Williams Criticizes Red Sox GM

Red Sox manager Jimy Williams and closer Derek Lowe criticized Boston general manager Dan Duquette on Saturday for failing to discipline outfielder Carl Everett.

Everett reported late for the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against Cleveland, breaking one of Williams' rules, then got into a shouting match with Darren Lewis and had to be separated from his teammate. Everett openly cursed his manager in the clubhouse.

"If I was the general manager, I would back the manager, and if you can't, you probably need to get rid of me," Williams said before Saturday's game against Baltimore.

Lowe said Duquette's treatment of Everett was a slap at Williams and set a double standard.

"You hope it doesn't snowball to the point where there's no rules at all," Lowe said.

Boston, sliding toward elimination, began the day five games back in the wild-card race with eight games to play.

Williams said a team can't function if the players aren't all held to the same standards. Williams added the problem was "fixable," and that he intend to fulfill his contract, which runs through the 2001 season

"You finish what you started," he said.

Duquette denied a rift with Williams in Saturday's editions of The Boston Globe and Boston Herald, but refused comment Saturday.

Everett criticized reporters for "lies" in their its coverage, saying reports Lewis had questioned his commitment to the team were fabricated because no reporters heard the conversation. He declined to give his version.

"I don't set anything straight that people lie about," Everett told reporters. "I let you soak in your own lies."

Lewis said he wouldn't comment, then added: "You can pretty much read between the lines on what was said."

On Friday, Everett was booed during a pinch-hitting appearance. He said Saturday he blamed reporters, not fans.

"Those reporters want the fans to be negative to me," he said. "That's their only goal in life, because they're miserable people."

Everett added he had no problems with Williams, and said he had nothing to apologize for in his confrontation with Lewis.

He said he's been targeted because of his large contract and status as one of the team's stars, along with pitcher Pedro Martinez and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

When a reporter pointed out that no one else was involved in similar controversies, he said: "Who' going to mess with Nomar? He owns this town. Who's going to mess with Pedro? He owns this town."

Lowe said these side issues may have helped prevent a third straight trip to the playoffs.

"Now we're on a pace to win 85 games," Lowe said. "You tell me if it's a distraction to the team or not."

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