Veteran Williams has paid his dues

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 9:13 a.m.

PEORIA, Ariz. --- "You're not the man I want to see right now."

Eddie Williams wasn't being rude to a Las Vegas reporter who introduced himself to the veteran first baseman. Instead, he was being truthful.

In a battle to earn perhaps the last of the 25 spots on San Diego's roster this spring, the last thing the 33-year-old Williams wanted to be thinking about was the prospect of spending another summer with the Padres' AAA team in Las Vegas.

Williams has spent parts of two seasons with the Stars. In 1990, he hit .329 with 15 home runs in just 93 games after starting the year with the Padres. And in 1994, he hit .352 with 20 HRs in just 59 games in another season split with San Diego.

But the 6-0, 210-pound Williams, who has played for 10 organizations during his career, realizes that at 33, time is beginning to run out if he is going to stick with a major league team. Another trip to the minors could signal the beginning of the end of a 378-game major league career.

"I have no idea if I'm going to make it (with the Padres)," said Williams, who hopes to be a backup first baseman to Wally Joyner and right-handed pinch-hitter. "I'm hitting the ball real well. I'm just hoping they have a meeting and vote me in."

Padres manager Bruce Bochy said a decision on Williams' future "will go right down to the wire.

"He's played his way into contention for a spot on the club," Bochy said. "He'd give us a right-handed power bat off the bench."

Going into Thursday's game against Seattle, Williams had 10 hits in 37 at-bats with one home run and six RBIs. He was 1-for-5 as a pinch-hitter.

"I'm having the best spring I've ever had hitting the ball," Williams said. "I think I've earned a spot coming off the bench. I think some people know that on the staff."

But if Willaims doesn't survive the cut?

"Will I be content to go to Vegas?" Williams says. "No. I'm sick of going to triple-A. I've paid my dues. What good would it do to go down there and hit .350 and 50 home runs? It wouldn't matter. ... if I don't make it, I'd have to sit down and think about things."

A few moments later Williams reconsidered.

"Las Vegas, that's one of my homes," he said. "If I'm going to play triple-A, that would be one of the best cities to play in. (Stars manager) Jerry (Royster) is a player's manager. He's great to play for."

Still, Williams is convinced he has performed well enough to be Joyner's backup this season.

"They signed me to come in and hit off the bench and that's fine with me," Williams said. "I know my role. They didn't sign me to be a Gold Glove first baseman. They already have that. They want a guy who can come off the bench in the ninth inning and hit a home run or get a walk and sub for Wally when need be. I know I can do that. They won't be disappointed."