http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/14219465.htm

 

Dontrelle Willis said he and his teammates have heard the naysayers and listened to the pundits, all of whom have predicted the Marlins will lose 100 games this season. And they're not amused.

 

''We hear all of the critics and what they say about us. And myself and everyone else, we're taking that personal,'' said Willis, who will start on Opening Day in Houston. ``If somebody told you you [stink], it would bother you. It's human nature. You don't want to hear anyone talking about your team like that.

 

``So the effort's going to be there. I'm not going to say we're going to win 100 games, but I guarantee the effort's going to be there.''

 

Willis pointed to the team's spring training record of 19-6 -- best in the majors -- as evidence that the Marlins can, in fact, win.

 

And he said their youth and inexperience could be an advantage.

 

''We just might be young enough to not know what we're getting into and might sneak up on some guys,'' Willis said. ``. . . We're playing with a lot of confidence right now. A lot of guys have a lot of things to prove.''

 

MAKEOVER TIME

 

Willis is one of four Marlins who will be featured tonight at 8 on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

 

The episode, which was taped this spring, follows Willis, left-hander Jason Vargas, infielder Mike Jacobs and outfielder Jeremy Hermida as they help renovate a youth baseball field in Boynton Beach.

 

GIVING REWARDS

 

Over the past week, Marlins manager Joe Girardi has made a practice of rewarding players from minor-league camp by playing them in the late innings of exhibition games.

 

Dominican shortstop Agust?n Septimo was one of four who played Wednesday, and he said it was among his greatest thrills in baseball.

 

''I felt great getting to play in a big-league game,'' Septimo said before running off to call his family. ``I was really excited.''

Willis is one of four Marlins who will be featured tonight at 8 on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

 

The episode, which was taped this spring, follows Willis, left-hander Jason Vargas, infielder Mike Jacobs and outfielder Jeremy Hermida as they help renovate a youth baseball field in Boynton Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

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