MIAMI -- Dontrelle Willis likes what he does.

Joking around with teammates in the clubhouse, flashing his infectious smile during pregame warmups and rooting on his team from the dugout, the D-Train is an example of what it means to enjoy playing baseball.

 

He truly enjoys his job.

 

Ask Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley, and he will tell you what makes the young southpaw special.

 

"He told me before the season even started. He said, 'Mark, even if I don't play real good in a game, I will still have fun doing it,' " Wiley said. "That's quite a thing to be able to say."

 

Off to an 11-2 start with a 2.06 ERA, Willis is having a blast. With each win, he is moving closer to securing his second All-Star appearance since being called up from Double-A Carolina in May 2003. Willis is not only a strong All-Star candidate, he is making a strong case for National League manager Tony La Russa to start him in the MidSummer Classic, to be played in Detroit.

 

"It's surreal to me," Willis says of being even mentioned as an All-Star.

 

Willis' affable personality has been on display since he posted a 14-6 record as a rookie and helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series.

 

During the first three months of this year, Willis has received considerable national attention. He is making a case for the Cy Young Award, the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove.

 

"Why he wins is because he's good in [different] phases," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "He fields his position. He bunts. He's got a good pickoff move. He helps himself."

 

The praises don't seem to daunt the third-year star.

 

"I don't mind it," he said. "But to be honest, I'd rather the team be successful. Last year we were pretty much in the playoff run and people were saying I wasn't pitching as well, but I was enjoying things because the team was winning."

 

Willis' maturity and ability to adjust has impressed Wiley.

 

"He recognizes bat speeds and what hitters are trying to do, which is probably a little ahead of him for his age," Wiley said. "That surprises me more than anything. Usually the maturing process takes a little bit longer in your career than it has for him."

 

Following each start, the Willis spends most of his time on conditioning, which includes lifting weights, running and long-tossing with Juan Pierre, something the two have done since becoming teammates.

 

Willis intensely watches videos of previous games, dissecting his outings and looking for spots where he can improve.

 

"Whether I'm pitching well or I'm struggling, I don't try to change too much," Willis said. "I just try to stay consistent and just come in and get my work done and try to have the same attitude about everything, regardless of how I'm throwing the ball."

 

When it's time for his day to start, Willis is the most anxious player in the locker room. He arrives at the ballpark several hours before game time and does whatever he can to pass the time.

 

"I usually watch a movie the day I pitch just to pass time because I'm so anxious to get out there and play. I'm kind of a show-and-go guy," Willis said.

 

With Florida playing in arguably the most competitive division in baseball, the National League East, making a run at the pennant is going to likely come down to the final weeks of the season.

 

The taste of winning it all in 2003 has Willis even hungrier to get back to the playoffs and experience another magical run.

 

"I'll never forget being in the locker room when we won and clinched to go to the playoffs, that was a feeling that no self-accolades could compare to," Willis recalls. "I can't even say it was like Christmas, because it wasn't like any Christmas I've ever had. It was just a beautiful thing to see with the families and the kids, drinks, champagne, and everyone hugging and telling everyone they love each other.

 

"We're a family and we're together 180 days out of the year, which is a long time. That's half a year together. You spend a lot of time with everyone and you get to know these guys personally."

 

As for the rest of the season, Willis is not getting caught up with his personal successes, and continues to maintain a positive approach to the game.

 

"I just want to stay healthy, especially in this day in age of sorts where injuries occur," Willis said. "You can't take your health for granted because you can get injured doing anything. I can go out today and I might tweak something and miss my next two starts. It's just one of those things where I try to work hard in the offseason, and I just want to be out there for 35 starts each season and that's all you can really ask for."

 

While he has been one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball this season, his attitude and gregarious personality on and off the field is just as special as his left arm.

 

"He has terrific character and personal pride, but he's totally unselfish," Wiley said. "When you're in a high-profile sport and performing very well at it, he's taken his ability and has taken a one pitch at a time mentality, making quality pitches, helping himself with the bat and doing all those things that are necessary for the team to win.

 

"And if he gets a win out of that then I think that's secondary to him."

 

As long as he's having fun.

 

 

 

Thats just a great article on the DTrain.

Got nothing to do with the article, but imagine a pitcher that can pitch with both arms...that'd be something wouldn't it? If a guy is better at hitting lefties he can just switch around...or if someone is on base he can switch back to lefty....or would there be a rule against that?

Greg Harris, not to be confused with the former Rockie Greg W. Harris, did that.

You can switch right to left from batter to batter, but not during an at bat, I believe. At least that's the way it worked in high school in Florida - Peter Taraskevitch (sp?), a pitcher for American Heritage Plantation who got drafted by the Twins a few years ago, threw in games both right and left handed, and was a damn tough pitcher to hit.

That would be pretty tight to have the train win the Cy, Silver Slugger, AND the Gold Glove.

That would be pretty tight to have the train win the Cy, Silver Slugger, AND the Gold Glove.

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Has anyone ever done that before? That would be quite the triple crown.

That would be pretty tight to have the train win the Cy, Silver Slugger, AND the Gold Glove.

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If this were his first year:

RoY, Cy, Silver Slug., GG, and MVP..

:cool

(yeah, I probably am going to far w/ the MVP)

if only he were that good this year.

if only he were that good this year.

 

/Buzzkill

 

Man some people can be so negative. He will turn it around.

if only he were that good this year.

 

You are a worthless poster.