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April 25, 2005
Giants Notebook: Williams Headed to Fresno For More Work
SAN FRANCISCO – The up-and-down saga that is Jerome Williams took another turn yesterday with news that the struggling starter had been sent to Triple-A Fresno. Williams, coming off back-to-back poor outings in which he allowed a combined 10 runs in nine innings, will get at least two starts with the Grizzlies to work out issues with his control and arm strength.
Pitching coach Dave Righetti said Williams is "very close to where he needs to be" and added Williams’ troubles could be traced to a shaky spring in which he missed time to visit his father, Glenn, who had liver and kidney transplants last month.
"To me, it’s not that devastating," Righetti said of Williams’ first career demotion to the minors, adding "we’ve all been through these fallouts, including me."
The Giants called up veteran reliever Al Levine from Fresno to fill Williams’ roster spot. Levine, who arrived moments before the Giants took on San Diego, was cut by the team after spring training, but inked a minor league deal to stay with San Francisco instead of signing elsewhere. The 36-year-old righty has pitched for seven teams, most recently with Detroit last season.
Williams, coming off right elbow surgery last August, was solid in his season debut April 9 against Colorado, giving up one run on five hits over seven innings. But because of a day off on the schedule, he was skipped in the rotation and went 10 days between starts. Righetti said the time between starts may have pushed Williams "a little bit out of synch," but that both he and manager Felipe Alou expect a quick return for the third-year starter.
"I don’t have any doubt he’s going to throw a couple of times and be ready," Alou said.
ANOTHER NEW ARM:
Alex Smith, the Utah quarterback selected first overall by the 49ers in the NFL Draft, toured SBC Park prior to the game and was introduced to a standing ovation before the second inning. When asked what the Giants planned to give Smith, reliever Scott Eyre, a former Utah resident, joked, "the key to the city."
Posted April 25, 2005 10:42 AM