Courtesy of Zimbio.com
Dontrelle Willis, the newest addition to the Cincinnati Reds rotation, is a good baseball story. From 2003 to 2006, Willis owned 58 Wins, a 3.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 2.38 K/BB. At age twenty-four, he had a fine future ahead of him. Or so it seemed. Since 2006, Willis posted just 13 wins, a 5.81 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and 1.11 K/BB (with a 5.6 BB/9). Willis lost his control, rotation spot, and up until this season, Major League career.
The Reds scooped him up, dropped him in Triple-A, and he excelled to the tune of a 2.63 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 3.35 K/BB. Willis was re-called by the Reds, and inserted into their rotation along side Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, and Homer Bailey. So far, Willis has posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 1.50 K/BB in 3 starts. Not great, but not bad. Willis succeeding in the Majors again would make a great comeback story, but one has to wonder why it should be at the expense of Travis Wood. Continue reading
