NEW YORK ¨C Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to the media after the Yankees announced their game with the Blue Jays on Saturday would be postponed, and he has not decided if Devin Williams will remain as the team¡¯s closer. On Friday against the Blue Jays, Williams was unable to hold on to a ninth-inning lead as the Yankees lost to Toronto, 4-2.
¡°We¡¯ll still talk through this. I haven¡¯t seen Devin yet. We¡¯ll try to do what¡¯s best for the team and Devin,¡± Boone said. ¡°We¡¯ll just get through this bump in the road. I¡¯m still expecting great things.¡±
The implosion marked Williams¡¯ first blown save in five chances as a Yankee. But he has struggled in several other outings, including coughing up a four-run lead against the Rays last Saturday in Tampa.
Overall, Williams has allowed 12 runs (10 earned) in eight innings. It hasn¡¯t helped that opposing hitters have a .462 batting average against his four-seamer and have hit .273 against the Airbender changeup.
¡°Nothing¡¯s working right now,¡± Williams said Friday night. ¡°¡ I wish there was an easy answer, but I¡¯m not really sure. It¡¯s not a good feeling, not to be able to get the job done for the team. They put us in a great position to win there, and I couldn¡¯t get it done today.¡±
Asked what was the case to keep Williams in the ninth, Boone¡¯s response was that Williams has long been one of the more dominant closers in the Majors. Williams is a two-time National League All-Star and entered the season with a 1.83 career ERA in 241 appearances with 68 saves. The Yankees obviously expected more of the same when they acquired Williams in a December swap for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin.
¡°I know the results haven¡¯t been great yet,¡± Boone said. ¡°A lot of the stuff is still there. The profile of the changeup is still there. Obviously, hitters have had success. He doesn¡¯t have the swing and miss. He has been behind in the count. Once he starts flipping that and starts getting some count leverage, I expect him to be the dominant closer he has been.¡±