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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: Yankees See Perfect Fit In Wells - Bill Madden | ||||
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| FeelMyFunBags | posted on 06-03-2001 @ 11:56 AM |    | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01  | I saw this in the Daily News...and since I love David Wells, I had to share this. I was never quite sure whether it was Branch Rickey or wise old Gabe Paul who coined the time-honored baseball axiom, "You never have enough pitching." I only know it wasn't supposed to apply to the Yankees this year. Suddenly, however, the latest El Duque mystery, combined with Ted Lilly's inconsistency, has reduced the Yankees' "Four Aces" by one, the repercussions extending into the bullpen with Ramiro Mendoza again pressed into starting duty. And so, because they are the Yankees and do what the Yankees always do when these sorts of mini-crises arise in their world, David Wells can expect to be part of it again very soon. Even before Orlando Hernandez insisted to them Friday afternoon the source of his unseemly 0-5, 5.14 record this year was a sore toe — and not the presence of the Cleveland Indians (against whom lifetime he's an equally unseemly 1-5, 5.24) — the Yankees had already made some initial inquiries to the White Sox about their old pal Boomer. Yankees sources advise that we should expect it to get serious. Of course, they're counting on White Sox board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf getting serious, too. Presently, Reinsdorf is under the delusion he can extract a couple of blue-chip, major-league ready prospects for the portly 38-year-old, who is being paid $8.25 million this year and has a $9 million option (with a $1.25 million buyout) for next season. Hey, that might be even be possible if Reinsdorf could get an auction going. David Wells once again may be wearing the uniform of his favorite team. Then again, he may not. As Reinsdorf probably has already discovered, however, the Yankees are the only team willing to take on that kind of salary for a pitcher with that kind of baggage. While they talk about holding the line on payroll, when it comes to doing what they have to do to assure those World Series trophies keep filling up their lobby, they take on the big contracts and figure out how to make them look not-so-big later. And besides, they believe, as most everyone else in baseball believes, if there's one place where Wells will belie his very mediocre 9-11, 4.76 performance over his last 27 starts, it is back in the Bronx. Most important is Joe Torre believes that. The Yankee manager, who obviously sees the potential gravity of an extended absence of El Duque from the rotation and Mendoza from the bullpen, took pains yesterday to dispel the notion one Boomer tenure was enough for him. "We had our disagreements," Torre said. "But once we got past that problem we had, everything was fine. When he left here we weren't looking to trade David Wells or were shopping him. It was just that Roger Clemens was available." Then Torre talked as if Wells was already here. "He's going to do something to aggravate me," the manager said, "but that's fine. He kissed me on the cheek at the All-Star Game (last year) which I didn't appreciate. What can I say? He's a colorful character. A cartoon character." El Duque, meanwhile, is a character of a different kind — one of mystery and many moods, most of them sour. Throughout his struggles this season, he has complained of a myriad of aches and pains that has somehow never showed up on MRIs, leading the Yankees to conclude those aches and pains are mostly in his head. When Duque visited Dr. William Hamilton, the renowned foot specialist at New York Presbyterian Hospital, on Friday, he was found to be suffering from an inflammation in the joint of the second toe on his landing foot. Hamilton reportedly told the Yankees surgery eventually might be necessary to alleviate the problem but it wasn't needed at this time. Apparently, though, El Duque wants to get the surgery now. Mind you, this is only a surmise. El Duque's contract is up after this season and he faces the prospect of arbitration deciding his salary for next year. No one knows how old he really is, but an eight-week vacation for his arm, combined with his aching toe getting fixed, could do wonders for him and enable him to come back of sound body and mind just in time for his September "salary sweeps." In any case, he doesn't figure to be back any time soon and, as has been well-documented over the past couple of years, there are no suitable rotation replacements for him in the Yankee player development system. Actually, there is one pitcher of promise — 22-year-old lefty Brandon Claussen, a 34th-round draft pick in 1998 who recently was promoted from A-ball to Double-A Norwich. Scouts have said Claussen has better stuff than Lilly does right now, but the Yankees are reluctant to rush him to the bigs. Presumably, they will be even more adamant about including him in the inevitable deal for Wells.  All I've undergone I will keep on Underneath it all We feel so small The heavens fall But still we crawl All I've undergone I will keep on | ||||
King Shit *board owner* | posted on 06-03-2001 @ 12:14 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01 | I wouldn't expect Wells to return to the Yankees. He's the kind of guy who holds a hell of a grudge. And I'm not sure that the way he's looked lately that the Yankees would even want him back. They keep talking about the Mets trading for him, but I'd rather trade for someone who hasn't looking like shit since last year's all-star break. Is my train in vain, has my soul gone to waste Am I just a victim of, a victim of my lost faith | ||||
| FeelMyFunBags | posted on 06-03-2001 @ 12:17 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | I think as much as Wells hates the fact that he was traded, he always said how much he loved the fans and playing in New York. I saw a few articles in which Wells said that he didn't want to play for the Mets because of Bobby Valentine. Who knows what will happen though...this is a trade, so in actuality David Wells doesn't get to choose where he goes....he just goes there....hopefully it will be for the best. All I've undergone I will keep on Underneath it all We feel so small The heavens fall But still we crawl All I've undergone I will keep on | ||||
| Menino | posted on 06-03-2001 @ 12:18 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Sep. 00 | i think the only team that will make wells happy is the yanks if he goes to the mets expect chaos. the guy has been a thorn in the clubhouse for his last two teams. hes just a miserable F M. Menino- Waiting for the glorious day O and A pass Howard the deek in the ratings (only 2.8 to go) | ||||
| Corpsegrinderjunk | posted on 06-03-2001 @ 2:03 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Aug. 00 | Wells hasn't been a great pitcher this year. Granted, niether has Orlando Hernandez or Ted Lilly for that matter, but David would still be more solid than 2 out of the 5 Yankee starters...It would be interesting to see what kind of deal the Yanks would put together to get Wells, but I am very leary about a man that named his son Lars on the Yankees again... Why fucking bother "Think before you write" - Froy E-Mail Me | ||||
| suicidalsteve | posted on 06-04-2001 @ 2:55 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jan. 01 | first off i'd guarantee you that wells would do anything in his power to come back to the yanks. did u see his face the day after he got traded from here? and as much as i'd love to see him back here, the yanks just dont need him cause they'd almost definitely have to give up soriano to do it and i wouldn't trade him for anything. clemens, pettite, mussina, and el duque once he's finally healthy. you add wells to that and why even have the playoffs this year? | ||||
| FeelMyFunBags | posted on 06-04-2001 @ 8:41 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | quote: I really hope the Yanks wouldn't be stupid enough to give up Soriano. You gotta think that the White Sox see Wells as an added annoying expense that they want to get rid of real bad. They might be willing to take a few average players, some money and maybe a draft pick, but then again who knows. I really would LOVE to see Boomer back in pinstripes where he belongs.....and although I am probably one of the few to feel this way, I would love to see them get rid of Clemens (not because he's not a good pitcher, just because I really don't like him.) All I've undergone I will keep on Underneath it all We feel so small The heavens fall But still we crawl All I've undergone I will keep on | ||||
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