To be honest, Dontrelle Willis has actually done better than I anticipated this season. Obviously, that means my expectations for Willis weren’t too high. He is 1-3 with an ERA of 6.84. And the statistics are telling of the way he has performed.
I thought he’d walk more hitters, although15 walks in 25 innings isn’t exactly good control. He has fallen behind a lot of hitters and poured pitches over the heart of the plate - and gotten hit hard as a result.
No pitcher has ever really come back from what Willis had - and still, apparently, has - whether you call it, "Steve Blass Disease" or "The Thing." It’s one of baseball’s great unsolved mysteries.
He seemed to making progress toward doing so, but it was fleeting. The Tigers now have to make a decision. Circumstance, as much as their good play, has dictated they will be a contender this season. The American League Central is decidedly mediocre. Asking Willis to return the minors is a bit much, considering there would be no reason for the Tigers to expect him to return. It’s difficult to see how he’d help in the bullpen. Nobody is going to trade for him. Jeremy Bonderman is going to start Monday for the Tigers.
Could it be Willis will be released? The Tigers may have no other choice. Yeah, even with all that money left on his contract.

Random Thoughts

- The Lakers have considerably more athleticism - Pau Gasol, Larmar Odom, Andrew Bynum - inside than the Cavaliers. It is why the going is going to be a lot tougher for Dwight Howard and the Magic in the NBA Finals You could tell already in Game 1 this is going to be a short series - and why. The matchups were great for Orlando against Cleveland. It’s not like that at all vs. the Lakers.

- The Red Wings best chances for winning would include Justin Abdelkader. He should play in Game 5 Saturday night. It was mistake by Red Wings Mike Babcock he didn’t play in Game 4.

My column in Friday's Oakland Press: http://tinyurl.com/krk8po

The latest "Caputo And His Boss" video: http://tinyurl.com/o6qavr