This has become a familiar routine for Aaron Boone early in the season.
The Yankees manager has often found himself needing to reassure that offseason all-star closer Devin Williams is on track, even with his troubling 10.03 ERA and performance issues.
So when Williams struggled again on Tuesday during a game where the Yankees faced the Padres, it was pretty much the same script as before.
“I still don’t see this as the pitcher we’re trying to change or a guy who’s past his prime,” Boone mentioned prior to the game. “This is still an elite pitcher, and everything suggests that. I feel like he’s really close. It’s just about improving his control a little, and once he does that, he tends to improve quickly.”
When asked whether Williams was losing his edge, Boone didn’t feel he was, as he contemplated when Williams could possibly resume closing duties.
On Monday, Williams gave up a home run and other significant hits before handing the ball to Weaver with the bases loaded.
This situation has evolved into something more substantial for the Yankees.
After Boone temporarily removed him from closing duties, Williams managed to respond with three consecutive scoreless outings leading up to Monday.
This reflected a version of Williams who had previously made back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023, projecting him as a key figure in the Yankees’ bullpen this season.
His pitch mix of fastballs and changeups had once made him a game-changer.
“I think the last few outings were pretty solid,” Boone expressed. “He’s not in a place where he’s all over the place. He’s just slightly off with his fastball.”
However, the Yankees’ challenge with Williams has spilled into the second week of the season.
The team has the opportunity to get Williams back into form, unlike last year, when Holmes struggled significantly toward the season’s conclusion.
Boone is still searching for high-leverage situations where they can provide Williams with clean innings. For instance, on Monday, the Yankees needed to safeguard a three-run lead against the Padres’ bottom lineup.
This strategy worked through three games, with signs suggesting a possible return to form for Williams.
Yet, following Monday’s urgency, Boone found himself needing to protect Williams yet again.
