Dontrelle Willis

SARASOTA, Fla. - New Orioles pitcher Dontrelle Willis arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex at daybreak Wednesday morning hoping for another chance at continuing his major league career. Willis, signed to a minor-league contract on Tuesday that will pay him $700,000 if he stays on the big league roster throughout the season, was happy to be in an Orioles uniform.  He will audition for a role in the bullpen as a left-handed specialist, as he did this spring with the Phillies, who released Willis Friday.

The D-Train starting era began at Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday It didn't last long. Veteran lefty Dontrelle Willis, making his first start for the Tides, lasted just 2 2/3 innings. He gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters against Columbus, the Cleveland Indians' top affiliate. He threw 70 pitches, only 43 for strikes. Not exactly what the Orioles or Willis were looking for considering Dontrelle-Gate back in April. The Orioles signed the affable 30-year-old to be a situational reliever in March after he was cut by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis , who left Triple-A Norfolk's game Wednesday after nine pitches, has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Willis, whom the Orioles signed to a minor league deal late in spring, told the Virginian-Pilot that he "tweaked" his forearm yesterday and had been experiencing pain since spring training. “I've worked hard. Maybe it's overuse," Willis, who is being converted into a reliever, told the newspaper.

Tonight, Dontrelle Willis will start a game for the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. That in itself is news because Willis, the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, left the Tides earlier this season because he wanted to start and wasn't given the opportunity. The 30-year-old Willis is back and is pitching against Toledo. But that is not the crazy part. What's crazy is this: Willis becomes the 17 th different pitcher to start a game for the Tides this year.

The D-Train starting era began at Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday It didn't last long. Veteran lefty Dontrelle Willis, making his first start for the Tides, lasted just 2 2/3 innings. He gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters against Columbus, the Cleveland Indians' top affiliate. He threw 70 pitches, only 43 for strikes. Not exactly what the Orioles or Willis were looking for considering Dontrelle-Gate back in April. The Orioles signed the affable 30-year-old to be a situational reliever in March after he was cut by the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Orioles have signed left-hander Dontrelle Willis to a minor-league contract, according to an industry source. It is a split contract, which would pay him $700,000 if he remains in the major leagues all season. He is scheduled to report to Sarasota on Wednesday, the source said. Willis, 30, was released by the Phillies last week. He had signed a one-year, $1 million deal with Philadelphia in December. He was auditioning for a bullpen spot this spring, allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings and recording a 16.87 ERA in three appearances, walking four and striking out none before being released on Friday.

Orioles minor league pitcher Dontrelle Willis has reportedly left the club's Triple-A affliate in Norfolk without the organization's permission after being placed on the minor league restricted list, but the Orioles appear to have no plans to release the left-hander. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles in the spring to become a situational left-handed reliever. He had signed with the Phillies in the offseason but was released midway through spring training.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles, and will return to the organization tomorrow, his agent confirmed. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles to a minor-league deal during spring training to be a situational left-handed reliever. Two weeks ago, he left Triple-A Norfolk saying he was told he was getting his release , but the Orioles contended that was never the case and he left without the club's permission.

Tonight, Dontrelle Willis will start a game for the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. That in itself is news because Willis, the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, left the Tides earlier this season because he wanted to start and wasn't given the opportunity. The 30-year-old Willis is back and is pitching against Toledo. But that is not the crazy part. What's crazy is this: Willis becomes the 17 th different pitcher to start a game for the Tides this year.

The agent for Orioles minor-leaguer Dontrelle Willis is in the process of filing a grievance against the club, alleging the Orioles told Willis his was given his release but then placed him on the restricted list, preventing him from pursuing other baseball opportunities. Willis' agent, Matt Sosnick, said Willis was told he would be given his release by Orioles baseball administration director Tripp Norton on Wednesday. But on Sunday, Willis was placed on the minor-league restricted list.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles, and will return to the organization tomorrow, his agent confirmed. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles to a minor-league deal during spring training to be a situational left-handed reliever. Two weeks ago, he left Triple-A Norfolk saying he was told he was getting his release , but the Orioles contended that was never the case and he left without the club's permission.

The agent for Orioles minor-leaguer Dontrelle Willis is in the process of filing a grievance against the club, alleging the Orioles told Willis his was given his release but then placed him on the restricted list, preventing him from pursuing other baseball opportunities. Willis' agent, Matt Sosnick, said Willis was told he would be given his release by Orioles baseball administration director Tripp Norton on Wednesday. But on Sunday, Willis was placed on the minor-league restricted list.

Orioles minor league pitcher Dontrelle Willis has reportedly left the club's Triple-A affliate in Norfolk without the organization's permission after being placed on the minor league restricted list, but the Orioles appear to have no plans to release the left-hander. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles in the spring to become a situational left-handed reliever. He had signed with the Phillies in the offseason but was released midway through spring training.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis , who left Triple-A Norfolk's game Wednesday after nine pitches, has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Willis, whom the Orioles signed to a minor league deal late in spring, told the Virginian-Pilot that he "tweaked" his forearm yesterday and had been experiencing pain since spring training. “I've worked hard. Maybe it's overuse," Willis, who is being converted into a reliever, told the newspaper.

Outfielder Jai Miller , who has been shelved for several days because of tendinitis in his right knee, may be able to play in Monday's night game against the Pirates. Miller, who is out of minor league options and is fighting for a bench spot, hasn't played since March 20. "It's something I've been dealing with, but it just got to the point where it got pretty bad and I needed some time off to let it heal," Miller said. "I'm pretty close to being in the lineup. " Miller said the tendinitis stems from an old basketball injury and occasionally flares up with continual stress on the leg. "I know how it goes.

The Orioles host the Blue Jays this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. This will be right-hander Tommy Hunter's first Grapefruit League start of the spring. He threw four innings in a minor league game on Friday. Dontrelle Willis has arrived at Orioles camp today. He appears happy to be here and is eager to earn a spot in the team's bullpen. Read more about Willis' arrival HERE. Here's the Orioles lineup: Endy Chavez RF JJ Hardy SS Wilson Betemit 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP

MIAMI - When you've flipped in a car five times, as Florida Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis has, major league hitters don't seem so intimidating. Willis was driving 65 mph on a highway in Palo Alto, Calif., in February when a rear tire blew on his Mustang. The car began to flip, just like something out of a NASCAR "Greatest Crashes" video. Rubberneckers crossed themselves, certain someone had died. When the emergency crews arrived, Willis was standing by the wreckage, a little dazed but, incredibly, unhurt.

On deck -- Braves vs. Marlins-- Two struggling aces, Atlanta's Tim Hudson (2-3, 5.09) and Florida's Dontrelle Willis (1-3, 5.15), meet tonight.

Some notes from this morning's sessions with Buck Showalter, Dan Duquette and other interviews: Showalter expects some cuts today. But he said it is not a certainty. He spent some time in the morning watching signee Dontrelle Willis on the back fields. Willis, who signed a minor-league, split-level deal Tuesday that would be worth $700,000 if he were to spend all season in the majors, will be used as a lefty specialist. And almost certainly the 30-year-old will begin the season in the minors.

SARASOTA, Fla. - New Orioles pitcher Dontrelle Willis arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex at daybreak Wednesday morning hoping for another chance at continuing his major league career. Willis, signed to a minor-league contract on Tuesday that will pay him $700,000 if he stays on the big league roster throughout the season, was happy to be in an Orioles uniform.  He will audition for a role in the bullpen as a left-handed specialist, as he did this spring with the Phillies, who released Willis Friday.