Williams returns to Las Vegas

Steve Guiremand

Friday, June 5, 1998 | 8:46 a.m.

Eddie Williams made a detour on his way to Cashman Field on Thursday afternoon.

"I took a little drive around Summerlin," Williams said before the Stars' 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Fresno Grizzlies. "I was looking at houses out there. I might think of moving out there one day."

Yes, Eddie Williams loves Las Vegas. But the 33-year-old power-hitting first baseman from San Diego's Hoover High School would just as soon keep his La Mesa, Calif., home for now, especially during baseball season.

Williams, the Pacific Coast League's top player before a May 5 call-up, was sent back to Las Vegas last Sunday and reported for duty on Thursday afternoon. He hit just .143 (4 for 28) with San Diego and was not surprised when he was called into manager Bruce Bochy's office to be told he would be returning to triple-A.

"I have no excuses," Williams said. "I don't think it's over. I think there's still a chance that I can go back up there and help them out this season.

"I'm not going to sit around and hold my head down," Williams continued. "I did some good things up there. I played good defense and I had some pinch-hits. And like I said, if you're going to play in triple-A, this is the place to be."

There were whispers in San Diego that the Padres, who want to give hot prospect Dusty Allen more playing time at first base, contemplated releasing Williams. But the Stars, whose triple-A agreement with San Diego is up at the end of this season, reportedly lobbied to keep Williams and his .404 average and eight homers around, so they can make a good run at the Pacific Coast League's South Division title.

"I'm just fortunate to have a uniform on," Williams said. "I've been released three times during my career and it's not fun. Luckily, the Padres decided to keep me on the roster. But I think there was a good possibility that if they left me off the roster, I would have been picked up by another team."

Williams, who had four homers and 10 RBIs in the Stars' 20-15 victory over Calgary on April 22, had four pinch-hits during his stay with the Padres but failed to get a hit in 13 at-bats in his four starting assignments.

"I was striking out a lot and left some guys on base," Williams said. "When you're playing a first-place team like the Astros, those things get magnified."

Williams said he wasn't bitter by the Padres' decision to send him down.

"It's the role of a journeyman player," Williams said matter-of-factly. "I've learned to accept it. If I was 22 years old, I'd probably be frustrated ... but it's not over yet. I look at it like this: Why be bitter when it really doesn't do you any good being bitter?"

Besides, Williams still has faith that he will be back in the big leagues this year.

"I can still play," Williams said. "I'm not going to throw in the towel yet."

In the meantime, Williams is back in Las Vegas where he has developed a strong fan following.

"I've got a job to do here," he said. "My job is to go out and produce some runs and help us win. It's a long boat race. This is an important series (with Fresno). We want to go out and show that we're capable of beating this club."