SI's Verducci bashes Wells...here's a defense

[gatorgreenwell]

Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci used the game two loss as a platform to bash David Wells...whatever you think of Wells, the column was pretty poor in my opinion. A friend of mine wrote a column in response I think Sox fans would find interesting. It includes a link to Verducci's column...

 

Wells-Verducci column

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Here are my thoughts on David Wells:

 

I love the "me against the world" type attitude....but its not great for the team. Does anyone remember seeing a few of the Red Sox starters walking to the mound last season all claiming they were available to pitch whenever needed. Thats the kind of attitude you want. Not someone who says "we will see." I want someone who wants the ball and is willing to sacrifice for the team no matter how they are called upon. I also want pitchers who don't quit and remain focused...here are two cases I find troubling with our newly aquired pitchers this postseason:

 

Matt Clement obviously got hammered in the first game but what bothered me the most was how he quit. Its something you can see in the guy when he gets frustrated cause things aren't going right. After Clement gave up an early 5-0 lead you could see he was already done. The next batter he faced got up to a very quick 2-0 count and the two balls Clement threw were effortless and way off the plate. This man should know that a 5-0 lead with the Red Sox behind him is nothing to get worked up over....clear your head and make your pitches...act as if the game is still 0-0. He says that making himself available for the bullpen would be hard and maybe not the best interest.

 

Now to David Wells. I love the energy he can bring and personally I like his overall attitude but he lets it work against him. If you ever watch David Wells reaction when he doesnt get a call you know whats coming next. The ball travels right down the middle and *whap* off it goes. Its almost like Wells way of telling the umpire...."fine screw you, if thats how it will be then I'll just hand the ball over and its your faultl." I've seen it happen several times this year. When he faces a team like Chicago in the playoffs who is geared up for this game...the last thing Graffanino could do was ruin the tempo that Wells had going for himself. Not because it places the Red Sox with two on and one out...but because David Wells is on the mound and things are working against him in a situation he can't control. You could see it in Wells face....he had just quit. Now he says "we will see" for his next start.

 

Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo....these guys don't quit....they fight it out for the team and do everything they can to keep the team in it. I don't mind if a pitcher gets hammered or things just happen to work against them on a particular day. What I can't stand is a pitcher who is not mentally prepared for what can happen and give up on the team. I admit that somtimes Arroyo gets wrecked and it bugs me but its in part cause his stuff isn't that great....but he doesn't quit. All three of these guys are ready to pitch whenever, wherever, from the bullpen, short days rest...doesnt matter.

[He Hate Me]

All you need to know about David Wells is that he quit on the team during the World Series. He is one of those players that you can only tolerate if hes winning for you. Once he is off your team or not effective, you just wanna get rid of him ASAP