There comes a time in every person’s life when their gifts betray them. For some, it can be just for a moment. For others, it can leave permanently. The problem is that nobody really knows the cause. We can all theorize about anxiety, a lack of work ethic, age, or some physical injury, but the truth is these gifts leave just as mysteriously as they come. Think about it—where does the talent to throw a pitch at 95 miles per hour to a small target 60 feet 6 inches away perfectly come from? At some level, all of that can be taught, but the elite ones have some sort of gift that they are blessed with. Deep down, all players know that the gift is ephemeral; they just don’t know when the final bell is going to ring.
The lucky ones—Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Mike Mussina—get to leave with dignity, getting every shred of talent and moment from that gift. The majority of players aren’t so lucky. Gifts are taken away by injuries or, even worse, by a neglect of that gift. The most mystifying of all is when the gift just disappears as if someone stole it. Players refer to it as “the thing”, when the once normal task becomes impossible. Mackey Sasser couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher from behind the plate. Steve Sax could throw to first base. Chuck Knoblauch went from the best defensive second baseman in the game to a left fielder when he could no longer make a throw. Rick Ankiel went from promising pitcher to playoff burnout to below average outfielder in a matter of years.
Sometimes, it all returns; Steve Sax went on to have a 14 year career. Others just faded away after trying a another position or every mechanical adjustment any coach or psychiatrist could devise. It is as if the player went to sleep with an ability and woke up empty. In these cases, it has nothing to do with desire or the “want” to do well. There is no explanation why an athlete will just lose it.
Dontrelle Willis is trying to find the gift that made him one of the most popular and productive pitchers in the game.
Can Willis ever be this pitcher again?
He was 21 when we were introduced to him in 2003. He was called up on May 9th and began a 27 start season that fascinated baseball fans as well as the outliers. The high leg kick and the funky delivery led to the Jackie Robinson Award. He won 14 games, pitched to a 3.30 ERA, and struck out a career high 8 batters per nine innings. He was the Florida version of Fernando-Mania as his starts were must see events. He wore the hat crooked and flashed a smile that spoke to everyone. He was having fun on the baseball field. He could even hit. There were stories about his relationship with his mother. He was the story of the 2003 season; he was a good story. After faltering in the National League playoffs, he made three scoreless relief appearances in the World Series against the New York Yankees.
At 21 years old, Dontrelle Willis had it all: he was a World Champion, he was a Rookie of the Year Award winner, and he was someone who everyone liked. His gift of throwing a baseball was only surpassed by the gift of his spirit that captured everyone.
He struggled a bit in 2004, but he was still better than the average starter. In 2005, everything came together. He won 22 games and pitched to a 2.63 ERA. He led the league in complete games and shutouts. He walked a career-low 2.1 batters per nine innings. He finished second in the Cy Young Award voting. We were all intrigued; he was still performing and still having fun. At a time when the sport was hungry for players to truly root for, Dontrelle Willis was one of the genuine good guys and one of the easiest to cheer.
He regressed a bit in 2006, but he still managed to pitch more than 200 innings, the second of three consecutive seasons. His ERA ballooned to 5.17 in 2007, but he still maintained the same walk and strikeout rates. It looked like a blip, an inflated ERA due to a couple of bad starts and some bad luck. Viewed as expendable, the thrifty Marlins shipped Willis along with Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers. The Tigers immediately signed Willis to a three year contract before he even threw a pitch.
It was in Detroit where Willis lost his gift. He walked 35 batters in 24 innings over 7 starts. He started another 7 games in 2009 and walked 28 batters in 33.2 innings. He was placed on the disabled list twice in 2009, both times for anxiety disorder. Willis protested the notion that he had an anxiety disorder, preferring to say that he was just terrible. He got another chance last season with the Tigers and made 8 starts. His 4.98 ERA was his best since 2006. But, the Tigers released him anyway and Willis pitched for the Diamondbacks and in the Giants Minor League system. Since leaving Florida, Willis’ ability to throw a strike has disappeared. He has walked 119 batters in his last 113.1 innings. His ERA is 7.46. The once dominant, happy go lucky kid, seems to be washed up at 29 years old. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but Dontrelle Willis is almost out of baseball.
But, the Cincinnati Reds signed Willis to a Minor League contract. The defending Central Division champions have plenty of young pitching options. It was surprising that they would bring on Willis as well as all that accompanies him. Willis, the human, is worth the risk of bringing in Willis, the player.
The funky delivery is gone. He now pitches exclusively from the stretch. He’s a reliever now, trying to have a second career as a lefty reliever, a role that if played properly can last into his 40′s. So far, the signs are encouraging. In 5 Spring Training innings, he has allowed 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs, and has struck out 6 batters. His last two outings are even more encouraging as he has thrown 4 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts. Thus far, he has impressed Manager Dusty Baker with his command, especially with his breaking ball. As a starter, he has held lefty hitters to a .206/.282/.294 slash line. If his command can continue to hold, there is no reason why Willis can’t be a productive member of a Major League bullpen. While the Reds’ bullpen appears deep, Willis seemed to have picked the right place with the right Manager for his comeback attempt. Even if the Reds can’t fit him, he’ll find a place if he performs.
It seems like a long fall. It is. Willis has gone from rookie phenom to Cy Young candidate to a bullpen hopeful in just eight years. His gift betrayed him and now Willis continues to search. The cause of the betrayal will never be known. Slapping a label like anxiety is convenient, but that label doesn’t explain everything. It isn’t all that helpful considering Willis seems to be avoiding this label. Even now, he’ll just state that he has been terrible. Something, however, took that gift from him. It happens. Now, Willis continues to search for it. He’s just 29 years old. He talks about doing something else if he can’t pitch anymore, but that doesn’t seem fair, does it?
Players will questionable character continue to enjoy their gifts and make money while someone like Willis is on the brink of being done before he turns 30. Maybe working from the stretch and pitching from a new role will trick the body into remembering. As quickly as it left, maybe it can return just as quickly. Willis isn’t giving up. Obviously, teams aren’t giving up.
Of all the storylines that are currently developing in 2011, Dontrelle Willis is the most intriguing. His story is about a man and a quest to recapture a gift he had when he was a child. Some don’t ever get it back. There is a real, probable, chance that Willis doesn’t either. But, the ability is there. He is doing it right now. There is some hope, however fleeting it may seem. It is because of that hope that Willis continues to change uniforms, change roles, and change his delivery. Maybe that happy, go lucky kid is still there. Hopefully he is because Baseball is better when people like Dontrelle Willis are performing. It’s just five innings, but it’s a start. We hope, like Dusty Baker, that Willis can continue to put the ball where he wants. In a sport where most fans simply root for the laundry, Dontrelle Willis is someone to root for.
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Original Story:
http://fullcountpitch.com/2011/03/09/...
