not sure if this was posted, if so please close and lock the thread, or combine. If not then enjoy. I thought it was a good read for a fluff piece

 

 

RICK HURD: INSIDE BASEBALL

Willis overcomes struggles, rumors

By Rick Hurd

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Florida Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis reacts after getting the San Francisco Giants' Moises Alou to ground out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 in San Francisco. Florida won 8-1.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Florida Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis reacts after getting the San Francisco Giants' Moises Alou to ground out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 in San Francisco. Florida won 8-1.

 

Inside baseball

 

Joe Girardi is one of those savvy, old -- well, in his case, still quite young -- catchers who always seemed to be on the fast track to a manager's desk. As such, he's been educated quite well in the Crash Davis school of saying a lot while actually telling very little.

 

But on Tuesday night, the 41-year-old manager of the Florida Marlins said something that actually told plenty, and if his bosses are smart -- an entirely different discussion, altogether -- they'll pay attention.

 

You see, Girardi has spent all of 71/2 months as the skipper of a team that's been strip-mined since its World Series victory three years ago, and in that time, he's watched his high-kicking, hip-twisting ace of a left-hander endure a stretch as funky as his delivery. Yet, newbie that he is, Girardi already has seen enough to conclude that his high-kicking, hip-twisting ace is among the half-dozen or so pitchers around which a franchise would be smart to build.

 

"Oh yeah," he said without hesitating, "because when you look at a pitcher as an ace, you look at makeup as well as arm, and he's a 10 when it comes to makeup."

 

Thing is, it's only a matter of time until Dontrelle Willis' arm will start yielding 10s, too. Heck, it may be happening already to judge by the complete game he tossed in Florida's 8-1 win over the Giants on Wednesday at What Would Thomas Edison Think Park. Willis has won two consecutive starts, allowing just three runs in 16 innings.

 

All of which is why the Marlins would be smarter to market their Wayne Huizenga halcyon days (see, fire sale) than send Willis, an Encinal High School graduate, to one of baseball's 29 other destinations.

 

Now, current Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria would be the first to insist that a journeyman reliever would be raided by the feds before Willis is sent anywhere. Loria has gone on record on multiple occasions to insist that his minions have neither the incentive nor the inclination to trade Willis or third baseman Miguel Cabrera, Florida's other young stud with World Series ties.

 

Nevertheless, rumors of Willis' eventual departure continue to swarm like mosquitoes, and not just because baseball owners are the honorable, take-at-face-value folks that they are. Willis is being paid $4.35 million this season, he's eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, and the Marlins' payroll is not expected to go much higher than its current $15 million. Even Willis can read between the lines in that equation.

 

"Nah, I don't think about it, but obviously, you never know for sure what will happen," he said. "That's why they pay the front office people so well to decide that stuff."

 

Of course, a front office that retains Willis would increase radically its chances of a huge payday down the line. And if anything could cement that notion more than Willis' 22 victories and National League Cy Young runner-up finish last season, it was how he responded after posting just one win in the first two months of 2006.

 

"He's probably the most impressive guy I've ever played with," said teammate and ex-Giants reliever Matt Herges, who has been around Willis for an ever shorter time than Girardi. "He's the face of the Marlins. He's won 22 games. But if you didn't know better, you'd think he was a rookie who hasn't done a thing. He's humble. He's giving. He's an amazing kid."

 

That Willis was cut differently from the cloth has been apparent from almost the moment he burst upon the big-league scene three years ago. He won seven consecutive starts during his first seven weeks, two of them shutouts. The high-kicking, hip-twisting delivery seemed something out of the legend of Satchel Paige. His smile and enthusiasm drummed up memories of Mark Fidrych.

 

But coaches will insist that only the most difficult of times reveal true character, and needless to say, this character has shown plenty.

 

"It's everything," Girardi said. "It's how he handles himself on the mound. It's how he takes responsibility. It's how he interacts with other guys. It's how goes about his business. It's everything."

 

"The thing about struggling," Willis said, "is that everybody struggles. But that's life. You struggle in business. Students struggle in the classroom. But it's how you go about it that really determines what kind of man you are."

 

And soon, we will determine what kind of franchise the Marlins want to be. A special package like Willis isn't delivered very often, and discarding it would be as prudent as speaking without thought.

 

Any old catcher, even if he happens to be young, could tell you that.

 

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctime...rd/14768542.htm

Can't stress enough how a guy like Dontrelle makes baseball more enjoyable.

Nice piece. If PR means anything to Loria he'll hang onto him like a Picasso.

fun to watch and we need him for the long run.

Dontrelle basically had 3 awful starts and a lot of tough losses. He needs to head up this team for some time to come.

You would assume that any one who was smart enough to achieve success in the business of MLB (Admin Beinfest) or someone who accrued great wealth as in the case with Jeff Loria, would realize that you dont trade a player like Willis.

 

 

Many will site stats or "trading Willis for the right package" as reasons to trade him. Thats not looking at the big picture.

 

Ive said it before and I'll keep saying it. Trading him would be the worst business move/public relations F Up in the history of the organization.

You would assume that any one who was smart enough to achieve success in the business of MLB (Admin Beinfest) or someone who accrued great wealth as in the case with Jeff Loria, would realize that you dont trade a player like Willis.

 

 

Many will site stats or "trading Willis for the right package" as reasons to trade him. Thats not looking at the big picture.

 

Ive said it before and I'll keep saying it. Trading him would be the worst business move/public relations F Up in the history of the organization.

 

I totally disagree. While Dontrelle is a supreme talent and a helluva guy, if you need to move him and you can get 3 upper echelon prospects who fit in the puzzle perfectly, that is something one needs to explore.

You would assume that any one who was smart enough to achieve success in the business of MLB (Admin Beinfest) or someone who accrued great wealth as in the case with Jeff Loria, would realize that you dont trade a player like Willis.

 

 

Many will site stats or "trading Willis for the right package" as reasons to trade him. Thats not looking at the big picture.

 

Ive said it before and I'll keep saying it. Trading him would be the worst business move/public relations F Up in the history of the organization.

 

I totally disagree. While Dontrelle is a supreme talent and a helluva guy, if you need to move him and you can get 3 upper echelon prospects who fit in the puzzle perfectly, that is something one needs to explore.

 

 

And again I say your not looking at the big picture. We will agree to disagree because attempting to convince me otherwise is a big waste of your time and mine.