Good Article

June 30, 200322 yr

Posted on Mon, Jun. 30, 2003

The Marlins' Dontrelle Willis is the first South Florida rookie since Dan Marino in 1983 to make such a strong first impression.

Dontrelle Willis happened once before down here, but forgive him for not remembering. He was still in diapers.

It was 20 seasons ago. Different sport. Different arm. Same buzz. The same unmistakable feeling that we had lucked onto something beyond special.

Yeah, Dontrelle Willis happened before here. Just once, though.

We called him Dan Marino then.

No blasphemy intended by the comparison. It shouldn't be mistaken as a prediction that Willis' left arm will lead him to Cooperstown the same way Marino's right arm found the way to Canton. The Marlins' left-handed pitcher is 21; he has only begun to throw around the kind of heat and electricity Marino spent nearly two decades flinging as the Dolphins' record-setting marquee quarterback and flagship.

We're talking introductions only here. Arrivals. First impressions.

You-had-us-from-hello stuff.

Willis is the first South Florida rookie professional athlete since Marino in '83 to make so grand an entrance.

His 8-1 record and 2.26 ERA since a May 9 call-up from Double A have made Willis the talk of baseball, an instant SportsCenter staple. There is the four-page Sports Illustrated spread, and the echo of Mets fans at Shea chanting his name. There are assumptions of an All-Star invitation and the NL Rookie of the Year award. There is the pinch-me smile when he says, ``Every day is a blessing to be here.''

Beyond the stats -- and essential to the instant lore -- is the limby, cartoon delivery, the right knee jackknifed up to shoulder height before the python uncoils. This is what makes Willis a spectacle as well as spectacular, a maelstrom of wins and whimsy.

''Phenom'' fits, and the word hardly ever does when applied to rookies. Usually it is hyperbole, manufactured or wishful, a term given too easily to anyone whose pro debut bears notice.

Other than Marino, no Dolphin has been a rookie phenom. Plenty, from Admin Csonka in 1968 to A.J. Duhe in '77 to Zach Thomas and Chris Chambers more recently, have had fast and impressive impact, but at levels distant from Marino's.

None of the three Heat players to make the NBA all-rookie team -- Sherman Douglas in 1989-90, Steve Smith two years later or Caron Butler this past season -- created truly phenomenal buzz. Butler generated the most of that, but not enough.

Only two Panthers have made NHL all-rookie -- Ed Jovanovski in 1995-96 and Jay Bouwmeester last season -- but neither defenseman transcended local enthusiasm and made the league at large ogle and buzz.

Likewise the Marlins have had quality rooks before Willis, from Jeff Conine and Chuck Carr in 1993 to NL rookie-of-the-year runners-up Edgar Renteria, Liv?n Hern?ndez and Preston Wilson. Hern?ndez, his Cuban roots intertwining with the '97 championship season to make him a feel-good story, not just a winning pitcher, probably rose highest on the buzz meter.

Not like this, though.

Willis is 5-0 in June alone, with a hardly believable 1.04 ERA. And if that seems remarkable, or even impossible, consider this:

He has made the Marlins interesting. He has made the season matter.

Even with Sunday's 11-7 loss in Boston, the Marlins have climbed from a 19-29 hole to within one game of .500 during the catalyst of Willis' seven-game win streak.

The playoffs remain a long shot, yet Florida is only 5 ? games out of a wild-card spot despite losing two of its past three, including Friday's humiliating 25-8 loss at Fenway.

The Marlins believe in themselves again. The managerial change to Jack McKeon deserves a nod, but it is the sudden arrival of Willis that has led the way.

''Probably the best game I've been a part of with the Marlins. The most excitement I've seen,'' catcher Mike Redmond said of Saturday's late seven-run comeback. ``We realize this is the part of the season that can make or break us.''

The Marlins return home tonight for a three-game set with the Braves, with Willis scheduled to pitch Wednesday.

Thirty grand would flood the gate, were this a baseball town.

So many reasons, even beyond the Willis wunderkind.

Three home dates followed by nine road games leading into the All-Star break means these next three games might be So-Fla's last chance to see players such as Mike Lowell before they might -- unfortunately, unwisely -- be traded.

Then again, a hard, hot run into the break might leave the team in enough playoff contention to change that scenario altogether.

A contending team does not trade its best hitter. A contending team goes out and acquires the bullpen help or added bat needed to push harder for the postseason.

That is what teeters over these next several games.

Everything.

And this is what Dontrelle Willis has delivered with that all-elbows-and-knees windup of his.

Possibilities.

Willis has given the Marlins an opportunity to be contenders, after all.

A chance Lowell and other supposedly outbound players might remain.

And a reason for fans to be excited, and perhaps even attend a game.

nice article, its good to see some posotive press even after a tough series....it was mostly about D, but it also threw in stuff about the team and being contenders...hope a lot of peeps show up at this brave series, if we get a lot of fans, might pump up the players....create a winning atmosphere....this season is still alive boys...go FISH!

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