Badin vs. Versailles
Law Enforcement Memorial Day
American Idol 2012 finale
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 25 > Entry
David Wells returns
When Bronson Arroyo walked into the Reds clubhouse after Saturday night’s 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres, an old friend was sitting at a table waiting for him - a very bald friend, a very heavy friend, a very - how shall we say it? - “different” kind of friend.
It was David Wells.
Wells, a San Diego native, pitched in Boston with Arroyo. He also pitched briefly with the Reds in 1995, helping them make it to the playoffs - 13 years ago - their last visit.
Wells also wrote in his book that he pitched his perfect game with a hangover. He once tried to wear a hat worn by his idol, Babe Ruth, in a game he pitched for the New York Yankees, but the umpires made him take it off.
Wells’ mother was part of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang. Hey, nothing wrong with that. It’s just part of the Wells legend.
He is out of baseball now. What is he doing?
“Being bored. Bored, bored, bored,” he said. “I’m here to yell at the umpires. I’m doing some golfing. Doing some surfing. Playing with the kids. I’m playing some with the Poker All-Stars. But I’m not doing anything that’ll pay me money. Guess I have to find a job.”
After Arroyo left the table, he said about Wells, “That guy will never change, right up until the day he dies.”
Arroyo held the Padres to two runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings for his part of the 7-2 victory. He struck out nine, which is usually a big deal. But the Padres struck out 17 times Friday and 13 times Saturday - 30 strikeouts in two games.
Joey Votto drove in four runs, three with his 10th home run. Paul Janish drove in two in the ninth with a bases-loaded single when matters were still precarious because the Reds stranded 14 baserunners.
So interim manager Chris Speier, serving as skipper during Dusty Baker’s two-game suspension, finishes 2-0. Baker, who swears he issued no help or a hint of a suggestion to Speier, returns to the manager’s chair today.
After holding his post-game press conference, somebody told him he was dismissed as manager and Speier said, “Thank you. My retirement decision has already been made for me right now and I think Dusty is definitely coming back. Hey, the guys played hard and it was fun. Two W’s is two W’s.”
Meanwhile, everybody was filtering out of the clubhouse and Wells was still sitting at the table, pondering, he said, a trip to Fiji.
Somebody - not me, honest - suggested that he tell all the Reds pitchers the correct way to obtain a hangover before pitching a perfect game.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Bronson Arroyo
Tweet
Comments
By Birdie Tebbets
May 26, 2008 2:27 AM | Link to this
Just read shockmonkey’s 9:51 AM post. He wins the $50 bet with dimwit donb51. Baker played Patterson and he was 0 for 8…another TERRIBLE performance by a totally successful dud! See Don, all that time you spent working for the governnment has dulled your senses. And I totally agree with HuberTucky’s comments. Happy Memorial Day everyone!
By BIRDIE41
May 25, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
How long do we have to put up with Dusty Baker and his managing? The 2 games he missed shows that the team is much better without him.If he takes Adam Dunn out of 1 more game in the late innings when we have a lead he should be fired for sure! What is he thinking when he benches Votto the next game after he almost single handedly wins a game with a homer and 4 RBI’s? Let’s put Dusty and Patterson on the next bus leaving Cincinnati with a one way ticket.The Reds will never be a competitive team with the 2 of them around!
By Y-City Jim
May 25, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
If Pete Mackanin was managing the Reds would be playing better if for no other reason than the fact that Corey Patterson would have never been signed. Jay Bruce would be playing CF and developing just like Joey Votto.
By HuberTucky
May 25, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Has anyone considered that the team won two games because Dusty wasn’t there to make decisions? Just a thought. I like Dusty, but after all, his team is in last place. Hey donb51, what are you smoking? You called the Reds “a first class, highly efficient baseball team.” Which Reds are you referring to,the cellar dweller Reds? Surely not the Cincinnati Reds?
By donb51
May 25, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
ShockMonkey, I am just going by the facts. Dusty Baker has managed this team through thick and thin and has turned it into a first class, highly efficient baseball team. Tell me where else has a manager been gone for two whole games and the team still continues to win? Now if this team is not on autopilot, what is it on?
By ShockMonkey
May 25, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Oh please donb51! What it means is Baker returns so there goes our two-game winning streak. $50 says he puts Patterson back into today’s lineup. Sorry but Dusty is awful.
By donb51
May 25, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
I was taught in the Marine Corps that a good leader could walk away for six months and the unit should be able to function effectively for that period. Dusty Baker must be doing something right.
By Jim M.
May 25, 2008 4:10 AM | Link to this
You scared me Hal.. Thought you meant David Wells was now a Red!! to bad he wasnt younger