Dontrelle Willis Released

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The Phillies released LHP Dontrelle Willis this morning after three extrmemly unimpressive Spring outings. Willis, 31, was projected to be the seocnd lefty out of the bullpen for the Phils.  This opens the door wide open for Rich Dubee favorite Jacob Diekman, who has had an impressive Spring thus far. Diekman, struggled initially at Reading during this first part of 2011, but came on very strong towards the end of last season.

33 thoughts on “Dontrelle Willis Released”

    1. Seems I’ve heard the same argument for for Diekman made for Aumont. They are both guys with higher ceilings competing with very good pitchers. Should be interesting.

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  2. Yes Diekman strikes quad players out. Ive yet to see him throw consistent strikes that advanced left handed hitters would swing at. Savery has been much more reliable this spring in my opinion.

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  3. Both guys have thrown just 3 innings so far in ST so how has one guy proven to be “more reliable” than the other?

    Now there is a sample size issue. Based on that sample, both Savery and Deikman have proven to be more reliable than Roy Halladay.

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    2. They’ve probably seen enough in side sessions, workouts, etc to make a decision that he’s finished.

      Not really a surprise given his recent track record.

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      1. Not talking about Willis but rather the comment that Savery was preferable over Diekman based on him being more reliable this spring.

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        1. Oh, okay. Though with Savery you could point to his solid effort last year whereas Deikman has zero track record with his current arm slot and he had major control issues before that.

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          1. I don’t actually have a preference of one over the other. Just found it odd some were using 3 ST innings to make an argument either way.

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  4. Anyone hear of Joe Blanton being on Red Sox radar? Would like to pry Will Middlebrooks away from them…but alas it would take more then Joe Blanton…probably Dom Brown also.

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  5. See here is a look at the possible pitching:
    SP-Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Worley, and Blanton
    BP-Papelbon, Contreras. Bastardo, Stutes, Qualls, Kendrick, and Herndon

    or if the Phils trade Blanton

    SP Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Worley, and Kendrick
    BP, Papelbon, Contreras, Bastardo, Stutes, Qualls, Herndon, and Savery

    I think Dubee wants the best guys and doesn’ care about having 2 lefties. Herndon had a great ERA in the second half last year. If they trade Blanton and Kendrick becomes the #5 Savery would be my choice. I think Aumont and Diekman will be better off with more seasoning in AAA and later in the season they, along with Justin DeFratus, will be ready to contribute to the pen.

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    1. Having a 2nd lefty is not a huge priority early in the year anyway…as they’ve shown with their bullpens the last few seasons.

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    2. Agreed – though I don’t think it’s necessary to take a 2nd lefty back north (as NEPP points out below), I think Savery is next in line regardless. Diekman is exciting but I think he would benefit from some AAA seasoning.

      Aumont, DeFratus, Diekman, Schwimmer in the LV bullpen? Not too shabby

      Too bad about Dontrelle. I was holding out for best case scenario including a few PH appearances. Oh well

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    3. Herndon was left off of the Phillies post season roster, which shows what the team thought of his performance at the end of last season. Herndon is on the bubble. If everybody is healthy then he, Stutes, and one of the lefties are battling for the two bullpen spots, with Stutes a clear favorite for one spot. My guess is that Herndon is third in line, but that one of the 12 pitchers ahead of him will be DL’ed by April 5th so he’ll make the opening day roster along with Savery or Valdes.

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  6. If Contreras makes the team, there are no spots remaining for a 2nd lefty because Herndon has made the team. That is what I think is going to happen.
    It will make things interesting as to the make up of the AAA staff. Bush, Hyatt, & Misch are definite starters. Pineiro, Bump, Cloyd, and the other lefty from last year will fight for the other 2 spots. Aumont, DeFratus (DL to start), Schwimer, Savery, Horst and Diekman would be definites. That would leave Purcey, Valdes, Sanches, Rosenberg, Cloyd possibly, maybe Elarton, and probably Cisco fighting for one spot. That’s a lot of arms.

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    2. My AAA staff looks like this today:
      Starters: Hyatt, Misch, Bush, Bump, Feierabend
      Pen: Aumont, Schwimer, Savery, Diekman, Sanches, Valdes, Purcey
      DL: DeFratus
      Pineiro opts out 3/31, Rosenberg, Cloyd, Horst, Cisco to Reading to start the season.

      I’m starting to think Elarton to Starters, Feierabend to pen, and best pen guy to Phils in the Willis spot.

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  8. If anyone heard Ricky ricardo interview on radio he says raul valdes has been great and could make the team

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    1. He has had one so-so outing. Ricky is referring probably to his coming off a great winter in which, as a starter, he led his Dominican team to the Caribbean championship. His first couple of relief appearances were good. He has a history of bouncing around both leagues. Maybe he has found himself at the right place, right time.

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  9. Overall, IMO this camp has been less then impressive. Maybe its me, but something seems amiss.
    Not having a fully healthy Howard and Utley, and now reporters questioning Roy H.’s velo are disconcerting.

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      1. Agree,,, just one large difference IMO…Hamels was 27 years old last year…..Roy turns 35 in May. Seen too many times when ‘father time’ decides a pitcher’s fate.

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        1. The phillies are convinced the vets have one more year. GO YOUNG. Willies had nothing, savery throws too many hittable strikes. Diekman is much better . It,s time to deal the dh brown and blanton for ttavis snyder and encarcion. Gillies of, he,ll get plenty of ab,s. Galvis and luna 4 and 5 inf,s. Goodbye to the coterie of mediocrity. Posed. Orr pierre frandsen. ROLL THE DICE.

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          2. Understand and can sense your concerns….the core are in the ‘twilight’ of their careers..but the transistion has to be relatively seamless. Drastic changes, ie Marlins in ’97 after their WS, prove to be successful but after six years later….there were some really down years between ’97 and ’03. And is it fair to ‘go young’ for Roy H. and Cliff Lee…they want to win it now.

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  11. Yeah not a good outing for Contreras….how about that fight for the last OF spot Posdenik batting around .370…Pierre starting to hit…and then Lou Montanez might also be putting his name in the race with his .448 average and his plus fielding.

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  12. De Fratus update?…really hoping he can show his stuff soon, I was impressed with his time in the bigs last season

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    1. Im not saying the whole team , just brown and blanton who contributed absolutely nothinh last year. And in fact its out of necessity. Im doc and lee would appreciate snyder in left mayberry at 1 st encarcion at 2 nd and polly at3 rd. The key is like anything else in supply and demand, sell high. Btw 102 wins means nothing 1980 and 2008 91 wins. Thats the only thing that matters.

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      1. 102 wins is a great accomplishment.

        Winning the World Series means that you got lucky with your match ups. (The Dodgers in ’08, ’09, the Reds in ’10, etc). vs (the Giants and Cardinals).

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  13. This may be old news to you, but there was a report a week ago that Juan Perez had suffered a collapsed left lung. Although he didn’t have much success here last year, he was apparently having an excellent spring and turning heads in the Brewers camp. (He’d held opposing batters to a .154 average.) Source = WTMJ News Radio out of Milwaukee.

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