The Dontrelle Willis Story (Part The Continued)

Yesterday I wrote about Detroit Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis being put on the disabled list due to a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. The strange thing about the diagnosis was that it came from a blood test, and there was discussion that the Tigers were couching it in these terms so as to scam money from the insurance company so that the insurance company, and not the Tigers, would be responsible for paying Willis's contract should he not be able to pitch this season.

I was willing to play along, though it sounded a bit funny, just because I despise insurance companies -- I used to be an insurance defense attorney for car wrecks and the cheapest, most-willing to cheat bastards in the world were the insurance companies. But it was a bit strange that this was diagnosed by way of a blood test.

So today, doctors not associated with the Detroit Tigers weigh in on this topic. And guess what, you can't diagnose anxiety disorder by way of a blood test. Nope, not possible. It just can't be done.

Yes, yes, I know. You're shocked. There's no way a baseball team would lie, after all, because baseball execs are fine, upstanding individuals on the same level as insurance companies.

There are a couple of things that could be going on here. Willis could legitimately have anxiety disorder, and the Tigers are looking for some way to get out of paying his contract by having the insurance company pay it. There's also the chance that there's something else, something more seriously wrong with Willis, and the Tigers for some reason thought this would be a better thing to come up with. Or of course, maybe Dontrelle Willis just can't pitch anymore and the Tigers don't want to be stuck with his contract.

Anyway, if it is anxiety disorder, let's hope he gets the proper treatment. That's the important thing. Right?