Posted on: Sunday, August 8, 2004
Giants' Williams on road to recovery
By Andrew Baggarly
Special to The Advertiser
SAN FRANCISCO — Jerome Williams spent a lot of time in recovery rooms last week.
First, the San Francisco Giants right-hander underwent surgery Wednesday to remove six fragments from his elbow. Then, he was back at the hospital Friday morning when his wife delivered a baby girl.
Both mother, daughter and elbow are doing fine.
"Everything is good," said Williams, a Waipahu High graduate.
Jerome and Sarah Williams welcomed their first daughter, Alane Deborah. (Their son, Tre-Jordan, turned 4 earlier this month.) Little Alane weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces — not too heavy to hold, even when your right arm is wrapped in bandages from shoulder to wrist.
"I really think so, yes," Williams said. "I want to come back and pitch at least a couple games. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I can't get discouraged. I've got to stay patient and let it get better."
Now Williams is beginning rehab. The first goal is to get full extension with the elbow, then trainers can work with him to strengthen the area. After that, he will play catch and gradually work to rebuild arm strength.
"We felt we caught a break in a sense that his wife delivered (Friday)," Giants trainer Stan Conte said. "That allows him to go on the road (to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) and rehab with us."
Williams' elbow actually locked at a 40-degree angle when a fragment of calcified cartilage caught between the bones in his elbow.
"It was sort of an obvious problem," Conte said. "After two days he still couldn't extend it; surgery was obvious. There may not be enough days on the calendar for him to pitch this season, but long term he is fine. We're not worried about Jerome for 2005."
Williams figured when he became a professional pitcher that surgery could greet him at some point in his career. Bone spurs and loose bodies are in the elbows of most pitchers, and ligaments are fixed as easily as changing a tire.
"It was bound to happen," Williams said. "It probably built up from all the baseball I've played. It was probably in there last year. I just didn't figure it would be this early. But I guess if it's going to happen, it's best to get it over with now."
The Giants are struggling to contend for the National League West race, and in the NL wild card standings. Their bullpen troubles compelled them to move Dustin Hermanson from the rotation to the closer role. And now Williams is out for an extended period.
The Giants called up right-hander Brad Hennessey to pitch yesterday against the Cubs.
Williams would like to help alleviate their pitching problems in late September, and he believes that despite the team's current funk, the Giants will be contending to the end.
"I just want to get it over with and get back to pitching," Williams said.
Andrew Baggarly is a reporter for the Oakland Tribune.
The recovery time for Williams' elbow is about six weeks, putting him on schedule to return around Sept. 15. Giants manager Felipe Alou isn't counting on Williams returning to pitch down the stretch, but the right-hander believes he can contribute in late September.
