Career trends hint Devin Williams' early Yankees struggles are nothing to worry about

So far, so bleak for brand new Yankees closer Devin Williams, who continued muddying his resumé on Wednesday afternoon in Detroit. Entering a game the Yankees desperately needed with a 4-0 lead in the ninth, Williams struggled with both command and control of his signature changeup, walking leadoff hitter Spencer Torkelson to open the frame. He then polished off two strikeouts, but couldn't close the door, rocked by Javier Báez before walking another, uncorking a wild pitch, and letting Zach McKinstry get around on a heater.

It wasn't exactly a murderer's row, yet somehow Williams still found a way to get murdered by it.

But, as difficult as this may be to stomach right now, fear ... not, Yankees fans? Maybe? Fear less? Fear a little, but not as much as you're currently fearing?

In addition to the complicating factors of the early portion of Williams' tenure (paternity leave, new child at home, walk year pressures, transitioning to a new city), his early stumbles fall in line with his historic trouble spots. The ex-Brewers closer has traditionally posted by far the worst numbers of his career in March and April before sparkling the rest of the year.

Yankees closer Devin Williams progresses well as the season continues (typically)

Of course ... the dark lining within this silver lining is that this progression indicates that Williams is less than fond of cold weather. That might explain his October struggles, too. Perhaps it's a buildup thing, sure, but ... the recession when the temperatures dip once more at the end of the year gives us pause.

The Brewers do play home games indoors, though, so ... you're right. Too far down the rabbit hole. We don't know what we don't know. We just want it to get better.

While it was difficult to learn that not all of Williams' early-season stumbles could be ascribed to his old team, the Brew Crew, simply having his number in the opener, the reality is that this isn't the first time Williams has clogged the bases. Normally, he has the fortitude to get out of jams, with the odds of success increasing as the regular season progresses. Fingers crossed this is just another April for Williams with a heightened wOBA, and not the beginning of something difficult to process in the Bronx.

Of course, for the more pessimistic among us, he only allowed 13 runs in his previous 83 appearances before allowing five runs (four earned) in four appearances to start his time in pinstripes. Last year, he missed April entirely, but those 83 pre-Yankees appearances include 0 earned runs in 10 April outings in 2023. If things don't turn around soon, people won't be able to blame the lack of sun any longer.