds21]

If he's bad enough in spring training, maybe he can blow some games for Carolina instead. :p

I'd be totally fine with that. Dontrelle back in Carolina would be awesome. He's a cool guy. Hopefully he'll remember me. Who wouldn't?

[Boston Red]

Anybody else see his second career start at GABP? I hated what he did to the Reds that day, but I instantly fell in love with the way the kid pitched. He looked like he was having so much fun out there.

It's too bad what's happened to him over the past several years. I don't hold out much hope of him turning it around now, but it would be amazing if he did!

[camisadelgolf]

Anybody else see his second career start at GABP? I hated what he did to the Reds that day, but I instantly fell in love with the way the kid pitched. He looked like he was having so much fun out there.

It's too bad what's happened to him over the past several years. I don't hold out much hope of him turning it around now, but it would be amazing if he did!
Are you talking about August 7th, 2005? That was his second start at GABP. Ramon Ortiz had three errors that game.

[Boston Red]

Are you talking about August 7th, 2005? That was his second start at GABP. Ramon Ortiz had three errors that game.

No, May 23, 2003. His first start at GABP which I thought was his second career start. Looks like it was his fourth. An amazing performance.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B05250CIN2003.htm

[TRF]

If the report that he wants to be a reliever are true, he's got LOOGY written all over him.

LH's last year: 75 AB's 8 BB's 30 K's .216 .298 .284 .581

That ain't nothing. His starting days are done, but he could be a shut down LH specialist.

[Scrap Irony]

Darren Oliver, redux, perhaps?

Hopefully.

[cinreds21]

The D-Train has arrived!
http://twitpic.com/3zu225

[Hoosier Red]

No, May 23, 2003. His first start at GABP which I thought was his second career start. Looks like it was his fourth. An amazing performance.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B05250CIN2003.htm

I was there, it was my bachelor party and he absolutely dominated the Reds that day. IIRC, Griffey hit two homers the night before, and both he and Dunn were benched for this game to protect them from the dreaded lefty.

[marcshoe]

I remember that in the days following that game, WLW received calls saying the Reds should trade for Willis. These calls were greeted with derision. Hey, better late than never!

fwiw, I like the idea that they're putting him in the bullpen instead of trying to recreate what once was.

[JKam]

fwiw, I like the idea that they're putting him in the bullpen instead of trying to recreate what once was.

In the Bowden years, Willis would have been signed and then been thrust into the position of opening day starter in the big leagues. Faithful fans would be asking themselves, "why can't Willis return to all-star form?"

Glad those days are over.

[Homer Bailey]

Imagine what the Marlins could have gotten for Hermida and Willis back in the day.