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BlackAthlete Sports Network-www.blackathlete.net Baseball
Willis, Marlins’ 21-year old rookie phenom, who is 7-1 with
a 2.38 ERA is taking the Majors by storm. In only nine starts
he has captivated fans with is funky delivery and has baffled
hitters with his pitches.
He was thrust into the spotlight on June 16th win he threw a one-hitter
against the hapless New York Mets. In his last six starts he has
had a 0.84 ERA and is slowly building a case for the All-Star
team.
Despite all this hype will he turn out like Roger Clemens in the
future or Mark Fidrych and Dwight Gooden? Willis contends that
he is not just another phenom like others may label him. In an
interview with Alan Schwarz of ESPN.com Willis said, “I'm
not a phenom -- I'm just a kid who loves the game and loves to
be out there,” he contended. “Once people get the
book out on you, they see you over and over again, we'll see what
kind of tags I have on me. I'm not a phenom. I don't think of
myself as phenomenal."
Hopefully for Willis’s sake and Major League Baseball’s
future he is not just another pitcher. Willis is the perfect type
of player that baseball needs to promote. He has the sparkling
smile along with the jerky delivery that fans can cling to. The
smile that can be on commercials and the delivery that can baffle
the hitters to future greatness.
That’s a little far down the road, but for now Willis is
not an All-Star Starter. Despite the great start to his career,
he has only had nine starts. Kevin Brown is second in the National
League with 10 wins in 16 starts, first in ERA with 2.22, and
6th in strikeouts with 93. While Willis is doing well, Brown is
doing exceptionally well and leading the Los Angeles Dodgers in
the Pennant Race.
While Willis won’t start in the All-Star game, there will
probably be a spot for him and all his fan fare. He’s only
21 years of age, which would make him a senior in college, and
is already being considered for an All-Star starter. Just sit
back and watch him develop. One step at a time! |
New Jersey