It only takes a split second to do something regrettably stupid. Sometimes we take ownership of that screw-up. Other times we blame it on the al-al-aaaa-alcohol.
In the case of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Devin Williams, his entire 2021 playoffs future has been snatched from his golden arm. He punched a wall and broke his pitching hand following the team’s celebration after clinching the NL Central Division division title on Sunday with an 8-4 win over the Mets.
Williams shocked reporters on Wednesday, revealing that he broke his pitching hand because he had too much to drink during the celebration. He says he punched the wall after something upset him
Devin Williams is being placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured right hand. He told us he had too much to drink after Sunday’s celebration, got upset about something and punched a wall with his pitching hand. He will need surgery.
“If I could take it back, I would.”
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 29, 2021
What??
(We pause this article so that a clown nose can be placed onto Williams’ face.)
“If I could take it back, I would,” Williams said.
You think?
Huge Loss To Brewers World Series Hopes
The Brewers have won 95 games this season (third-most in the National League) with four games to go until the playoffs begin. A World Series-starved baseball city had incredible optimism before the “punch heard around Milwaukee.” The Brewers‘ only World Series appearance came in 1982, and they are one of only six current MLB teams to never win a World Series ring.
This wasn’t some second-string outfielder, backup catcher or rarely used relief pitcher we are talking about.
This is a huge blow to the Brewers’ bullpen as they prepare for the MLB playoffs because Williams has been lights out this season. In his two full seasons of work he has elevated to one of the elite pitchers in the league out of the bullpen.
Williams has a career record of 12-3 with a 2.09 ERA through 93 games. He also has a total of 154 strikeouts and opponents are hitting .182 against him.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell has got to think the baseball gods are messing with him. Williams’ injury comes at a time when the change-up-throwing ace was really rounding into playoff shape in the months of August and September, ready to make a huge impact on October baseball.
Simply untouchable 🔥
Join us in congratulating Devin Williams on winning the NL Reliever of the Month Award for August!@DTrainn_23 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/E4eswzYAKh
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 2, 2021
Williams was named National League Reliever of the Month in August. He made 14 appearances out of the bullpen, picking up one win and collecting all three of his saves as well.
He struck out 22 batters and did not allow a single run.
Williams finished this season with an 8-2 record with a 2.50 ERA through 58 games during the 2021 season. He also has three saves and has struck out 87 batters. Oh yeah, add one broken pitching hand to his season’s résumé. What a way to go out.
“If I could take it back, I would.”
The fans have got to be pissed, management is devastated and his teammates are probably looking at him like, “WTF, dude.”
If some postgame champagne was enough to make Williams try to put his multi-million dollar mitts through a wall like a DC Comics villain, then he needs to remain alcohol-free for the rest of his life. Maybe he had a flask with some overproof rum in it and was mixing his sauces. That would surely make it make sense.
The 2020 NL Rookie of the Year owes his entire team a solid going forward. The worst part about it is that he will have to wave the pompoms, sweat through late-inning situations that would normally be his spot to pitch, and wait an entire 365 days to redeem himself. Even if Milwaukee wins the World Series without him, it’s going to be a long winter for Devin Williams.
