DONTRELLE WILLIS

Remember this guy? Facing the the D-Train in a three-game series against the Florida Marlins was always one of the least favorite things to do for the Mets back during the 2003 – 2006 seasons. Dontrelle Willis went 11-3 against the Mets with a 2.51 ERA in 19 starts.

Willis won the Rookie of the Year in 2003 and was nearly unstoppable in 2005 when he went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That season he also led the league with seven complete games and in shutouts with five.

Then it all began to unravel.

Today I saw his name flash across the transaction wire.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis was reassigned to the Reds’ minor league camp.

Willis, who agreed to a minor league deal in November, was trying to win a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen but walked 11 in 9 2/3 innings this spring. He had no decisions with a 9.31 ERA.

The 29-year-old Willis has struggled since that magical season in 2005, appearing in just 30 major league games over the last three seasons.

How the mighty have fallen.

“Notorious Met Killers” will be a new weekly feature on Mets Merized Online as I look back at some of the players that loved making life miserable for the Mets over the years. Feel free to leave some Notorious Mets Killers that you would like to see in future editions, in the comments section.