Two things are clear. Willis is not physically hurt and he can't throw strikes. But Willis thinks his delivery just needs tweaking while the Tigers think it's the yips. But how long should a baseball team continue to pay a guy who can't play baseball very well? Khalil Greene just came from back from the disabled list for his anxiety disorder, which doesn't seem like the kind of thing you can clear up in 22 days.

Oh, and Magglio Ordonez has also been benched for excessive suckage. Does he have a disorder too?

What's the answer here? Tough love or heavy doses of psychotropic drugs? And will said drugs also be shared with fans, because what do you think losing two out of three to the Pirates did to them?

Willis back on DL with anxiety disorder [MLB]
Ordonez benched, Willis to DL in lineup shakeup [Daily Tribune]
Greene, Kinney return to Redbirds' roster [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

This is Willis' second season in Detroit, but it was actually his first win ever as Tiger. And it was only in 2005 when Willis was one of the best pitchers in the game. Then injury problems became a mysterious "anxiety disorder" and everyone was pretty much ready to write him off. But now ... six innings of one-hit ball! Crank up the fireworks because the kid is back!

Do you think it might be irresponsible to "reboot" his career so that we can all act like we did when he was a rookie, when every single thing he did stunned and amazed? That was way more fun than the last two years when he imploded and forgot how to throw a baseball. Maybe overzealous hype is just what the doctor ordered for a guy with confidence issues? It got Zack Greinke the cover of Sports Illustrated (eventually) so I definitely think it's worth trying again.

"I'm a guy who shoots from the hip, and I was just playing bad. I have no condition. My condition is just going out and playing baseball and having fun."

See? That doesn't ominous. Problem solved!

That was Dontrelle Willis? Look out! [Detroit Free Press]
Dontrelle Willis impressive versus Texas Rangers, take wait-and-see approach [ESPN]
Dontrelle Willis brings simplified approach to latest stint with Tigers [MLive]

The Baseball Prospectus folks have been warning that Willis has been waning for years, but to actually see it come to 10.32 ERA is beyond comprehension. When did it start to go wrong? We think it tracks back to December 2006 and his seemingly out-of-nowhere DUI arrest.

Police approached Willis, 24, about 4 a.m. after he stepped out of his black Bentley and urinated on the street. He was arrested the nightclub Mansion, said Bobby Hernandez, a department spokesman. Willis failed a field sobriety test, police said. He later refused a Breathalyzer test.

Was this a sign of upcoming trouble? Or just a guy needing to pee really badly? Come back, Dontrelle: We miss you already.

Marlins, Laugh Joke About Tigers Demoting Dontrelle Willis [Detroit Free Press]

At first glance, it appears to make the Tigers' lineup terrifying, and for a year or so, that would seem to be the case. But the Marlins have an excellent track record in this business; it wouldn't surprise us in the least to see that collection of Florida cheap youngsters do one of their patented annoying wild-card runs to the World Series in a couple of years.

More to the point: Jeez, when did the Tigers become the Yankees? It's yet another day that Alan Trammell spends in his basement, staring at the wall, flicking his lamp on ... and off ... and on ... and off ...

Crashburn Crapshoot [Crashburn Alley]

Police approached Willis, 24, about 4 a.m. after he stepped out of his black Bentley and urinated on the street. He was arrested the nightclub Mansion, said Bobby Hernandez, a department spokesman. Willis failed a field sobriety test, police said. He later refused a Breathalyzer test.

It's a shame for Dontrelle, who has consistently shown himself to be charitable, accessible and one of those baseball guys it's difficult to dislike. His image surely will take a hit in the wake of the arrest, but hey, it's Christmas: We're sure the nightclub Mansion just had a special on nog.

Marlins' Dontrelle Willis Arrested On DUI Charge [Miami Herald]

Anyway: If you want to show your support for Dontrelle's upcoming nuptials, he is registered online at Macy's (Vera Wang gravy boats still available!) and Crate And Barrel (we like the Hudson Double Old-Fashioned wine glasses, ourselves). You might not have received an invite to the shindig, but that doesn't mean you don't wish the guy well.

Someone Caught A Big Fish [Insomniac's Lounge]

In other words 24 of the other 30 MLB teams don't have a Black starting pitcher or in yet other words with 150 or more roster starting pitchers currently working in MLB baseball 6 of 150+ are African American and that is why Monday's MLB game Marlins vs. Dodgers Willis vs. Jackson was so noteworthy and why there may be numerous Solar Eclipses before 2 Black MLB starting pitchers face each other Again Pray for the Future of Baseball.

BlackBox [Black Athlete]
Willis Wins No. 17 [The Benedict Blog]