NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Devin Williams is under fire after his candid postgame comments following Wednesday’s loss to the Blue Jays. The veteran pitcher faced sharp criticism from fans and insiders alike for admitting he aimed to “make a better pitch” and distancing himself from manager decisions. His tone has prompted a fierce reaction across the Yankees faithful and sparked questions about his commitment.
The Yankees lost 11-9 to the Toronto Blue Jays. Williams allowed the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. It capped a rough season for the veteran closer.
Walks and wild pitch cost Yankees
The Yankees looked ready for a comeback win. They erased an eight-run deficit to tie the game 9-9 in the eighth inning. Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer off Yimi García. The blast tied the score and was Judge’s 31st home run this season.
Williams entered the bottom of the eighth. He ran into trouble immediately. After striking out Andres Gimenez, he allowed a walk to George Springer and then intentionally issued another to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. A sac fly followed and both runners advanced on Alejandro Kirk’s flyout.
Williams bounced a changeup. A wild pitch on Springer scored the go-ahead run. Addison Barger followed with an RBI single. Toronto extended their lead.
The loss dropped Williams’ record to 2-3 with a 5.17 ERA this season. These numbers are far from his dominant days with Milwaukee. He was a two-time National League Reliever of the Year there. The latest Yankees loss squarely puts blame on him.
‘Make a better pitch,’ Williams says
TalkinYanks@X
Williams spoke with YES Network after the game. His comments drew sharp criticism from Yankees fans on social media. He admitted fault for some mistakes. But he deflected responsibility for others.
He took responsibility — but just part of it.
“Yeah, I let Springer get away from me there,” Williams said about the leadoff walk. “Intentional walk to the next guy. Sac fly, we got two outs. Yeah, I don’t know. I thought I made some pretty solid pitches. Barger hit a pitch that was out of the zone.”
Reflecting on the wild pitch, he admitted, “I gotta make a better pitch there. Wasn’t the easiest one to block.”
When asked about the intentional walk, he redirected responsibility. “That’s not my decision,” he told YES Network with a shrug.
Fan backlash intensifies
The comments sparked a wave of negative reaction on social media. “This man has been counting down the days to free agency,” one fan posted on X, suggesting Williams lacks commitment. Another said: “This dude is not the guy you want holding the ball in a close game whatsoever.” One user even claimed Williams appears to “hate being in NY,” and that his dismissal of manager Aaron Boone’s choice was a poor look.
The criticism comes as Yankees fans brace for another tense season. Despite strong individual performances — the Yankees at 48–35 and holding a 1½-game lead in the AL East — inconsistency in relief continues to sting.
Multiple fans questioned Williams’ connection with the team. “Feels like Devin still hates being in NY, or maybe hates playing for [Aaron] Boone. ‘That’s not my decision’ is not a good look.”
Some fans doubted his desire to wear pinstripes. “Pinstripes aren’t for him, he doesn’t look like he wants to be here tbh.”
Others wanted the season to end. “Can’t wait for the season to be over so he can leave. I’m not falling for that fastball change up bs. Teams have figured him out.”
PitchCom experiment raises eyebrows
Williams has taken control of his game-calling this season. He uses PitchCom technology to pick his own pitches. He doesn’t rely on catchers and coaches anymore.
“I wasn’t comfortable with the way the game was being called,” Williams told the Daily News earlier this season. “So instead of, I don’t know, trying to make other people see what I’m seeing, I took it into my own hands, and it’s been good since.”
Devin Willaims aired out his ERA once again and bended it to 10.03 for the season pic.twitter.com/FabK6mtBlF
Williams changed his pitch mix throughout the season. Baseball Savant shows the data. He threw his changeup 54% of the time in April and May. In June, he used a balanced 50-50 split with his fastball.
Williams isn’t the only Yankees pitcher using this approach. Max Fried also calls his own pitches on PitchCom. Fried does it for different reasons. He has a seven-pitch repertoire and deals with MLB’s pitch clock.
Williams told the Daily News that calling his own pitches gave him confidence and control after feeling misaligned with the coaching staff early in New York. He declined to criticize teammates or coaches directly. “I’m pitching with more confidence… I just do it myself,” he said.
Mixed messages on control and responsibility
Williams’ comments about separation between his role and Boone’s plan may have unsettled fans. His declaration that the intentional walk wasn’t his decision fueled speculation that he lacks buy-in.
The contrast between his success calling pitches and his apparent detachment from strategy has led one insider to describe the situation as “a pitched battle between personal performance and team cohesion.”
PitchCom authority isn’t uncommon among elite relievers. Max Fried, who arrived in New York this season, also relies on PitchCom. Former Dominican standout Corbin Burnes, Max Scherzer, and even Reed Garrett have employed the technology to improve focus and tempo. But Williams’ public disavowal of strategy amid a loss hit differently with the Yankees’ passionate fanbase.
Is chemistry at risk?
The Yankees’ bullpen has been a point of stress. Williams remains their most reliable closer in 2025. But consistent closers need more than pitch execution. They require trust with their catcher, alignment with their manager, and confidence to enter late innings in tight games. Williams’ statements now plant doubt in that trust.
One AL scout observed: “When your closer publicly distances himself from team strategy, fans and teammates start asking hard questions. It shifts from ‘Did he make the pitch?’ to ‘Is he in the plan?’”
Williams’ time in New York has been tough. He arrived in a December trade from Milwaukee. He struggled early with an 11.25 ERA through his first 10 games. The Yankees removed him from the closer role in April.
The trade was supposed to strengthen the Yankees’ bullpen. The Brewers sent Williams to New York. They got Nestor Cortés Jr., Caleb Durbin, and cash in return.
Williams was booed just 18 pitches into his Yankees career. He allowed the Brewers to load the bases with no outs. But he saved a 4-2 opening day win.
Boone’s balancing act
With a winning record and a slim lead in the AL East, the Yankees are searching for stability. Other relievers like Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver have offered mixed results.
But even a single blown lead in July could cost the Yankees momentum. Williams’ recent routine glimpses a pitcher in control. Yet his comments after a loss suggest a potential fracture in mentality.
Manager Aaron Boone has backed his closer so far, citing the ups in Williams’ recent stretch. But he also insists on accountability. Boone echoed Williams’ sentiments about ownership.
“If you make the pitch, that’s your job. But you also have to embrace the decisions we all make together,” Boone said.
He added that Boone’s marching orders are to align with the team’s strategy. Williams’ public stance leaves Boone walking a tightrope: support for a star performer versus accountability to collective management.
Williams insists his focus is on winning. His stats show improvement. Still, his split from Boone’s plan keeps fans uneasy.
In the Bronx, even veteran pitchers are expected to blend individual performance with team unity. As July arrives, Williams will need to tighten control—on the mound and in the clubhouse—to silence the backlash and prove he’s more than his ERA.
Esteban Quinones is a proud graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Growing up just blocks away from Yankee Stadium in Upper Manhattan, Esteban developed a deep love for the New York Yankees, a passion that has been a constant throughout his life. Whether it's cheering for the Yankees or crafting strategic communications, Esteban brings dedication and enthusiasm to producing content around all things Yankees.
