Willis, acquired from the Florida Marlins along with third baseman Miguel Cabrera, had been one of the best hitting pitchers in the National League. He hit .286 for the Marlins last season and has a .234 career batting average with eight homers and 35 RBIs. But he's terrified managers with his penchant for sliding head-first into bases, trying to stretch doubles into triples.
Willis pitched three innings and allowed two hits, walking one and striking out three as the Tigers lost, 5-4, to the Atlanta Braves in a game called after the top of the ninth due to rain. Willis lowered his spring ERA to 1.80 after two starts.
Now that he's in the American League with the designated rule hitter in effect, Willis said he isn't even thinking about being used as a late-inning pinch-hitter.
``As soon as I got to the Tigers (manager Jim Leyland) put it in my head that I wouldn't be doing any hitting. I liked to do it. I liked the chance to keep our club in the ball game and I took a lot of pride in it.''
He said he hasn't touched a bat since the trade, but it hasn't completely left his mind.
``I could hit and I can always take an extra at-bat if they need me, but pitching is on my mind now.''
Leyland said Willis could forget about it unless there was an emergency situation.
``Out of the question,'' Leyland said. ``Only if there was a total emergency or if someone got hurt and I had to, but out of the question.''
Willis was sharp in his three innings and Leyland was impressed. He faced only 11 Braves, many of whom had seen him in the National League. He said that he hasn't grown accustomed to spring training being a routine exercise.
``I am still working hard,'' Willis said. ``It isn't business as usual at all. I am throwing strikes. That's all I am working on right now.''
Willis led the majors last year in allowing 118 earned runs, but Leyland said Willis is right where he needs to be. He also lauded most of the pitching staff. Aquilino Lopez, Preston Larrison and Todd Jones allowed only two hits total. Armando Gallaraga allowed all five runs in an inning-and-two-thirds.
``It was a pretty good day for our pitching,'' Leyland said. ``We only had problems in one inning. I was pleased.''
Tom Glavine made his second start of the spring for the Braves and allowed two runs in two-and-two-thirds innings. He struck out two but walked three.
``I can't be displeased,'' Glavine said. ``It would be nice to go one, two, three, but that isn't realistic in spring training. I am happy I used all my pitches and I just need to get more consistent.''
Braves manager Bobby Cox had nothing but good things to say about the veteran who came over to the Braves as a free agent from the New York Mets last winter.
``Glavine looked great,'' Cox said. ``He only allowed one hard hit ball. He's throwing free and easy and feels great.''
The Tigers scored two in the second, but the Braves erupted for five in the fifth off Gallaraga. The Tigers scored twice in the eighth to cut it to 5-4, but never got a chance to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
-- NOTES: The rain started to fall heavily in the top of the ninth inning. Leyland said he had no problem calling the game, but didn't want to put the tarp on the field to cause a rain delay. About 15 minutes after the game was called, the rain had stopped. Cox said he thought the situation was a bit scary in the top of the ninth as the rain steadily grew harder ... Willis keeps an autographed baseball card of former Tigers pitcher Matt Mantei taped to the top of his locker at Tiger Town. Mantei was attempting a comeback after nearly two years off the baseball field with arm and leg injuries. He was given his release on Sunday after feeling more pain, but Willis said they became good friends and that Mantei meant a lot to his growth as a pitcher ... Brandon Inge, who has requested a trade, started at third base and tripled in his first at-bat. He was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Leyland said he would showcase Inge at third when there were scouts in the stands ... Non-roster catcher Dane Sardinha caught most of the game for the Tigers. Ivan Rodriguez took the day off and the only other catcher on the major league roster is Vance Wilson, who will likely miss the first month of the season. Sardinha was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/207746