Travis Blackley DFA'd, Hangs out with Fans.

A long, long time ago. I can still remember how the sunshine made me feel inside. I used to play-ay baseball, at a high school in southern California, And two years behind me was this kid Daric Barton.

OK, so I'm not much for making song parodies, but at least I speak da troof. The Oakland Athletics DFA'd a Jordan Norberto, Daric Barton and Travis Blackley yesterday from their Major League roster as spring training dwindles away and Opening Day creeps closer.

Daric Barton was a slight unfortunate for this blogger. Barton is a graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, CA, the high school that just so happens to be my Alma Mater. Barton had seemingly stamped his ticket as an everyday Major League player in 2010 when he posted a .273/.393/.405 slash line, collecting a league leading 110 walks and putting up a bWAR of 5.4. But, after 67 games in 2011, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and missed the rest of the season. He came back late in 2012, but struggled to the tune of a .204/.338/.292 slash line and a bWAR of 0.3. His spring was looking eerily similar to 2012, so the A's made the decision to send him packing.

Giants Sign Dontrelle Willis, Release To Follow

The San Francisco Giants have signed Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract. I assume the Giants are trying to catch lightning in a bottle or perhaps show their Triple A pitchers what not to do. This is Willis' 3rd team of six he will play for this season. Willis has already been DFA'd by the Tigers and Diamondbacks this year. After the Giants release him, I predict the Mets, Brewers and my backyard Wiffle Ball team (Single Humped Camels) will be next in line to hire/fire Willis.

In 2005, Willis went 22-10 with a 2.36 ERA. He led the league in complete games (7) and shutouts (5). In 2006, he led the league in hit batters. In 2007, he led the league in earned runs. Then it all fell apart. He was traded to Detroit with Miguel Cabrera and was signed to an extension sight unseen. He crashed harder than the economy in Detroit. In 8 games he posted a 9.38 ERA and failed to hit the wide side of the barn twice.

Somehow in 65.2 innings between the Tigers and Diamondbacks, Willis managed to give up 41 earned runs this season. Zach Greinke gave up 55 earned runs in 229.1 innings last year. Willis seems like a nice guy and I wish him all the luck in the world but, um, he might want to work on his Wiffle Ball slider.