JUPITER, Fla. (AP) _ New Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez knew long ago Dontrelle Willis would likely be his first opening day starter. And throughout spring training, it was assumed that the plan hadn't changed.
So when Gonzalez finally announced the decision on Monday, only one guy seemed taken aback.
``Of course I'm surprised,'' Willis said. ``I'm excited. I wanted it, but that doesn't mean I'll have it next year. You never want to assume anything in this game.''
Willis is to make his second straight opening-day start on April 2, when the Marlins visit the Washington Nationals _ the first time a team from the nation's capital has opened the season in the District of Columbia since April 5, 1971, when the expansion Washington Senators started their final campaign before moving to Texas.
Willis threw five shutout innings in his debut last season at Houston, a game he remembers vividly.
``You saw the jets flying over and the little red, white and blue banners on the bleachers and things like that,'' Willis said. ``It was pretty cool just to be a part of it. Everything's a little bit different on opening day. The lineup card's a little bit different, so it's cool, in that sense.''
Willis went 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA last season, and will be followed in Florida's early season rotation by fellow lefty Scott Olsen, then right-handers Anibal Sanchez (10-3, 2.83 ERA with a no-hitter last season) and Ricky Nolasco (11-11, 4.82) _ who's scheduled to start the home opener against Philadelphia on April 6.
``Any one of us could start opening day, in my mind,'' Willis said.
The Marlins won't need a fifth starter until at least April 10, and that'll be either Sergio Mitre or Yusmeiro Petit.
It took Gonzalez some time to determine the order for spots 2-4. But No. 1, he said, was easy.
``No matter what, I thought he was going to be the guy,'' Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez told Willis of the decision before the Marlins held a workout early Monday.
``He's the guy that's been here the longest,'' Gonzalez said. ``He's the leader of that pitching staff and he's the guy we want there for the matchup.''
Now an undisputed clubhouse leader and veteran voice _ although having just turned 25 this winter _ Willis is already entering his fifth season with the Marlins.
He was called up midway through Florida's World Series season of 2003 and is 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA in 127 career starts, plus was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award behind St. Louis' Chris Carpenter in 2005.
``He's the utmost professional,'' Gonzalez said. ``He's a leader. He's a coach's dream, or a manager's dream. You don't have to worry about him at all, whether it's on the mound or the other four days. He comes in, he works, he gets his work done and everybody follows him. He leads with good examples.''
Gonzalez said he didn't see any reason to split Willis and Olsen (12-10, 4.04 ERA last season) in the rotation, saying the current setup allows the Marlins to plan having the two lefties both pitch in April series with NL East foes Philadelphia, Atlanta and the New York Mets.
``Those are the two guys we need to get us going,'' Gonzalez said.
