Williams excited and nervous before Opening Day

NEW YORK -- As he prepared to manage his first regular-season game on Monday, skipper Matt Williams acknowledged that he was both excited and nervous.

He didn't sleep well on Sunday night, but he expected that to happen.

"That's OK. That's part of the deal," Williams said. "We are ready to go. Everybody is ready and so am I. If you can't get excited about Opening Day, something is wrong -- just typical stuff."

When the games start, he hopes to step into the dugout and "get out of [the players'] way and let them go."

"I've never been in this spot before," he added. "Any time you have something that is new, there is a little anxiety to it. The Opening Day thing, I have experience in that regard [as a player and coach]. That's a fine. But I've never been in this spot, so that's anxiety."