Dontrelle Is Probably Done for the Year

Though I suppose you could argue Dontrelle Willis was done for the year before ever throwing a pitch this season.

Anyway, as you may remember, Dontrelle hurt his knee back on April 11th when throwing a pitch and had to be placed on the disabled list. After returning from the injury, Willis was used out of the bullpen, but that didn't last too long. Willis rejoined the starting rotation after only one relief appearance for two starts before the team just pulled the plug on him and sent him to the minors. He hasn't pitched for Detroit since.

Now, as the coup de gras of Dontrelle's 2008 season, he's had a setback with his knee injury and will likely be done for the year.

Willis was scheduled to return to Detroit early this week to have his right knee examined, the team said Monday. That is the same knee he hyperextended in April, forcing him onto the disabled list for the first time in his big-league career.

The setback reduces the chance Willis will pitch again in the majors this season.

What's really worrisome here is that I'm not sure Dontrelle will be any better next season after he recovers from this knee injury. After all, I'm not sure his struggles in Detroit can be attributed to the knee seeing as how he walked seven hitters in his first start of the season before ever hurting the thing.

I think Willis is just suffering the effects of being ridden like a horse down in Miami all those years, and I don't know that he'll ever be the same again. Good thing the Tigers gave him that contract extension.