Tigers encouraged by Garcia, Willis

09/02/2008 8:13 PM ET
Tigers encouraged by Garcia, Willis
Hurlers square off in simulated game on Tuesday
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The last time Dontrelle Willis stood on the mound at Comerica Park, manager Jim Leyland was taking the ball from him after he couldn't find his command against Cleveland back in June. The last time Freddy Garcia stood on any Major League mound was last summer, when he was trying to pitch through an aching shoulder in Philadelphia.

Their returns came in a simulated game, but the encouragement was real. What it means for the Tigers down the stretch this season and beyond is still up to management to decide.

"I think both of them want to get into a game," Leyland said, "but I think both of them know there's a process, and we'll see what happens."

Though Garcia pitched against Willis' former team, the Marlins, twice last season, the two never faced each other in a real game. Tuesday's simulated outing had them going back to back against a group of five Tigers hitters. Considering the situation, their biggest competition was themselves, trying to fight through their respective issues. Still, their performances at times seemed like a tit-for-tat over the course of four innings.

Garcia sent down the side in order in one inning, shattering Jeff Larish's bat on a line drive toward second before sending down Mike Hessman swinging at a slider that dropped on him at the last minute. Willis came back in the bottom of the inning and recovered from his one walk with back-to-back strikeouts, sending down Dane Sardinha on a checked swing before overpowering Larish on a high fastball.

Willis topped out at 94 mph on his fastball and regularly hit 91, according to Leyland. His delivery, Leyland said, was "much more controlled."

"I'm very happy," he said of Willis' 72-pitch performance. "He was tentative at the beginning, and then he was free and easy."

Leyland attributed that, in part, to more confidence as the outing went on. Willis attributed it to being loose.

"I'm just trying to have fun," Willis said.

Garcia's 55 pitches included fastballs in the mid-80s, the same or slightly lower than the 86-87 mph he hit regularly in his start last Thursday for Triple-A Toledo. His other pitches, however, seem to be close to regular-season form.

"Freddy was exactly what I expected," Leyland said. "What I see from Freddy is, there's no restriction with his arm in his delivery. He's got great extension."

That leaves Garcia's arm strength as the biggest hurdle, but one that can only be addressed through more work and patience as he works his way back from last year's shoulder surgery. But as Leyland pointed out, Garcia was winning two years ago with a fastball in the mid-80s and an abundance of guile.

That's partly why he seems relatively confident as he progresses, whether or not he pitches in the big leagues in September. He's already ahead of the normal schedule for pitchers who tear their labrum, and he's far enough along where he could conceivably retire Major League hitters.

"Just continue to pitch," Garcia said. "I need to throw innings. If I stay home, I'll never get stronger."

His next handful of innings will come in another simulated outing, most likely when the Tigers are home next Monday. After that, Leyland and club officials have a decision to make.

The decision on Willis, Leyland admitted, will be a little more complex -- whether and when to put him in a game, whether to start him or use him from the bullpen, what kind of workload to expect.

"We'll have a decision to make," he said.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I hope Garcia can at least come back and do some good stuff.

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Nice avatar, detroitwings82!

gogetem, you should get in the chatbox if u can.

09/08/2008 9:11 PM ET
Willis, Garcia throw simulated games
Tigers unsure of when pitchers could see live action
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Dontrelle Willis went into his usual high leg kick, unfurled to home plate and fired toward the mitt. Bullpen catcher Scott Pickens held it on the inside corner to get the called strike -- from himself, to the roar of nobody in the crowd.

It can be difficult to take a whole lot out of a second simulated game, but for Willis and Freddy Garcia, there were a couple more signs of encouragement Monday. Both of them felt good about their command as they worked on locating certain pitches, and both took a positive out of their ability to change speeds.

"They both were good," manager Jim Leyland said. "They were both over the plate."

Neither has an idea what comes after this. That will come after a discussion between Leyland, president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and other club officials.

Willis, working his way back after being optioned to the Minor Leagues in June to work out control problems, threw about 82 pitches over four innings against a mini-lineup of Matt Joyce, Ryan Raburn, Mike Hessman, Jeff Larish and Ramon Santiago. Willis struck out five while giving up a pair of home runs. Hessman reached for a diving sinker and got enough of it to line an opposite-field shot to right field in the opening inning before Willis hung a slider to Raburn in his final inning of work.

Those two shots and a single was the only damage Willis gave up. More important to him were the spots he was hitting with his fastballs, offspeed pitches, sinkers and sliders.
"I had good command, threw some good changeups today," Willis said. "Last time I didn't throw too many good changeups. It was good work today."

The work on the inside part of the plate was particularly encouraging for him. It's a change to him from what he has done in the past, at least from one side of the plate.

"It's good," Willis said, "because in the course of a year, you can't attack a guy the same way. So you have to do things not outside the box, but do things in different ways. I've never really thrown inside to lefties before like that, just tried to throw sinkers down."

Garcia, signed last month to a Minor League contract while he works his way back from shoulder surgery from last summer, threw about 67 pitches, right around the mark the Tigers wanted for his outing. He put his breaking ball in storage after he was happy with its results in his previous simulated outing last week, opting instead for a heavy dose of fastballs and changeups.

"It was good. It feels better than last time," Garcia said.

Leyland has discussed the possibility of pitching Willis in a game, whether in a starting or relief role. The left-hander is already on the active roster, so no move would be necessary. Garcia, on the other hand, will have to have his contract purchased from Triple-A Toledo.

If and when they pitch, it won't be before the middle of the week if it's in a starting role. The rotation is already set for the rest of the week, and Leyland said Monday afternoon that Armando Galarraga would likely start next Monday in Arlington.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.