Even if pitcher wins don't tell us all that much, being 22-3 over three minor league seasons must mean something. If you're Joey Williamson it failed to tell him that he had a long-term future in baseball. As the Denver Post's Irv Moss reminds us, Williamson retired before the 2010 season began. But now that fellow 2007 draftee Matt Reynolds is in the majors, Moss went to find out Williamson's thoughts on the matter:
↵↵↵"It was a tough decision to make [to retire], but I'm comfortable with it," Williamson said. "I didn't know if I had an immediate future in baseball. I'm thankful for the opportunity, but I was looking at a really long road ahead of me. I've started a new career elsewhere and moved on."
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Many players dominate the lower levels of the minors and then fall apart once they reach the Double A level. With Williamson, he had two games at that stop in 2009 before hanging it up. It's a bunch of speculation as to how he would have fared in a full season there. He would have been a swingman for the Tulsa Drillers this year, picking up a spot start here and there but mostly pitching as a reliever. He'd probably have 30 wins right now if he stayed with baseball. But, ultimately, that's a game of what if.
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