Dontrelle Willis had another tough time this afternoon in the Tigers 7-4 loss to the Pirates.  He was shelled for seven runs in just three frames and he gave up eight hits and four walks.  No, this wasn’t the Yankees, it was the Pirates.  Even pitcher Zach Duke picked up a pair of hits off of Willis and this caps off a pretty poor spring. 

Willis is one of the polarizing figures with a lot of people on both sides.  His advocates like his style and his near Cy Young season a couple of years ago while his detractors look at his poor 2007 and a move to the American League as a disaster waiting to happen.  I’m leaning more towards the positive but after this spring, it’s hard not to be worried.

And now the Tigers are making their own holes in the bullpen.  Last year’s breakout reliever, Tim Byrdak, has been given his release.  He filled in admirably as the Tigers left handed specialist when Jamie Walker left for the Orioles but now he’s off the team after a very rough spring.  That leaves Bobby Seay as the Tigers primary left hander coming out of the pen to start the season.  Macay McBride is an option but he’s still a work in progress.

Kenny Rogers gets his final start of the spring tomorrow against the Phillies.  It’s on FSN, but it’s an afternoon game.

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