Williams' way of life shows he's no thug
By MARC TOPKIN
© St. Petersburg Times, published September
10, 2000
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- So Boston general manager Dan Duquette thinks Gerald Williams is a thug?
This is a man who wouldn't buy himself a car or own a house until last year because he was intent on sending as much money as he could to help his mother, 12 brothers and sisters, and 26 nieces and nephews better their lives.
This is a man who spent time during the 1994-95 players strike advising troubled youth in his rough-and-tumble hometown of LaPlace, La., and still works with a police officer friend there to help the community.
This is man who is one of the most soft-spoken, and well-spoken, people you will find in a baseball clubhouse, even if he tends to drift toward the esoteric.
This is a man who ESPN's Peter Gammons calls "one of the finest human beings in the business" and who Alex Rodriguez describes as "one of the most saintly people" around.
This is a man who if he wasn't playing baseball likely would be, and still may become, an educator or a counselor.
This is a man who calls his mother virtually every day.
This is a thug?
"Gerald is intensely bright, extremely well-read and without question one of the most principled and decent people you could ever meet," said Seth Levinson, for 13 years Williams' agent, attorney and dear friend. "If I had one sentence to describe him, that would be it."
Williams prides himself on being a professional. And maintaining that professionalism is virtually a sacred trust to him.
That is why he says the fallout from the now-infamous Aug. 29 game with Boston has troubled him, because people didn't see him for what he is.
"I try to always be respectful and mindful of others, as I've been taught," Williams said. "And that's why this is pretty much a disheartening event for me, because of that which I believe in and that a situation like this didn't allow me to have a true representation of that which I choose to."
People didn't know Williams had reason to believe Pedro Martinez was going to throw at him. They didn't know Williams nearly had his career ended in the minor leagues when his right hand was broken after being hit in a similar situation.
Williams cherishes his privacy, preferring to stay quietly out of the limelight. He will give of himself endlessly to help his teammates, but wants none of the credit. Ask him after a game about a key hit, and he'll tell you how well the Rays' pitcher threw. Dote on his impressive individual accomplishments, and he'll remind you that it's a team game.
Inquire about his remarkable generosity with his family, about buying a car and a house for his mother (who raised him alone) well before he bought his own, about ensuring his relatives can put food on their tables, about offering to help them further their educations, and you get a quiet smile: "That's not something I wish to speak on."
Williams doesn't want to come across holier-than-thou, claiming he is no different than anyone else, except for priorities.
"I'm happy just being able to inhale and exhale," Williams said. "Material things have never been something that ruled my life. What I try to do are the things that are most important for me to have happiness and that doesn't necessarily come through the possessions that I have. Perhaps it's the joy that others may feel about what I'm able to do to help them gain, or have some type of success, that will ultimately allow them to become a better person and basically allows them to have a better quality of life.
"That's what I see my purpose as. Most people struggle to understand what their purpose is. Maybe I'm blessed in that area."
Does that sound like a thug to you?
SOUNDS FAMILIAR: Mike DiFelice can relate to what Ryan Rupe went through. DiFelice was playing for Class A St. Petersburg in 1993 when doctors told him he had a blood clot in his right arm, requiring three months of treatment and surgery.
"You're young and strong, playing a game, and somebody tells you you have a blood clot and in a span of 30 minutes you're in an ICU unit and there's talk that if the clot moves you could die," DiFelice said. "It shakes you up a little bit."
HOO-RAYS: The Cubs remain interested in pursuing
a trade for Vinny Castilla, reportedly assigning their top scout to track
him the rest of the season. ... Outfielders Carl Crawford and Josh Hamilton
were named to Howe Sportsdata's All-Teen Team.
Williams delivering on all levels
By MARC TOPKIN
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 1,
2000
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ST. PETERSBURG -- The Devil Rays got more than they bargained for when they signed Gerald Williams.
"We thought we were getting an outstanding defensive centerfielder, we loved his enthusiasm and the way he played the game, and we thought he'd hit 15-20 homers if he got a chance to play every day," general manager Chuck LaMar said.
Williams, it turns out, has been all that and more.
His defense has been better than advertised, his leadership invaluable and offensive production robust: a .294 batting average, 16 home runs (one shy of his personal best) and a career-high 71 RBI, including a team-record 27 in July.
Because he direly wanted the chance to play every day, the Rays were able to sign him at a relatively reasonable rate: $5.5-million for two years, with an option for 2002. When you consider all of his numbers, he might be one of the best free-agent signings of the off-season.
Already there have been a dozen highlight-film defensive plays. Most impressive of late have been his clutch performances at the plate.
"He's been unbelievable," catcher John Flaherty said. "I said to him the other day that when there's runners in scoring position, he's amazing. He'll have a bad swing during that at-bat, but you know he's going to end up having a good at-bat. It's ridiculous how good he's been.
"It's kind of an unorthodox game for a leadoff hitter; he's kind of aggressive and wild and all those things. But the bottom line is that he's getting the job done big time for us. And hopefully he'll start getting some recognition for what he's done. He's really been incredible for us."
HOMEBODIES: Between two two-week road trips, the Rays will stage their longest homestand in franchise history, a 13-game set that opens tonight against Cleveland. Baltimore, Minnesota and Chicago follow.
Naturally, the Rays are hoping their recent solid run -- five consecutive wins and seven of nine -- carries over. "Any time we're at home, it's important that we do whatever we can, and most importantly that's win games, and that will bring the fans out and get some people behind the team and start things in the right direction," manager Larry Rothschild said.
ROLLING RYAN: He may not be dominating, but Ryan Rupe has been winning, reeling off three straight against the Braves, Yankees and Royals. The pitching has been good, but just as important is the resurgent confidence. "He's shown the ability that he's getting close to coming back to where he was last year, confidence-wise and the whole thing," Rothschild said. "Thus stuff's been fine; it's just that he was overthrowing, the result of trying to do too much."
FIRED UP: The 7-5 road trip sounded good, but several veterans said it's not enough. "I would have to say we played well," Williams said. "But I think we can player better. In fact, I know we can play better."
WHITE OUT: Rick White already is a hit in New York. Derek Bell has nicknamed him Baby Boomer, in reference to his resemblance to David Wells, and the fans gave him a warm and vibrant welcome. "Truthfully, I didn't expect anything. I just expected it to be like any other day at the ballpark," White said after his winning debut. "Once I got out there, it wasn't. If it feels like this every time, I can imagine playing another 20 years. It makes you feel like a little kid again."
BUSY BODIES: There are a number of promotions throughout
the homestand, capped by a Salute to the 100th Season of American League
Baseball on Aug. 12. Ted Williams, Earl Weaver, Dom DiMaggio, Goose Gossage
and Frank Howard are scheduled to be on hand, and the Rays and White Sox
will wear old-style uniforms. Also, there will be floppy caps given away
on Thursday, baseball cards on Friday, a poster on Saturday and a kids
backpack on Sunday.
Williams gives as good as he gets
By JOHN ROMANO
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 24,
2000
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NEW YORK -- Gerald Williams gave a ball to good friend Derek Jeter Sunday. That was after he took a home run away from him.
The Devil Rays centerfielder went over the wall in right-center and pulled back a ball that was on its way to being Jeter's 10th home run of the season. Running back across the field with the inning over, Williams had a sheepish grin on his face and flipped the ball to Jeter.
"I don't think he was smiling at me," Williams said.
The two have been close friends since Williams' days with the Yankees. They had off-season homes in Tampa even before Williams signed with the Rays last winter.
Jeter said it was not the first time Williams has robbed him of a hit, having done it last year in the World Series when Williams was with Atlanta.
"And did you ask him how many times he robbed me before that?" Williams said. "He always makes special plays for me. Perhaps that's how he affirms that we're friends."
While the catch was highlight-reel material, it came in the seventh inning of a 5-1 loss.
"He made a great play," manager Larry Rothschild said. "Too bad it didn't have an impact on the game because it was a hell of a play."
SPEED TO SPARE: It wasn't exactly a sprint, but Jose Canseco did turn up the speed on a double to centerfield Saturday. Bothered by a sore left heel that kept him out of the lineup for more than a month, Canseco said he is avoiding putting too much pressure on that foot.
"I'm trying not to make it any worse. It's maintained about the same level so far," Canseco said. "Once I get going, I can accelerate if I need to."
The injury certainly has not hurt his hitting. Canseco is 7-for-16 with six walks for a .684 on-base percentage since coming off the disabled list.
"I'm getting on base and giving the other guys an opportunity to drive me in," he said. "And when I get the opportunity, I'll take a good swing at a pitch."
TABLOID BLUES: Nothing against the city, but general manager Chuck LaMar was happy to leave the New York newspapers behind him. When the Rays arrived, there was a New York Post story about the Yankees trying to acquire Canseco. Then came a Newsday report that the Mets wanted Roberto Hernandez.
"I've had discussions with the New York Mets about several of our players over the last two weeks," LaMar said. "Those discussions, however, did not center around Roberto Hernandez. My discussions with the Mets have really been no deeper than they are with half the clubs in baseball. It's a matter of seeing whether their needs match up with what we might have to offer, trying to see if we have a fit."
NO HELP HERE: Dan Wheeler, who began the season in the Rays rotation, does not appear to be closer to a return from Triple-A Durham. Wheeler, 22, was sent down after a poor April and has struggled to get righted. Wheeler lost again Saturday to drop to 4-7 with a 5.07 ERA. "It's not a surprise," Rothschild said. "He's a young guy who hasn't thrown a lot at the higher levels."
JUDGMENT DAY: Rothschild expects to be contacted today by league officials concerning his altercation with umpire Laz Diaz at Tropicana Field Tuesday. Rothschild grabbed Diaz during an argument over whether Greg Maddux should have been ejected for hitting Canseco with a pitch. If he is suspended, the Rays hope it is no more than two games.
GIVE HIM A HAND: Vinny Castilla took light batting practice, but it will probably be a couple of days before he is ready to return to the lineup.
He still has minor swelling on the base of his palm after being hit by a pitch Thursday night.
"I threw okay and I hit a little bit," he said.
"Every day it is improving a little more. (Today) I hope to take a full
batting practice and then maybe I'll be ready after that."
Williams shows leadoff power
By JOHN ROMANO
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 21, 2000
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SEATTLE -- When discussing his philosophy as a leadoff hitter, Gerald Williams tries to be succinct.
Score, score and, lest we forget, score again.
That would be by any means necessary, even if he has to drive himself in.
The Devil Rays may not have gotten as much power from the middle of the lineup as they had hoped, but their leadoff hitter is doing what he can to pick up the slack.
With six home runs, Williams has one more than Vinny Castilla and one fewer than Jose Canseco.
He has matched the home run total produced by Tampa Bay leadoff hitters in 1999 and he has 121 games to go.
"The place I am hitting in the lineup may lend the perception that power is not part of what I do," Williams said. "People might assume power takes a back seat to the things you customarily see with leadoff hitters. For me, the only thing that matters is that I do what's expected of me. And that's score."
Williams is doing a fairly good job. He is second on the team in runs, trailing Greg Vaughn. The added bonus is that Williams is third on the team in RBI, an impressive feat for a leadoff hitter. When they signed Williams to a two-year, $5.75-million free-agent contract in December, the Rays knew they were not getting a prototypical leadoff hitter. He is more of a free swinger than you would like in a leadoff hitter, which means his on-base percentage (currently .314) is below average.
Yet the Rays felt Williams would make up for that in other areas, like his defense in centerfield, which has been outstanding, and his ever-increasing power production.
During the early part of his career with the Brewers and Yankees, Williams flashed his power potential but never played steadily enough for it to blossom.
Given that chance in Atlanta last season, he hit a career-high 17 home runs. He's on pace to hit 24.
"He's not a power hitter. He's a guy who needs to hit line drives," manager Larry Rothschild said. "If he gets the pitch he wants, then he can hit it out. But if he looks for home runs, he's going to cause problems for himself. I think he's just learned how to look for certain pitches.
"It's having enough at-bats to know what to look for and what to do when he gets it."
NOT STRONG ENOUGH: Science teacher Jim Morris was not the only 30-something pitcher the Rays gambled on last season. They also signed Joe Strong after seeing him pitch in Korea. Strong began last season ahead of Morris in the Rays' minor-league system, but did not progress as quickly and was released.
The Marlins signed him in the off-season and the 37-year-old became the oldest rookie in 40 years when he was called up last week. Despite not reaching the majors with the Rays, as Morris did, Strong said he has no regrets.
"That's fine, I'm getting my love here," he said. "(Morris) can have that, I'm doing this. I don't have any hard feelings against the Devil Rays. Their loss is Florida's gain."
HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES: It is that time of year again when American League pitchers grab their bats, and managers hide their eyes.
With interleague play less than two weeks away, pitchers have been coming to the park early to take batting practice before the hitters show up. Last season, Rays pitchers did well for themselves, hitting .211 with two RBI in 19 at-bats. But that does not mean Rothschild is eager to watch pitchers hit again.
National League veterans like Dwight Gooden and Steve Trachsel should be fine, but someone like Esteban Yan has never been to the plate in a major-league game.
"Half of it is just having been up there and knowing
what to expect," Rothschild said. "When you haven't seen live pitching
in I don't know how long, and then you're seeing major-league pitching
for the first time, it's a little different experience. You can't simulate
that."
Williams goes deep for dramatic catch
By JOHN ROMANO
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 16,
2000
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DETROIT -- Bobby Higginson was around second and heading to third before he realized Gerald Williams had caught his shot to right-center. The Comerica Park crowd was too stunned to react. Even Williams remained on the ground for a few seconds.
About the only person not surprised Saturday was Dwight Gooden.
"It reminded me of '96 when we were both with the Yankees and I threw the no-hitter," Gooden said. "He made a catch like that in the first off (Seattle's) Alex Rodriguez."
In just two weeks, Williams already has demonstrated far more range than any centerfielder the Rays have had.
"It was a heck of a catch," manager Larry Rothschild said. "He tracks the ball very well. He's roamed the whole place real well. When we start pitching well, it's going to show. He's made some great catches that haven't made a difference in games because of the scores, but he'll make a huge difference."
It was a dramatic catch as he bounced off the out-of-town scoreboard, but the most impressive part was how far Williams went to get the ball. With the spacious outfield at Comerica Park, he covered close to 100 feet.
"That's life in Comerica National Park," Higginson said.
Williams crashed into the wall with his hip and landed awkwardly.
"What I have to do is make sure that I get to a spot. It just so happens that I had to go full speed to get to that spot," Williams said. "I didn't have time to brace myself, but that's part of the game. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get positive results."
FUTURE NO. 2 HITTER: Forget the home runs. Jose Canseco has a future as a situational hitter.
Canseco, who has one home run, perfectly executed a hit-and-run play in the first inning, leading to Tampa Bay's first run.
On first base with one out, Dave Martinez broke for second and Canseco bounced a single through the hole when second baseman Gregg Jefferies went to cover the bag.
"I've been hitting so terrible, I figured I should just try to get the bat on the ball and get it through that hole," Canseco said.
"I had to laugh because I could hear the pitcher cursing the whole time I was running to first."
UP AND DOWN: Cory Lidle's stay with the Rays was brief. The right-hander, who was called up Thursday from Triple A, was sent to Durham 48 hours later to make room for Gooden.
Lidle came up when Dan Wheeler was sent to Durham and he gave the Rays insurance at a time when the bullpen was overworked. Lidle is coming off elbow surgery.
"When we sent Cory out in spring training it was because he needed to pitch some more. He still is at that point," Rothschild said. "His stuff has gotten better. The arm strength has gotten better, but he needs the opportunity to throw some more pitches."
NEXT!: Dave Eiland was named the starter for Monday's game in Baltimore, making him Tampa Bay's seventh starting pitcher in 14 games.
Gooden became the sixth when he took Juan Guzman's turn in the rotation. Eiland will be taking Wheeler's spot.
It will be Eiland's first start after five relief appearances in Tampa Bay's first 11 games.
"I knew when I made the team that part of my role was going to be moving from relief to spot starting, so I'll take it as it comes," Eiland said. "Looking back, I think it may have helped that I was used a lot because it'll make the transition easier for me. I'm looking forward to getting the start."
ALVAREZ STRONG: Left-hander Wilson Alvarez, rehabbing a sore shoulder, pitched four no-hit innings for the Class A St. Petersburg Devil Rays and struck out two.
RUNNING WILD: The Devil Rays avoided, just barely, the dubious distinction of being the last team in the majors to steal a base. When Miguel Cairo swiped second Saturday, the Rays left the Red Sox as the only team without a stolen base.
Do not expect Cairo's theft to start a trend for
the Rays. They are still an inefficient 1-of-7 in stolen-base attempts.
