How would you like to be Billy Buckner?
Posted by Andy on June 2, 2010
First you made it to the pros in a sport where you have the same name as one of the most picked-on players in history and then you get traded for one of the worst players in the sport.
I can say this much for both Dontrelle Willis and and Bill Buckner--both are classy guys who always gave it their best and I respect them both immensely. I hope Willis and Billy Buckner can both improve on the field and stay in the big leagues.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:19 am
I hope Willis and Billy Buckner can both improve on the field and stay in the big leagues.
I hope so too! And for them to stay in the majors, they'll have to improve.
Unrelated cheesy comment: Assuming both teams are out of their division races by the time the D'backs play four games at Cincy in mid-September, I'd love to see Willis start a game against Micah Owings — with the starting pitchers batting cleanup.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 am
Let's be fair Andy, Willis is pretty bad at the moment but he can't really be considered "one of the worst players in the sport." The last three years his numbers are based on only appearing in 24 games because of a host of ailments. But other than that he has done fairly well. Agreed though, I hope that both can get the coaching and make the needed adjustments to be more than mediocre. Both certainly do seem to have a control problem that needs fixing.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Yeah I worded that badly. What I meant to say was that among players GOOD enough to be given ample opportunity to play, he's among the worst performers.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:47 am
That's very true. Probably that is why, despite him being only 28, that no other team seemed willing to take a chance. Not the first young gun to flame out after a few good years but sad just the same.
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 am
Maybe if he hadn't been abused by the Marlins, he would still be good. 594 innings and 11 complete games by the end of his age 23 season.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Of course both Bill Buckners played for the Royals lol
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Give me four hundred grand a year to play the greatest game ever invented, and I won't mind at all if you call me Billy Buckner. Heck, for that kind of scratch, you could even call me Charles Manson or Barack Obama...well, at least Manson.