"Have Fastball - Will Travel." Former National League Rookie of the Year Scott Williamson is hoping to spend the winter pitching in Mexico. Williamson won ROY honors in 1999 after going 12-7 with 19 saves and a 2.41 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds. Now 34, the 6’0” righty spent nine seasons in the majors, fashioning a 28-28 record with 55 saves and a 3.36 ERA (with 510 strikeouts in 439 innings) before arm miseries derailed his career.After his last MLB outing with Baltimore in 2007, Williamson struggled to get his groove back before spending much of 2010 out of the game while spending eight weeks at the Athletes Performance training facility before signing with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League during the season and was dominant, going 11-for-11 in save opportunities with 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. Moreover, his fastball was clocked a number of times at 97 MPH and he appeared to regain his once-nasty slider. “I’m stronger than I’ve been in years,” Williamson stated after the season, and now he wants to spend time in the Mex Pac to show big league organizations in need of pitching that his strong showing last summer was no fluke.
Agent Tom Godfrey says several MLB teams have told him they want to see Williamson pitch in the Mexican Pacific League this winter. “They’ll like what they see,” the pitcher says. “I can help someone win down there. I just need a chance to prove it.”
I remember Scott Williamson. I would actually pay to go see a guy of his caliber play in Mex Pac. I can imagine a pither with his experience would be pretty valuable to a team contending to get in the playoffs. When I lived in the U.S. I saw him pitch for the Red Sox. I remember he had 2 or 3 saves in the American League Championship Series in 2003 I think? I remember him as a long and short reliever in the Majors? Sounds like he has his stuff back.
ReplyDeleteI remember Williamson too. If he's got his heater and slider back he could really help someone. The guy was awsome with the Reds. If none of those Mexico teams give him a chance to pitch, their stupid.
ReplyDeleteSo whats the deal? You cant tell me a guy who was a major league Rookie of the Year not that long ago and was really strong in a good indie league this year aint good enough to get a crack in this league. The pitching aint THAT good down there.
ReplyDeleteGive him a shot already!
He sure would be a valuable addition. A guy that has his stuff back with playoff and big game experience. I hope we get him soon!
ReplyDeleteHas Williamson signed with a team in the winter league yet??
ReplyDeleteNo, not that I have seen. I don't see him signing with any teams as of yet.
ReplyDeleteOK, so Obregon signs some pitcher from Somerset whose played 12 years and never spent a day in the majors. Williamson pitched for Somerset last year too and won the ROY with the Reds, but hes not good enough to pitch in this league.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Mexico never wins the Carribean Series.
That last one was a little harsh. More top young Mexican athletes gravitate to soccer because the game (and money) is bigger there than the other three CS countries.
ReplyDeleteIt IS a little harder to defend teams who choose to not even explore importing a pitcher with big league credentials like Williamson, who says he WANTS to play in Mexico. Go figure.