Brewers sign Dontrelle Willis to Minor League Deal w/ST invite

[patrickgpe]

includes invite to spring training.

 

hopefully they bring in more than him to complete for the swing man role

 

http://www.brewcrewball.com/2015/1/21/7866217/brewers-sign-dontrelle-willis-to-minor-league-deal

[pogokat]

he hasn't pitched well in the majors since Braun was drafted.

[Bombers]

What!?!?! This is awesome!!! Wow, such a huge signing. Oh, wait what's that? It's 2015 and not 2005. Awwwwwe. It is simply amazing that teams still are kicking the tires on him when he hasn't had an ERA under 5 since 2006. That my friend is simply astounding. But whatever, it is just a minor deal with an invite.

 

If you are looking for the positive, somehow the guy is only 33 and must have thrown his first pitch in MLB when he was 15. Maybe, just maybe he can be an effective Loogy

[Outlander]

Has not been in the majors since 2011. Nothing in his independent or minor league numbers from 2012-2014 suggest he should be with the Brewers during 2015.

[dacbrewers]

Don't like this pickup...Why even do it? Yes, he is a lefty but his numbers are horrible and have been for several years. The Brewers have plenty of guys in the system who could and would perform better than Dontrelle.

[dacbrewers]

The invite to spring training just makes it that much worse. He will end up throwing 6 good innings, the brewers will add him to the roster and then the tailspin starts. Can't wait to see where this goes.

[jerichoholicninja]

This is clearly payback for Willis unfairly stealing the rookie of the year from Podsednick. Willis will make the team and then only be used in mopup duty and get hammered into oblivion before he finally retires in shame. I like it.

[Bikeage77]

Posted this in the Major League Forum, saw this and deleted it.

 

The signing is definitely an interesting one. I loved him when he first came on so I'll be rooting for him. But this is probably just more or less a AAA depth move. He probably will be released by May, if not sooner.

[jerichoholicninja]

Maybe he's actually going to play 1B. His career .665 OPS isn't that much lower than what Overbay (.661) and Reynolds (.681) did last year. Heck, in 2011 he OPS'd 1.032 in 34 PA.

[TheCrew07]

Unless he's completely overhauled his mechanics, why would the Brewers even bother?

[FVBrewerFan]

Brooks Kieschnick 2.0- now with 25% more veteran grit.

[Matt Breen]

I always wondered why Willis didn't convert to being a LOOGY.

 

Lifetime splits: .562 OPS vs lefties / .788 OPS vs righties

 

Even in the last couple of years pitching in the majors, he was effective:

 

2011: 75 IP / .369 OPS vs lefties / .828 OPS vs righties

2010: 66 IP / .581 OPS vs lefties / .937 OPS vs righties

 

Perhaps the club sees him strictly to be a lefty specialist (and emergency left handed pinch hitter). I guess if he looks healthy and committed to being a specialist, he might work out. You just have to put him in a position to thrive (LOOGY).

[JohnBriggs12]

Spring training always has longshot stories. He must have looked good enough in his workout. I'm sure they are only thinking at looking at him as a loogy.

[DocLuna7]

Maybe we can get around to resigning Livan Hernandez this year as well?

[SRB]

2011: 17.0 IP, 10.6 K/9, 1.1 BB/9, 1.97 FIP, 2.01 xFIP

2010: 21.0 IP, 12.9 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 2.13 FIP, 2.32 xFIP

(Edit: this is vs LHP)

 

Keep in mind that was as a SP (but was also 4-5 seasons ago...)

 

Lots of people scoffed at Zach Duke too. I think it's a smart signing, see what he can do as a RP.

[Jim Goulart]

July 2014 interview during an independent league stint --

 

[SoupTown]

It will be so interesting to see his 'stuff'. Has he lost 10 mph? Is his arm wrecked so he cannot throw a breaking pitch?

 

If he actually has any pure stuff left, if he gets on any sort of a roll (I mean makes the team, pitches a few innings and gives up nothing) it could be that any mojo snowballs. I mean if you are a young guy and is facing OMG... Dontrelle Willis... is there a mental thing that will be in Dontrelle's favour?

 

The only downside is this: if the 1 in a 100 happens, and he makes the team, and is milked a bit at the start, and looks OK, then RR will do a Smith and Thornburg to him. He will in every game until he is ruined for the year... and in his case... his life. Smith was freaky good last year until he wore down. So, giving Smith a day off here and there early would have allowed him to be wonderful an extra 10 outings down the stretch. So the idea that you push a reliever one or two times, can actually cost you 10 or 12 outings later on.

 

RR is really, really, really bad at using his relievers. That is the downside of a Willis comeback. RR will UNcomeback it really quick. So Dontrelle will simply be able to say in future years 'well, I came back great in 2015, with the Crew, and pitched 20 times in April, and I was great... then I had to retire.'

[dlk9s]

I know I posted this in the locked thread, but I'll reprise my reaction to the news here:

[torts]

I have no problem with this, especially if he's used in situations like Wang last year. Give the guy a shot to come back, pitch in meaningless innings late in blowout games to gain his MLB confidence back and see if theres something there. If there isnt, DFA him in June and bring up some MiLB arms from Colorado

[dlk9s]

Yeah, I don't see why anyone would have a problem with this signing. Willis wants to play and there's basically no risk in giving him a shot. If he's good enough to make the team, great! If not, that's that. Seems like a good dude, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if training camp is just a tiny bit more fun with him around.

[yoshii8]

Its hard for me not to cheer for guys like him. He was an amazing story w the Marlins and seems like a good guy.

[Bombers]

I have never heard that Dontrelle Willis wants to be a "Lifer" in baseball. As Adam M has said he does seem very excited

 

http://m.mlb.com/mil/video/topic/26668332/v38611383/?c_id=mil

 

Edited as my wonderful corrective typing changed Dontrelle to Donatello

[Bombers]

@AdamMcCalvy: Dontrelle Willis has told the #Brewers he intends to retire. Stiff neck derailed his comeback attempt.

[jerichoholicninja]

@AdamMcCalvy: Dontrelle Willis has told the #Brewers he intends to retire. Stiff neck derailed his comeback attempt.

 

I was wondering what was up since I don't remember seeing his name in any box scores yet. Seems weird considering how he talked about how much he loved the game and playing just a few weeks ago and all it took was a stiff neck for him to call it quits.

[djoctagone]

he had been borrowing jeff suppan's pillow.