Former SF Giants superstar third baseman returning to team as a coach
The SF Giants hired Bob Melvin, one of their former players, to manage their team. Now, Melvin has brought legendary former Giants third baseman Matt Williams along with him to join the coaching staff.
Matt Williams, a four-time All-Star for the Giants and their primary third baseman from 1989-1996, is now their third-base coach. The hiring keeps him working alongside Melvin, who has had Williams on his staff in San Diego and in Oakland.
Melvin hired Williams to be his third base coach from 2018-19 in Oakland, and when Melvin moved on to the San Diego Padres, he brought in Williams to coach third before the 2022 seasons as well. While Williams missed time at the start of the last two seasons - for hip replacement surgery in 2020, and cancer surgery this year - he claimed in March that he was feeling "as good as I've felt in 20 years."
Williams was a key part of the National League champions in 1989 and the 103-win second-place team of 1993. In 1990, he led the NL with 122 RBIs - hitting behind Brett Butler, Will Clark, and Kevin Mitchell gets you a lot of RBI opportunities. Williams finished sixth in the MVP voting in 1990 and 1993, and second in 1994.
1994 was the year that Williams had 43 home runs and 96 RBIs when the players went on strike in early August. He had a chance to break the single-season record then held by Roger Maris, as he was on pace for 60.6 home runs when the season ended.
He spanned the Will Clark Era and the Barry Bonds Era, winning three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards. Williams was still good when new general manager Brian Sabean shocked fans by trading him to the Cleveland Indians, in exchange for Jeff Kent, Jose Vizcaino, and reliever Julian Tavarez. The trade worked out for both teams, with the Giants winning a surprise NL West title, and Cleveland losing the World Series in a heartbreaking extra-inning Game Seven loss. Williams won his fourth Gold Glove and fourth Silver Slugger award that year.
"Matt the Bat" eventually did win a World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, after he requested a trade after 1997 to be near his children. Williams was so committed to his kids that he rejected a trade that would have sent him to Colorado in exchange for Larry Walker in 2002.
He bought into Diamondbacks ownership in 2005, and worked in various capacities for the team. He did color commentary, while his official title was "Special Assistant to the General Partner." So basically, "Retired Player Who Makes A Lot Of Appearances." However, he eventually became a coach in 2010, then got hired as manager of the Washington Nationals.
With the Nationals, Williams won Manager of the Year in his first season, as the team won 96 games. But they couldn't get past the champion-blooded Giants, with Williams drawing criticism for pulling starter Jordan Zimmermann one out short of a complete-game shutout in Game 2 of the Division Series. Closer Drew Storen gave up a single to Buster Posey and a game-tying double to Pablo Sandoval, and the game ended up lasting 18 innings and over six hours before Brandon Belt ended it.
When Washington slumped to 83 wins in 2015, Williams was fired, in part because of an incident where reliever and famously prickish Jonathan Papelbon attacked Bryce Harper in the dugout.
For the record, the 22-year-old Harper was on his way to the greatest offensive season in franchise history and an MVP award. Jonathan Papelbon is a dunce.
In between Williams' stints coaching for Melvin, he spent two years managing the KBO Lions of the KBO League, the first American-born manager in league history.
Williams worked for NBC Sports Bay Area in 2017, appearing on the pregame and postgame studio show. He has a good sense of humor, and of course, all former Giants are welcome to try their hand at a studio analyst job as part of the team's No Veteran Left Behind mandate.
What can the Giants expect from their new coach? He was a very aggressive third-base coach with the Diamondbacks. When he was hired by the Nationals, Williams told reporters, "A couple of years ago, I led the league in getting guys thrown out at the plate, which is good, I think," he said. "I think it's good. Now the fans of Arizona may think differently, and I've heard those fans from time to time. But I think that if you apply pressure, you have the advantage."
If Williams has seen the Giants' team speed in recent years, he may tone down that aggression. He's also known as "The Big Marine" due to his "searing intensity" as a player, so he might have little tolerance for clubhouse games of pusoy dos. But like a superhero, Williams would use his great powers of intensity for good, berating teammates for mistreating clubhouse managers or picking on less famous players. He was even willing to fight Kevin Mitchell as a young player, so he's pretty brave.
He's also the first player from the Giants' Wall of Fame to become a coach for the team. (Felipe Alou and Bobby Bonds worked as coaches before the Wall existed.) Although Ryan Vogelsong may join him soon.
The most important thing about this hire? We may get to see Williams revive his famous impression of Babe Ruth. Trust us, seeing this Bambino is no curse.
