This story is in today’s Chronicle: Woody Williams is hoping to hold on for one more year.
I guess we all hope we can recognize when we don’t have it anymore, and it’s probably worth noting that $6 million is a lovelier parting gift than most of us ever get.
Here’s the way I see it: He knew coming in that he had no assurance of a job. This was his spring line of things a pitcher can really control:
20.2 innings, 5 homers, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts. Given 180 innings, that’s roughly 45 homers/54 walks/63 strikeouts. That’s just too much to overcome.
Last year he pitched 188.1/35/53/101. The previous two years in San Diego, he took great advantage of the big park, posting big home-road splits.
So it’s not a matter of last year being one bad year. Last year exposed his weaknesses. Williams’ last decent season was 2003.
This reminds me a little bit of when the Astros cut Shane Reynolds in 2003. The Braves picked him up, and he made 29 starts for them, but he was not very good. It’s hard for me to see that the Astros will be more successful with Woody on the team.
