05/09: David Wells: "I'm in shape."
Posted by: Patrick
What should we talk about? The Joba fist pump? Hmm... no, I think I'll take a pass on that one. Let's talk about David Wells. Mike Puma at the Post spoke with David Wells and Hank Steinbrenner about a potential return to the Yankees. Yes, you read that right. That's Yankeeland!
Hank tells Puma that he saw Wells on TV and he was thinking about it at that point. He notes that Wells hasn't come up in any conversations but, "you never know." He also said that Wells will always be a Yankee to him. Wells won't always be a Yankee to me. To me, he'll be a Blue Jay, Tiger, Red, Oriole, White Sock, Padre, Red Sock and Dodger. And, I'd harbor a guess, the reason that he's played 11 different stints on 8 different teams in 21 seasons is because he wears out his welcome.
"I'm in shape, I'd just have to fine-tune a couple of things," Wells told the Post. "I'd need a little bit of time, but not much. Physically I feel fine, real good."
Anyone remember the last game he pitched for the Yankees? Game 5 of the 2003 World Series. He pitched 1 inning and then left because of back spasms. A three headed monster of Jose Contreras, Chris Hammond and Jeff Nelson pitched the final 7, allowing 6 earned runs in a 6-4 Yankees loss. After the game, we heard of his rubber arm, but we also heard that he wasn't working out between starts like he should have been. The team needed him and he failed to answer the call. People are human and it happens to everyone more often than not. But, what stings is when you don't put it a full effort and fail. Then, people question you. After that series, as a Yankees fan, I did not want Wells to return. And he didn't.
Later in the article, Wells is quoted as saying: "New York has always been the favorite of all my stops. When I got traded, I was bitter. When they didn't re-sign me, I was bitter, but I know that wasn't the Yankees, everything was Joe Torre. I wasn't one of his boys. I don't think he liked the way I lived my life or that I spoke my mind."
Yeah, that's what it was. Joe Torre. Look, Joe Torre may not have been perfect (and no one is), but I'm getting a little tired of him being trotted out as an excuse by players who had plenty of their own issues. (Really, these comments shouldn't mean much when you consider, in comparison, the people who have good things to say. But, I know some people latch onto these sorts of remarks, no matter the source).
Let's review. Farnsworth stunk because of Joe Torre. Sheffield and Lofton were dumped because Joe Torre is a racist. Buddy Groom stunk because of Joe Torre. David Wells was traded and not resigned because of Joe Torre. Wells not being resigned couldn't have anything to do with that playoff game above, could it? How about the book he wrote in the offseason that proved to be a distraction when he used it as a platform to criticism teammates Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens? No, nothing to do with it. David Wells was a model citizen and the Yankees had no reason to not bring them back after 2003.
It's probably clear, but I don't want him back. I don't want him back on the basis of performance. His last good season was 2004. When you throw in the personal issues, I really don't want him back. If he didn't like Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemyre... how's he going to like Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland?
Hank tells Puma that he saw Wells on TV and he was thinking about it at that point. He notes that Wells hasn't come up in any conversations but, "you never know." He also said that Wells will always be a Yankee to him. Wells won't always be a Yankee to me. To me, he'll be a Blue Jay, Tiger, Red, Oriole, White Sock, Padre, Red Sock and Dodger. And, I'd harbor a guess, the reason that he's played 11 different stints on 8 different teams in 21 seasons is because he wears out his welcome.
"I'm in shape, I'd just have to fine-tune a couple of things," Wells told the Post. "I'd need a little bit of time, but not much. Physically I feel fine, real good."
Anyone remember the last game he pitched for the Yankees? Game 5 of the 2003 World Series. He pitched 1 inning and then left because of back spasms. A three headed monster of Jose Contreras, Chris Hammond and Jeff Nelson pitched the final 7, allowing 6 earned runs in a 6-4 Yankees loss. After the game, we heard of his rubber arm, but we also heard that he wasn't working out between starts like he should have been. The team needed him and he failed to answer the call. People are human and it happens to everyone more often than not. But, what stings is when you don't put it a full effort and fail. Then, people question you. After that series, as a Yankees fan, I did not want Wells to return. And he didn't.
Later in the article, Wells is quoted as saying: "New York has always been the favorite of all my stops. When I got traded, I was bitter. When they didn't re-sign me, I was bitter, but I know that wasn't the Yankees, everything was Joe Torre. I wasn't one of his boys. I don't think he liked the way I lived my life or that I spoke my mind."
Yeah, that's what it was. Joe Torre. Look, Joe Torre may not have been perfect (and no one is), but I'm getting a little tired of him being trotted out as an excuse by players who had plenty of their own issues. (Really, these comments shouldn't mean much when you consider, in comparison, the people who have good things to say. But, I know some people latch onto these sorts of remarks, no matter the source).
Let's review. Farnsworth stunk because of Joe Torre. Sheffield and Lofton were dumped because Joe Torre is a racist. Buddy Groom stunk because of Joe Torre. David Wells was traded and not resigned because of Joe Torre. Wells not being resigned couldn't have anything to do with that playoff game above, could it? How about the book he wrote in the offseason that proved to be a distraction when he used it as a platform to criticism teammates Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens? No, nothing to do with it. David Wells was a model citizen and the Yankees had no reason to not bring them back after 2003.
It's probably clear, but I don't want him back. I don't want him back on the basis of performance. His last good season was 2004. When you throw in the personal issues, I really don't want him back. If he didn't like Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemyre... how's he going to like Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland?
Seamus wrote:
And if he pitches for one inning in a game and has to leave the game with back spasms, then he'll just fit right in. ;)
I see it as less than likely though.