Giants activate Williams

MILWAUKEE » The San Francisco Giants activated Waipahu High School graduate Jerome Williams from the disabled list prior to yesterday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Williams underwent arthroscopic surgery Aug. 4 to remove loose bodies and shave a bone spur in his right elbow. He's not sure whether he'll be in the starting rotation or work out of the bullpen for the Giants' stretch run. The Giants lead the National League wild-card race by a half-game over the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm happy I'm back," Williams said on the team Web site. "If it comes down to it, we might have a blowout game and I'll be in there. Other than that, I'll be in the bullpen and see what happens."

Williams was 9-7 with a 4.41 ERA and 77 strikeouts before the operation interrupted his second season as a Giants starter.

Williams last pitched July 30 against St. Louis, throwing only three innings before feeling pain in his right arm.

"We'll see when I get out there, but I'm glad to finally be able to help the team," Williams said. "It's frustrating when you see teammates struggling and you can't help them out."

Williams ballooned to about 260 pounds during the offseason, but has trimmed down considerably and might be in the best shape of his baseball career thanks to his injury rehab.

"I was confident I could come back strong because it was pretty much as hard as I've ever worked," he said. "Now I'll take that into consideration every year. "