Dontrelle Willis trying smoother delivery

 

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Posted February 24 2004

 

JUPITER ? The difference wasn't all that discernable. Yet upon closer observation, it was apparent Dontrelle Willis had made a slight modification to his delivery.

 

Among the 30 Marlins pitchers throwing off the mound for the first time this year on Monday, Willis exhibited a smoother wind-up.

 

"It's nothing too drastic," Willis said.

 

The much-celebrated delivery is essentially the same with which Willis totaled 14 wins in his rookie campaign last season. Rather than slinging his leg up, Willis is lifting it in a more fluid motion.

 

"We didn't change anything," said pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal, who had watched Willis throw during the offseason.

 

"It's the same height, but not going up violent. It's smooth where he stays in line longer. He's still herky-jerky, but his direction to the plate is better. He's still throwing the same velocity, hiding the ball the same way, doing exactly the same thing, just more under control."

 

The hope is the adjustment will enable Willis to spot his pitches more effectively. Last season he averaged 3.25 walks per nine innings, up from 1.71 during his first 31/2 pro seasons.

 

"I'm just trying to have better command, making guys put the ball in play," Willis said. "If I give up 10 hits then I give up 10 hits. I'm trying to work on making them earn it. Last year I walked more guys than I usually walk. Now I'm just trying to keep the ball down and stay aggressive."

 

ELVIS SIGHTING

 

Marlins President David Samson arrived beaming about his latest offseason highlight. Saturday he got to meet idol Elvis Costello before a performance at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton.

 

Vice President of Marketing Sean Flynn arranged the encounter, sending Costello's publicity people articles in which Samson mentioned his love for Costello's music.

 

Samson gave Costello a Marlins jersey for his wife, Diana Krall, a jazz singer Costello wedded in December.

 

Though Samson did pass along his cell number, don't look for Costello to sing the national anthem at any Marlins games. Costello is an English Soccer League devotee.

 

"It's not that he's not a Marlins fan," Samson said. "I told him the Marlins won the World Series. He was happy, I guess. He was not counted in the [World Series]ratings points, obviously, but we didn't talk about it. We talked about his music, his wife, his life."

 

Having pinpointed last season's victory total before Opening Day, Samson vowed another prediction. He's just not ready to reveal it.

 

"See you April 5," said Samson, whose Marlins open the season April 6 against the Expos. "That's when I did it last year, right? The media day before Opening Day in the dugout? I'm planning something very memorable on the fifth. It'll be good."

 

REPEAT WINNER

 

Manager Jack McKeon has not begun his quest to get the Marlins back to the World Series, but the family already can boast a repeat champion.

 

McKeon's grandson, Kellan, won the North Carolina wrestling title at 103 pounds last year. This year he was crowned state champ in the 119-pound class and has secured a scholarship to Duke.

 

"That's what he told me when he called me the other night," McKeon said. "`Hey, Papa, see if you can go back-to-back.'"

 

Already a sellout

 

The April 4 exhibition against the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate, sold out in 45 minutes.

 

Albuquerque Sports Stadium seats about 12,000, but the team hoped to accommodate 1,000 more through standing room and berm tickets.

 

Hopefully taking out the rapid kick will help him keep his control thats one of the things that hurt him down the stretch.

I hope his delivery is just as hard to hit now as it was before.

Hopefully taking out the rapid kick will help him keep his control thats one of the things that hurt him down the stretch.

I was thinking the same thing. :thumbup

who cares about his delievery ... or Jack's son going to duke

 

all i care for is the fact that

 

ELVIS COSTELLO IS GONNA WEAR A MARLINS JERSEY ... hopefully

 

woah thats like the dream i never dreamed of, can he please throw out the first pitch ... that would be a major highlight in my life

 

 

woah ... samson just got mad points in my book ... at least the dude likes good music

nice article

 

hehe nice signature " MM-MMMMM It'll get you drunk b****!"

dave chapelle is funny as hell!

I had always had in mind that he was going up to fast and violently. Its going to be intresting how he does pitching more fluid.

I am always skeptical about tinkering with a delivery. I remember last year someone's delivery was being tinkered with - oh yeah, it was Redman. But he had a pretty good year...was left handed... :confused

 

... :blink:

 

 

Ok. I think it could work. Changed my mind...besides, Rosenthal is a pretty damn good pitching coach.

I am always skeptical about tinkering with a delivery. I remember last year someone's delivery was being tinkered with - oh yeah, it was Redman. But he had a pretty good year...was left handed... :confused

 

... :blink:

 

 

Ok. I think it could work. Changed my mind...besides, Rosenthal is a pretty damn good pitching coach.

And AJ Also had good results but then had that ligament but it wasnt his mechanics but because he was being overused.

I am always skeptical about tinkering with a delivery.? I remember last year someone's delivery was being tinkered with - oh yeah, it was Redman.? But he had a pretty good year...was left handed... :confused

 

... :blink:

 

 

Ok.? I think it could work.? Changed my mind...besides, Rosenthal is a pretty damn good pitching coach.

And AJ Also had good results but then had that ligament but it wasnt his mechanics but because he was being overused. I dont know if it was him being overused. I think there are a multiple of factors. For one, I thought his new delivery was good as it put more emphasis on generating power with his lower body. But, it may have made his arm deliver the ball at an unfamiliar, funny angle putting stress on his elbow. Perhaps he undertook a weight regimen like Kevin Brown, strengthening arms, and that put unneeded stress on his elbow. It is no coincedence that both he and Brown, with similar deliveries, had similar injuries.

If there was every a time to work on DW's mechanics it's now. I think everyone knew when he came up that he had raw talent, and needed work. Because of the wild car/playoff push the Fish were unwilling to mess with success.

 

I'm glad to read they are modifying his delivery and in the long run it should lengthen his major league career. Even a diamond in the rough needs to be polished to bring out its real value, and Willis is the real deal.

I am always skeptical about tinkering with a delivery.? I remember last year someone's delivery was being tinkered with - oh yeah, it was Redman.? But he had a pretty good year...was left handed... :confused

 

... :blink:

 

 

Ok.? I think it could work.? Changed my mind...besides, Rosenthal is a pretty damn good pitching coach.

And AJ Also had good results but then had that ligament but it wasnt his mechanics but because he was being overused. I dont know if it was him being overused. I think there are a multiple of factors. For one, I thought his new delivery was good as it put more emphasis on generating power with his lower body. But, it may have made his arm deliver the ball at an unfamiliar, funny angle putting stress on his elbow. Perhaps he undertook a weight regimen like Kevin Brown, strengthening arms, and that put unneeded stress on his elbow. It is no coincedence that both he and Brown, with similar deliveries, had similar injuries. He was Overused though.

 

I also think Weights played a factor in this. He loves weight training but that is very bad for pitchers, notice that all pitchers arent built....for the exception of a few.

I am always skeptical about tinkering with a delivery.? I remember last year someone's delivery was being tinkered with - oh yeah, it was Redman.? But he had a pretty good year...was left handed... :confused

 

... :blink:

 

 

Ok.? I think it could work.? Changed my mind...besides, Rosenthal is a pretty damn good pitching coach.

And AJ Also had good results but then had that ligament but it wasnt his mechanics but because he was being overused. I dont know if it was him being overused. I think there are a multiple of factors. For one, I thought his new delivery was good as it put more emphasis on generating power with his lower body. But, it may have made his arm deliver the ball at an unfamiliar, funny angle putting stress on his elbow. Perhaps he undertook a weight regimen like Kevin Brown, strengthening arms, and that put unneeded stress on his elbow. It is no coincedence that both he and Brown, with similar deliveries, had similar injuries. He was Overused though.

 

I also think Weights played a factor in this. He loves weight training but that is very bad for pitchers, notice that all pitchers arent built....for the exception of a few. Yeah, weight training destroyed that Clemens guy.

 

You just have to be smart about it and not overdo it.

Yea look what weights did to Hampton before he joined the rockies

To me the problem wasn't with his wind-up delivery. The problem was when he would pitch out of the stretch. They should tell him to keep pitching out of the wind-up regardless of whether anyone is on base or not. His stretch delivery is nothing special and he's not that hard of a thrower.

Yea look what weights did to Hampton before he joined the rockies

 

I think the high altitude, average fastball, low K/BB ratio for his career, and his stubborness to make the necessary changes to pitching in said altitude had a lot more to do with his lack of success in Colorado than hitting the weights.

The April 4 exhibition against the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate, sold out in 45 minutes.

 

Man, Albuquerque is the shiznifikit. You guys can thank me for 10 of those badboys. We rule.

To me the problem wasn't with his wind-up delivery. The problem was when he would pitch out of the stretch. They should tell him to keep pitching out of the wind-up regardless of whether anyone is on base or not. His stretch delivery is nothing special and he's not that hard of a thrower.

you have to be kidding. If he uses his wind up with runners on base, just about anyone could steal second off of that. The stretch is used to keep runners close, with Willis' delivery it's so incredibly simple to get a great walking lead, that most above average runners could jog to second and make it in standing up...

you have to be kidding. If he uses his wind up with runners on base, just about anyone could steal second off of that. The stretch is used to keep runners close, with Willis' delivery it's so incredibly simple to get a great walking lead, that most above average runners could jog to second and make it in standing up...

 

I know what the point of the stretch delivery is, and I say "So what?" Who cares if some guys steals a base. If Dontrelle, in the wind-up, can keep the batter from putting the bat on the ball, then the runner on base doesn't matter. Stealing off Dontrelle from the wind-up is probably no more difficult that trying to steal off Randy Johnson. Being able to steal off Randy sure hurt him a lot.