When Yankees manager Aaron Boone stood in front of the media after Friday night’s gut-wrenching loss, he deliberately chose his words for the closer situation. When the skipper was asked point-blank about Devin Williams’ future as a ninth-inning force after a brutal night, he simply offered, “We’ll see.” That small phrase spoke volumes. And hinting at a simmering frustration that finally boiled over under the Bronx lights. It leaves the team and its passionate fanbase demanding answers and pointing towards a clear alternative waiting in the wings.
Everything was in place for a routine Yankees victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 25. Ahead, 2-1, to start the top of the ninth, the call went to Williams, one of their offseason headliners. Disaster struck almost immediately. A leadoff single, a hit batter, and suddenly the tying and winning runs were aboard with nobody out. The crushing blow came off the bat of Alejandro Kirk. A tiebreaking double that scored both runners and reversed the lead. Boone had seen enough, pulling Williams before he could record a single out. A third run was later charged to him, sealing a brutal 4-2 loss and marking a low point in his young Yankees tenure.
That noncommittal response from Boone was not lost on onlookers, including MLB insider Jon Heyman. He quickly shared a New York Post report detailing the collapse, adding his own sharp observation: “Aaron Boone appropriately noncommittal on closer role after Devin Williams is booed off mound following latest blowup”. Heyman’s remark was, of course, apt to the moment — the managing of the deck of cards as close, the out-of-the-stands fury with which Williams was greeted, and the undeniable feeling that a significant change was not just possible, but perhaps necessary for the Yankees.
What ignited that fan fire, and to whom it was directed, was crystal clear: Luke Weaver. While Williams was in the midst of a spectacular struggle, his ERA, after the game against the Blue Jays, was 11.25; Weaver was amply demonstrating what controlled pitching can be. The dependable setup man hadn’t given up an earned run through 13 innings in 2025. He even had recent success closing games for the Yanks just last season. The contrast couldn’t be more pronounced, fueling chants of “We want Weaver!” throughout the stadium Friday night.
Yankees’ fans voice their displeasure
Those chants weren’t just a heat-of-the-moment reaction. Williams had heard boos even on Opening Day. Now, after watching their potential lockdown closer falter repeatedly while another reliever thrived, the Bronx faithful were making their choice known loud and clear. Their voices echoed the urgent question hanging over the team: how long could the Yankees stick with the struggling Williams?
And, it’s a sentiment that expresses perfectly the frustration of many fans, as summed up by one commenter: “They found a gem in Weaver and then go out and get this guy ”. This fan highlights the baffling contrast. Luke Weaver wasn’t good last year, he was clutch when it mattered most. In the 2024 ALCS Game 5, Weaver pitched a scoreless ninth inning to keep the game tied and then successfully closed out the tenth after the Yankees took the lead, securing their World Series berth. Additionally, he notched a challenging four-out save in the ALDS, solidifying his role as an unexpected yet dependable anchor in the Yankees’ bullpen.
Another fan put the blame directly on the manager, making a popular argument: “Dumbass should have took him out of that role a long time ago. This is why boone sucks as a manager”. This comment gets right in the thick of management responsibility. It wasn’t only the Blue Jays game that Williams has been struggling this season. His ERA had ballooned to 11.25, and he’d only had two clean appearances in ten tries. Remember the meltdown against the Rays on April 19th? He choked away a four-run lead in the ninth that time, too.
Building on that frustration, another fan emphasized Weaver’s proven track record: “Luke Weaver solidified the closer position last season. Yankees need to stop gambling…………”. In the 2024 season, Luke Weaver became a reliable closer for the Yankees. After being inserted into the role in September, he converted all four of his save chances, posting a 2.89 ERA over 84 innings with 103 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP. His postseason performance was equally impressive.
Some fans are going beyond the mound to find explanations, questioning priorities. “When a guy’s main priority is whether or not he gets to have a freakin’ beard… it’s probably not going to turn out well”. This line references the off-season noise about Williams and the Yankees’ facial hair policy. Williams candidly shared that the previous no-beard policy could have influenced his decisions in free agency, stating, “I can’t really speak to other people, but I know that’s how I’m most comfortable.” It reflects a sense that Williams may be more concerned with appearances than performance, fairly or not.
The question now isn’t if a change is coming. It’s when. The season is still young, but the Yankees’ patience is running thin. Will Boone make the bold call and hand the ninth inning to Weaver? Or will he double down on his offseason bet? What do you think?
The post Calls Erupt to Reinstate $2M Star After Devin Williams Booed Off During Yankees’ Brutal Collapse Against Blue Jays appeared first on EssentiallySports.
