Chris Haft / MLB.com
A guy who has won a Rookie of the Year Award, made an All-Star team, saved three League Championship Series games in as many tries and owns a career average of 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings shouldn't be a non-roster invitee.
Yet that's Scott Williamson's lot in life as he begins Spring Training with the Giants. A nearly ceaseless succession of injuries throughout his nine Major League seasons have threatened to derail his career. He didn't sign his Minor League deal with the Giants until last Sunday.
"I knew it was going to be hard to get a guaranteed big league job," Williamson said Saturday.
Now, Williamson must prove that he maintains the skill to overcome his status. But the Giants' six- or seven-man bullpen simply might not have room for him. Brad Hennessey, Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson are assured of spots. Vinnie Chulk, Steve Kline, Randy Messenger and Jack Taschner are back from last year. So's Jonathan Sanchez, if he doesn't win the No. 5 starting spot. Pat Misch and Erick Threets are younger, left-handed and on the 40-man roster. Rule 5 draftee Jose Capellan appears poised to compete for a role, as does Keiichi Yabu, another non-roster invitee.
Still, Williamson believes that if his right arm remains sound, he'll force his way onto the Opening Day squad.
"Even when I was hurt, I was still getting guys out," said Williamson, who owns a 3.36 ERA in 344 Major League appearances. "Now, being healthy, there's no question in my mind -- with the confidence and the knowledge I have -- that I can get them out. It's just a matter of getting the opportunity."
Although Williamson fielded interest from the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, his original team, he said that the Giants were his most attractive option. He enjoys his new surroundings -- "Coming in and meeting the guys, it feels like baseball all over again," he said -- and hopes he can stay.
"I haven't had fun the last two or three years with baseball," Williamson said.
Fun came easily for Williamson during the first half of his career. He reached the Majors with Cincinnati in 1999 -- as a non-roster player, by the way -- and won the National League's top rookie honors by finishing 12-7 with a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves. He also was named to the All-Star team that year. Traded to Boston in 2003, Williamson bolstered Boston's postseason bid with his trio of ALCS saves against the New York Yankees.
The following year, however, Williamson underwent the second of his two Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgeries. He needed another procedure to clean out his elbow in 2006. Pitching for the Baltimore Orioles early last season, Williamson went on the disabled list with an injured right triceps tendon, then took a line drive hit by the Los Angeles Angels' Chone Figgins off his left foot after being activated. The Orioles designated Williamson for assignment on July 4, forcing him to hook on with the Yankees' Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre outpost.
Williamson, who turns 32 on Sunday, recalled being asked after the Orioles jettisoned him whether he would consider retirement. But, he said, "I didn't feel like I was washed up or done. I feel I have at least four or five more years to pitch."
If so, Williamson might be able to function more efficiently, although he admitted that he no longer throws in the upper-90 mph range as he once did. He changed his delivery this offseason, turning his back to home plate less and maintaining better balance after he releases the ball.
"I feel like I can get to the outside corner a lot easier than I used to," said Williamson, who hasn't made more than 60 appearances in a season since 2003. "I'm [much] more under control. I use a lot less energy to throw a baseball now."
Manager Bruce Bochy, who had Williamson on his San Diego Padres staff toward the end of the 2006 season, noticed the difference after two bullpen sessions.
"He's not quite as violent with his delivery," Bochy said. "I can tell that his command is more consistent right now."
But Bochy won't rush to judgment regarding Williamson or anybody else, especially with so many bullpen candidates on hand and a Cactus League schedule to play.
"We'll have to wait until the games start," Bochy said.
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