{"id":39915,"date":"2025-04-10T07:46:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T07:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=39915"},"modified":"2025-04-10T07:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T07:46:26","slug":"another-worrisome-devin-williams-meltdown-almost-erases-max-frieds-yankees-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=39915","title":{"rendered":"Another worrisome Devin Williams meltdown almost erases Max Fried’s Yankees history"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When\u00a0Devin Williams scuffled through extra innings\u00a0(with the Ghost Runner) against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday evening, that was understandable. Nobody survives the Ghost Runner easily – especially not if they’re wearing a Yankees uniform.<\/p>\n

But, at some point, the pressure-filled outings for Williams need to become a thing of the past. Said pressure created a diamond on Opening Day, but mostly, it’s just been a tremendous drag. Williams’ trademark Airbender has rarely looked like a strike. The swings-and-misses have not been there; batters aren’t batting an eye.\u00a0Williams’ paternity leave allowed him a regroup\u00a0after the season-opening series against his old team in Milwaukee, but his inefficiency is now officially registering as a problem, and reared its ugly head in a must-win series finale against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The Yankees, at one point, had the bases loaded with nobody out in the ninth inning, already having extended their advantage to 4-0. Paul Goldschmidt was at the plate, looking to add on.<\/p>\n

Within a half hour, the score had curdled to 4-3, and Williams, brought on to hold a four-run advantage that should’ve loomed larger, was no longer in the game for the final out. That was obtained, blissfully, by Mark Leiter Jr. on just two pitches.<\/p>\n

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