Willis ready to be the ace

JUPITER, Fla. -- Success has a way of following Dontrelle Willis.

Among the D-Train's growing list of accomplishments are a World Series ring, a National League Rookie of the Year Award, two All-Star Game appearances, the Warren Spahn Trophy and runner-up in the Cy Young race.

The accolades keep rolling in, as the turbo-charged Marlins left-hander was recently named the starter for the United States in the second game of the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

A year ago, Willis exceeded all expectations, becoming the first Marlin to win 20 games, and he topped the Major Leagues with 22 victories and five shutouts.

With so much so soon, it's hard to imagine Willis still has less than three years of Major League service time, and the Alameda, Calif., product is just 24.

As impressive as Willis has been, this may be his most challenging season, largely because the Marlins are in the midst of a youth movement. Financial restraints created by an unsettled stadium situation in South Florida resulted in the team scaling back payroll.

Willis certainly has the tools to be a perennial winner, but does he have enough team around him to keep posting incredible numbers?

Confident first-year Marlins manager Joe Girardi would contend Florida's squad is indeed strong enough for Willis to continue his winning ways.

"I would say he does [have a good enough supporting cast]," Girardi said. "I don't really think Dontrelle would ever take that [negative] attitude. If someone were saying that to me, I'd say, 'I'll show you.' That would be my attitude.

"I don't worry one bit about Dontrelle thinking about individual goals. Dontrelle is a team guy. Dontrelle understands that he was young -- he's still young -- but he was young in terms of service time a few years ago. Guys had to learn to live with him and deal with him, and he has to do the same. You're talking about a 10 when it comes to makeup."

As a rookie in 2003, Willis found himself as a newcomer on a Marlins team that was going through turmoil. At that point in 2003, the team had a losing record and was on the verge of making a managerial change, going from Jeff Torborg to Jack McKeon.

Willis' drive ended up being a prime reason for the team turning itself around and going on to win the World Series.

"I think these [new] guys definitely see an opportunity," Willis said. "And they definitely can go out there and be a spark. No one wants to be talked about negatively in their craft. I think they are hearing a lot of negative things about our team. As a professional and as a ballplayer, you take that as an insult. And you should, because that means you care. They are going to go out there with something to prove. You're going to see them playing as hard as they can."

A consummate team player, Willis doesn't get caught up in statistics or expectations. He remains grounded and tries not to overanalyze things.

"I'm not that smart. I'm not that complex," Willis says. "When I try to get complex on the mound, that's when I get in trouble. I just try to simplify things out there and say, 'This is where it is, 0-0.' When I start thinking about numbers and history, that's when I get in trouble. I was never good at history anyway."

Called up from Double-A Carolina in May 2003, Willis became an immediate sensation. With his high leg kick, wide smile and appreciation of the game, he's a fan favorite with international appeal.

But since being promoted, Willis had the luxury of being part of a talented rotation that included Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, Carl Pavano and Brad Penny.

Entering the 2005 season, Willis was tabbed as the No. 4 starter because the Marlins mixed up their right-handers and left-handers. Now Willis is the undisputed ace in a rotation that may have two or three rookies.

"I feel like the ace every time I step out," said Willis, who has a 46-27 career record. "Last year, they set up the rotation righty-lefty-righty-lefty. I don't care, because everybody is going to have the chance to pitch. That's the bottom line. I feel I'm the best player out there on that day. I'm going to go out there with the same effort level."

Willis' all-out effort and full-throttle hustle won over teammates and fans from the moment he was promoted in 2003. Looking back, Willis is thankful people in the organization believed he could deliver in the big leagues at a young age.

Now the Marlins are hopeful a number of their top prospects can blossom quickly.

"With me, it was just believing in what I have," Willis said of why he found success early. "Obviously someone thought I had enough talent to compete in the big leagues. That's enough for me. That was all the confidence I needed.

"But it was hard. The big leagues is hard. I don't care if you are in it 15 years or 15 days, it's hard. The key for me was learning myself, and learning what I had to do to compete in games. Learning what works and what doesn't work -- just little things like that."

The advice Willis gives to his teammates is to believe in themselves.

"That's the reason you ride 12 hours on the bus in the Minor Leagues and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, for this chance to believe you will be in the big leagues," he said. "Otherwise there are other things you can do. You could work a desk job and have less stress."

CHOOOOO CHOOOOOOO! ALL ABOARD tHE D_TRAIN!!!