GDT: 5/13/09 - DET (17-14) AT MIN (16-17) - 8:10 p.m. ET

MINNEAPOLIS -- As Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Dontrelle Willis last week, it's time to find out.

All the scrutiny about what Detroit should do with Willis, how it can fit him into its plans, what happened last year, what exactly was his anxiety disorder, what happens with his contract, becomes secondary Wednesday. The primary concern with Willis -- not just for the Tigers, but for the rest of baseball -- turns to the mound in the Metrodome, as Willis turns his attention to the Twins in the batters' box.

It's right where Willis wants the attention. He wants to find out, too.

"I'm just excited to play," Willis said. "I don't care if it's indoor or outdoor. I'm just excited to go out there and compete and try to win a ballgame. I'm the same as if I was in a high school game as far as me being excited to go out there and get a chance to play."

Willis is excited, but he is not content.

Willis compares his last couple months to a traveling circus, what with the attention that has followed him with each outing. His Spring Training performances were put under a microscope, and his final outings in the spring were viewed as if they could be his last. His most recent game appearance in a Tigers uniform actually came in extended spring training.

Since then, his road back has sounded like a Johnny Cash song. He's been to Lakeland, Fla., to Erie, Pa., to Allentown, Pa., then on to Pawtucket, R.I. He flew back from Pawtucket and hooked up with the Tigers in Cleveland before taking a charter flight with the rest of the team here. And somewhere during the time in Spring Training, he had a trip to Detroit to be examined by doctors.

"It's been a traveling circus," Willis said. "I've been everywhere. Trust me, it's not as bad as what it seems, but I want to be a traveling circus in that big league uniform, like everybody else."

Actually, Willis could probably do without the circus part. If he's traveling with the team and pitching like he believes he's capable, maybe it won't be a circus. Yet after the control problems and moves over the past year, it's going to be a comeback story no matter what happens.

In that sense, the simple comeback of rejoining the Tigers should give some sense of accomplishment for Willis. Because as the Tigers broke camp and headed north at the end of Spring Training, it wasn't certain that Willis would pitch in a Major League uniform again, let alone wearing the old English D.

The biggest change to come out of Willis' stint on the disabled list, he said, is the ability to not worry about perception anymore. That includes not only his pitching, but the perception of his anxiety disorder.

"I'm a guy that shoots from the hip. I was just playing bad," Willis said. "And that happens. I'm not a doctor. I'm not trying to be a doctor. I'm trying to be a baseball player. I'm not getting into that.

"Even when I went on the DL, I felt fine. You can ask anybody in here. I'm not a depressed guy. Maybe I'm hard on myself, but I wouldn't have gotten here if I wasn't. But there's a fine line to knowing what you can control and what you can't control. As far as how I feel, I don't have a condition. My condition is me going out there and playing baseball and having fun. If God doesn't want me to do it, then I'll find something else to do."

After all Willis has been through over the last year, he's willing to accept that possibility. He just isn't quite ready for it yet. This comeback isn't just about Wednesday's start, but the start after that, and the turn after that.

"Now that I'm up here, I'm not content," Willis said. "I want to continue to play, get myself settled in, what have you."

It's time to find out if Willis can do it. The difference now is that he isn't going to judge himself on every pitch.

"Whatever the outcome may be, I'm going to really go out here and enjoy this game of baseball," Willis said. "Only a few of us to get to play until we're 35, and I'm not Tom Glavine, so I'm going to enjoy this."


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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Dontrelle Willis (Season debut)
Willis will be activated to make his first start of the season after spending the past month and a half on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Willis will not be on any sort of pitch count -- he threw 118 pitches in his final rehab start for Triple-A Toledo. In that start, Willis gave up two runs in 7 2/3 innings, fanning four and walking four. The left-hander has only made one appearance against the Twins, giving up one run in an inning of relief.

MIN: LHP Glen Perkins (1-2, 3.73 ERA)
Perkins went six innings in his last start against the Orioles. The left-hander allowed four earned runs on five hits while striking out two. Perkins went 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in four starts against the Tigers last season. The Twins are 2-4 in his starts in 2009.

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Tidbits

...Detroit made room for Willis on the 25-man roster by designating right-handed reliever Juan Rincon for assignment. Rincon, who made the team out of Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, has three days to decide whether to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Toledo or become a free agent.
... Willis will be the Tigers' first left-handed starter this season.
... The Tigers are expected to decide Wednesday whether to send out Jeremy Bonderman on a Minor League rehab assignment now or wait a little while longer. Bonderman threw 87 pitches in an extended Spring Training game Monday and felt fine, according to Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand.
... Placido Polanco has a 10-game hitting streak, during which Gerald Laird is in an 0-for-21 slump. Laird is 1-for-35 over his last 11 games.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander, 3-2, 4.50 ERA) at Twins (RHP Scott Baker, 1-4, 6.83 ERA), 1:10 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (RHP Edwin Jackson, 2-2, 2.60 ERA) vs. Athletics (LHP Dallas Braden, 3-4, 2.79 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello, 3-3, 4.28 ERA), vs. Athletics (LHP Brett Anderson, 0-3, 5.79 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

Inning 1
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin Morneau.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Denard Span walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Matt Tolbert batting, missed catch error by Miguel Cabrera on the pickoff attempt, Denard Span to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Matt Tolbert out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Dontrelle Willis to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Denard Span to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Mauer reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Adam Everett to catcher Dane Sardinha. Denard Span out at home.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Justin Morneau homers (9) on a fly ball to center field. Joe Mauer scores.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 2-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, second baseman Matt Tolbert to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Glen Perkins to second baseman Matt Tolbert to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jeff Larish grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Twins 2-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Joe Crede singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Brendan Harris singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Joe Crede to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Mike Redmond lines into double play, pitcher Dontrelle Willis to shortstop Adam Everett. Joe Crede out at 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Carlos Gomez grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Brendan
Harris out at 2nd.

Twins 2-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Dane Sardinha lines out to shortstop Brendan Harris.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Denard Span. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Twins 2-0

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Denard Span grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Matt Tolbert doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Joe Mauer singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Matt Tolbert scores.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Justin Morneau singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Joe Mauer to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Michael Cuddyer grounds into double
play, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Justin Morneau out at 2nd.

Twins 3-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out, second baseman Matt Tolbert to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Jeff Larish walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Jeff Larish to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to
second baseman Matt Tolbert. Miguel Cabrera scores. Jeff Larish scores.
Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Dane Sardinha strikes out swinging.

Twins 3-2

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Joe Crede pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brendan Harris singles on a line drive to pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Mike Redmond singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Brendan Harris to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Gomez out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Brendan Harris scores.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Denard Span flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

Twins 4-2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis Granderson steals (5) 2nd base.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
With Clete Thomas batting, wild pitch by Glen Perkins, Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
With Clete Thomas batting, wild pitch by Glen Perkins, Curtis Granderson scores.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Clete Thomas lines out to second baseman Matt Tolbert.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

Twins 4-3

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Matt Tolbert grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Joe Mauer walks.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Justin Morneau pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Dontrelle Willis.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Joe Mauer to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Crede grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 4-3 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Denard Span.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Jeff Larish swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge homers (9) on a fly ball to left field. Magglio Ordonez scores.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Luis Ayala replaces Glen Perkins.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Dane Sardinha pops out to second baseman Matt Tolbert.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, Adam Everett steals (2) 2nd base.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out, second baseman Matt Tolbert to first baseman Justin Morneau.

5-4

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Brendan Harris walks.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Mike Redmond grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Brendan Harris to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Gomez walks.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Zach Miner.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Denard Span triples (2) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Brendan Harris scores. Carlos Gomez scores.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Matt Tolbert out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Denard Span scores.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Mauer grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 7-5 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco walks.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Clete Thomas doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez. Placido Polanco to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Guerrier replaces Luis Ayala.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (8) on a fly ball to left center field. Placido Polanco scores. Clete Thomas scores.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on strikes.

Ump pushes Maggs on his back to lead him to the dugout...

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland ejected by HP umpire Paul Schrieber.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Jeff Larish homers (4) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: R. A. Dickey replaces Matt Guerrier.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Everett swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Dane Sardinha grounds into a force out, third baseman Joe Crede to second baseman Matt Tolbert. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

9-7

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Bobby Seay.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Bobby Seay.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez in foul territory.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Crede flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

9-7 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Placido Polanco out on a sacrifice bunt,
pitcher R. A. Dickey to first baseman Justin Morneau. Curtis Granderson
to 2nd.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
R. A. Dickey intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.

9-7

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Josh Anderson replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 5th, playing left field.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brendan Harris flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Mike Redmond singles on a line drive to right fielder Clete Thomas.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jason Kubel replaces Carlos Gomez.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jason Kubel homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field. Mike Redmond scores.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Denard Span called out on .

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Matt Tolbert swinging.

Tied 9-9 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to center field for Denard Span.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Kubel remains in the game as the left fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joe Nathan replaces R. A. Dickey.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Jeff Larish walks.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ryan Raburn replaces Jeff Larish.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3 - Adam Everett grounds into double play,
bounces off pitcher Joe Nathan to shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin
Morneau. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

Tied 9-9

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the designated hitter.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Joe Mauer flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Justin Morneau swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Crede flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Tied 9-9 after 9 innings

Inning 10
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jose Mijares replaces Joe Nathan.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Gerald Laird replaces Dane Sardinha.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson bunt grounds out, pitcher Jose Mijares to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco strikes out swinging.

Tied 9-9

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Gerald Laird remains in the game as the catcher.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Joel Zumaya.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Brendan Harris called out on strikes.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Mike Redmond grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Jason Kubel grounds out, pitcher Fernando Rodney to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Tied 9-9 after 10 innings

Inning 11
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Denard Span.

B:3 S:2 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
second baseman Matt Tolbert to first baseman Justin Morneau. Clete
Thomas out at 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Anderson called out on strikes.
Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Fernando Rodney.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Denard Span strikes out on foul tip.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Matt Tolbert grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Joe Mauer walks.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Tied 9-9 after 11 innings

Inning 12
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jesse Crain replaces Jose Mijares.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
shortstop Brendan Harris to second baseman Matt Tolbert to first
baseman Justin Morneau. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Tied 9-9

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Crede flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brendan Harris hits a ground-rule double (3) on a fly ball to right-center field.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Mike Redmond lines out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Tied 9-9 after 12 innings