July 2, 200422 yr Posted on Thu, Jul. 01, 2004 MARLINS NOTEBOOK Willis is failing to deliver BY CLARK SPENCER cspencer@herald.com Dontrelle Willis' unorthodox delivery used to be an asset that bewildered hitters and worked to his advantage. Now, it is a point of concern being targeted by Marlins pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal in trying to get the struggling D-Train back on track. ''It's a matter of picking a delivery and sticking with it,'' Rosenthal said after Willis failed to make it out of the fifth inning Tuesday against the Braves. ``I saw about three [different deliveries in Tuesday's game], and maybe I missed one.'' Willis, who was 3-0 to start the season, has gone into a midseason tailspin and is now 6-5 with a 4.24 ERA, second-highest among the Marlins starters. A.J. Burnett has the highest ERA at 4.30. Willis didn't receive a decision Tuesday but was lifted in the fifth inning by manager Jack McKeon, who is becoming increasingly impatient with the National League's reigning Rookie of the Year. Willis hasn't made it beyond the fifth inning in any of his past three starts, ones in which he has given up 14 earned runs on 25 hits and seven walks in 13 innings. Rosenthal said Willis has a tendency, consciously or unconsciously, to alter his delivery. ''The higher he goes [with his leg kick], the more violent he becomes,'' Rosenthal said. ``We're trying to generate an arm angle where he's on top of the ball. I just want one constant delivery.'' In Willis' defense, Rosenthal pointed out that ``the kid's still young.'' BECKETT GETS CLOSER Josh Beckett took another step toward rejoining the rotation when he completed a 13-minute, pain-free bullpen session Wednesday. Beckett, who is on the disabled list with a strained lower back, can come off the DL on Saturday. Beckett is scheduled for more bullpen work either Friday or Saturday. McKeon said if all goes well, Beckett could make either one or two starts before the All-Star break. Once Beckett returns, McKeon said there's a strong chance Michael Tejera would go to the bullpen. MURPHY HONORED Bill Murphy, a left-handed pitcher for Double A (North) Carolina, was selected to play in the Futures All-Star Game in Houston in July. Murphy is 6-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 16 starts. Florida obtained Murphy and reliever Mike Neu in December from Oakland in exchange for pitcher Mike Redman. They defintely need to work with Willis and have him find a consistent delivery. Nice to see Murphy from the Mudcats get some recognition whos having a solid year.
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