Tigers’ Willis goes on DL with anxiety disorder

Tigers place Willis on DL

ST. LOUIS — The Detroit Tigers altered their rotation and the middle of their lineup Thursday, placing left-hander Dontrelle Willis on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder and benching slumping slugger Magglio Ordonez indefinitely.

Willis was the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and a 22-game winner in ‘05, but is 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA this season while struggling with control problems that have intensified in recent starts. He walked eight in 3 2-3 innings in a loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday and has walked 18 in 11 innings over his last three starts.

Willis believes the problems are mechanical, not mental.

“I’ve talked to everybody and I don’t feel like I have any nervousness out there,” Willis said. “I’ve got so many moving parts that if one’s out of whack from time to time it happens.

“This is not the first time I’ve had control problems, but I’ve been able to overcome it, so I’m not worried about it.”

Willis has been his usual gregarious self during a three-game interleague series against the Cardinals, constantly joking around with teammates. He even punctuated many of his comments about going on the DL with laughter.

The team believes the cause of Willis’ repeated control problems is deeper than just mechanical issues. Trainer Kevin Rand said Willis has been dealing with anxiety issues since spring training.

“What we’re trying to do is put Dontrelle back in a position where Dontrelle can perform,” Rand said. “As it stands right now it’s not the Dontrelle Willis you expect to be pitching, but we see it’s in there.

“We’ve just got to get to it.”

Willis went on the DL hours before an interleague game against the Cardinals, who activated Khalil Greene from the 15-day disabled list for social anxiety disorder. Greene was not in the lineup with the team planning to ease him back into competition.

The 35-year-old Ordonez’s numbers are in conflict with his resume: a six-time American League All-Star with a .312 career average and seven 100-RBI seasons, plus an AL batting title with a .363 average in 2007. Batting primarily third, he was hitting .273 with two homers and 22 RBIs.

Manager Jim Leyland said he talked to Ordonez about the outfielder’s declining production a few weeks ago, so the benching shouldn’t come as a total surprise. Leyland felt he had to make a move with the offense in a tailspin, scoring three or fewer runs in seven straight games.

“Right now he’s beating himself up,” Leyland said. “Just let him breathe a little bit and see what happens. I really feel bad for him, but I’ve got to do something. That’s just the way it is.”

Leyland said Ordonez didn’t know what was wrong with his stroke.

“I think he’s just befuddled right now,” the manager said. “I don’t think he can figure it out, I don’t think anybody can figure it out right now. If anybody can, I’m open for suggestions.”

Leyland said he’d try to avoid using Ordonez even as a pinch hitter for a while. That left the Tigers essentially two men short before right-hander Alfredo Figaro is recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday to fill Willis’ turn in the rotation against the Brewers.

The 24-year-old Figaro, who’ll be making his major league debut, throws in the mid- to upper 90s. The Tigers also considered giving reliever Zach Miner the start.

The Tigers have been in contact with Major League Baseball for guidance, and Rand said medical staff will meet in Detroit to formulate a rehab plan. Willis will remain with the team, at least for now.

“It does me no good to not throw,” Willis said. “I’m just looking forward to doing whatever they need me to do to get my mechanics right.”

Leyland is rooting for the 27-year-old pitcher, who spent time at the Class A level last year ironing out his delivery in his first season with the Tigers.

“Dontrelle is a great team leader and my heart aches for him,” Leyland said. “I think there’s plenty left in his arm. He’s a competing son of a gun.”