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 Blast from the past D'backs' Williams plays from a bygone era
Posted: Thursday September 09, 1999 06:20 PM
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- He plays in a uniform of purple and turquoise on a home field with a retractable roof. where home runs sometimes land in a swimming pool. But to look at Matt Williams, it's easy to see a player from a different era. "Matty is a true old school professional baseball player," says Arizona pitcher Brian Anderson. "I mean he plays the game hard, hits a home run and acts like he's done it before and plans to do it again." Williams says that's by design. "I don't want people to say, 'Well, he stood at home plate and watched home runs,' or 'He was flashy or a showboat.' I want people to say he played the game right, played the game hard, played it the way it's meant to be played and gave it what he could." Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter adds, "There's a real sincerity about his game and his life and what you see is what you get. There's no phoniness about Matt Williams." Williams joined the Diamondbacks last season after requesting a trade from playoff-contending Cleveland to be closer to his three children. While injuries kept his numbers down, he more than made up for the lack of production by being a leader in the expansion team's clubhouse. "Matt last year established a lot of things about the way we play the game and carry selves," said Showalter. "We were a young team last year," Anderson says. "When you see a guy like Matt Williams caliber, as far as quality of person, player, and the way he does business on the field and the way he plays the game, speaks so much louder than anything you can tell somebody." Even those who sit in the other dugout recognize Williams' talents. "I really can't say I respect his defense, or respect his offense, or respect his power," says Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine. "I think I respect everything because I like the way he plays the game." The feedback has not gone unnoticed by the Arizona third baseman. "When you have the respect of your peers, that play the game, not only opposing coaches but managers," he says, "I think that's the ultimate compliment you can have." Williams could earn a Gold Glove this season for his defense while also leading the Diamondbacks in RBIs. That combination makes him a leading candidate for the MVP. But keeping in character, he's the first to point out that there other players on the team with better numbers while downplaying his individual accomplishments. "My first thought would be, 'Man I had a lot of guys on base,' so that wouldn't be me. That would be a tribute to Tony (Womack), Jay (Bell) and Luis, to the team." "I'm biased because of the great luxury I have of seeing him play," Showalter said. "He's been consistent every day, he runs the bases well and he's a great teammate. I can't imagine anyone being more valuable to a club that Matt Williams." "If you win that Most Valuable Player award, what does it get you in 10 years?" he asks. "Nothing. But if have your family and you've got a good relationship there, then all right." That throwback attitude may be the number one reason why Williams just might win the MVP in 1999.
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