Willis back on DL; Figaro recalled from Erie!

Dontrelle Willis back on DL with anxiety disorder

FREE PRESS STAFF REPORTS • June 18, 2009

Detroit Tigers left-hander Dontrelle Willis is going back on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, and right-hander Alfredo Figaro will be recalled from Double-A Erie to start for the Tigers on Saturday.

The Willis move is retroactive to Monday.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland previously had announced that the struggling Willis would not make his scheduled start Saturday, but he hadn't named a replacement until today.

More on this story to come from freep.com.

No problemo there. I get anxiety watching Willis start!

RELEASE WILLIS NOW

Figaro?

I can't believe Willis is back on DL

What are Figaro's stats?

Tigers bench Magglio Ordoñez, put Willis on DL with anxiety disorder

By JOHN LOWE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • June 18, 2009

Editor's note: Story updated at 9:03 p.m.

ST. LOUIS — Magglio Ordoñez, homerless in a career-high 38 straight games, is on the bench indefinitely.

Dontrelle Willis, having walked 18 in his past three starts, is back on the disabled list with his anxiety disorder. And right-hander Alfredo Figaro will make his major league debut when he starts in Willis’ place Saturday against Milwaukee.

Today’s developments one-by-one:

Ordoñez: Manager Jim Leyland said he believes he’s “tried everything” to get Ordoñez ignited. He has moved him around the batting order. He has given him days off. Ordoñez has taken extra hitting practice and studied tapes of his at-bats.

Asked how long he would keep Ordoñez out of the lineup, Leyland said, “Indefinitely.” He said he might even withhold Ordoñez from pinch-hitting. “I’m going to get him away from it,” Leyland said. “He’s beating himself up. Just let him breathe a little bit and see what happens.”
Ordoñez has two homers, none since late April. He’s hitting .273 but has only 11 extra-base hits.

Willis: He spent the first part of the season on the disabled list with anxiety order. When he returned, he seemed to have banished last year’s control troubles. Now they’ve come roaring back, capped by his eight-walk start Sunday.

Willis good-naturedly confesses he doesn’t understand how the anxiety disorder affects his pitching. He said his problems feel mechanical. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Willis’ mechanical problems and anxiety are “intertwined.” Rand said this week “we spoke with the people who have been working with (Dontrelle) and decided we had to take a step back and see if there are other things we can do to help him.”

Willis is eligible to come off the disabled list a week from Tuesday, but it’s not clear if he will be back that soon.

Figaro: He was promoted from Double-A Erie instead of anyone in the rotation at Triple-A Toledo, which collectively has been pitching well. But management likes hard throwers, and that’s Figaro. “He threw 93 (m.p.h.) the other night and got up to 97,” Leyland said.

At Double-A Erie, Figaro is 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA. In his past two starts, both wins, he has a combined one walk and 18 strikeouts.

As for why sometimes-starter Zach Miner isn’t replacing Willis in the rotation, Leyland said, “We feel he’s a huge, valuable piece of our bullpen, and we didn’t want to mess with that.”

Leyland said he expects Figaro, 24, to remain in the rotation as Willis’ replacement.

I've been watching Figaro all season long and he is a great pitcher. Many people on most Tiger's boards have been hoping to see Figaro get a chance!

gdennis59 wrote:

What are Figaro's stats?

Figaro has been named:

Figaro Named EL Pitcher of the Week! - 04/20/2009

Figaro Named EL Pitcher of the Week! - 06/14/09

And you can see his stats at:

Figaro Stats>

"Willis good-naturedly confesses he doesn’t understand how the anxiety disorder affects his pitching."

You oughta thank your lucky stars your bosses are so patient with you dude. In the real world you would be joining the club at the unemployment line. (Sadly for Magglio too)

laprimamirala wrote:

"Willis good-naturedly confesses he doesn’t understand how the anxiety disorder affects his pitching."

You oughta thank your lucky stars your bosses are so patient with you dude. In the real world you would be joining the club at the unemployment line. (Sadly for Magglio too)

Although, his contract is guaranteed. Whether he's pitching for the Tigers, sitting at home or hiding on the DL, he'll still get every cent of his current contract.

At least when he is on the DL, the insurance kicks in and it is not costing the team as much money.

bobrob2004 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

"Willis good-naturedly confesses he doesn’t understand how the anxiety disorder affects his pitching."

You oughta thank your lucky stars your bosses are so patient with you dude. In the real world you would be joining the club at the unemployment line. (Sadly for Magglio too)

Although, his contract is guaranteed. Whether he's pitching for the Tigers, sitting at home or hiding on the DL, he'll still get every sent of his current contract.

either that or find somebody to take him, like Sheff

laprimamirala wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

"Willis good-naturedly confesses he doesn’t understand how the anxiety disorder affects his pitching."

You oughta thank your lucky stars your bosses are so patient with you dude. In the real world you would be joining the club at the unemployment line. (Sadly for Magglio too)

Although, his contract is guaranteed. Whether he's pitching for the Tigers, sitting at home or hiding on the DL, he'll still get every sent of his current contract.

either that or find somebody to take him, like Sheff

Problem is, Detroit is paying Sheff to hit home runs for the Mets!

and nobody wants Dontrelle at this point

What a situation...