Williams Gets Vote of Confidence From Ballard Smith

After the fall, there’s always a fall guy.

Is it Padre Manager Dick Williams?

Now that the Padres have been informed they’re out of the pennant race (thanks, Sports Illustrated) and players such as Kevin McReynolds have criticized Williams, there is speculation Williams may be fired.

Monday, the day after Williams surprised his players by staying with reliever Tim Stoddard longer than they thought he should have in a crucial seventh inning against the Mets, Padre President Ballard Smith gave Williams a vote of confidence.

“The guy has a contract, and another year on that contract,” Smith said. “You’ve got to look where the club was when he became manager and where it is today. We’re complaining here now because they’re 7 1/2 games out, but if they were 7 1/2 back when Dick Williams first came to town, they’d (the people of San Diego) be overjoyed.

“The big factor is the way the Dodgers are playing. They’re playing a lot better than a lot of us thought they’d play. Sure, we haven’t played as well, but who’d have figured at the beginning of the season that with what our record is today (67-58), we’d be where we are? The main factor is the Dodgers.

“A lot of encouraging things are going on. A couple of young pitchers and our starters have been good. I’m not alarmed. There are a lot of positives that are going on. I haven’t given up on the season. Everyone knew we wouldn’t win by 12 games again. And we still have a shot.”