Wells misses picture

His absence from the team picture had nothing to do with him being criticized.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kip Wells was a no-show when the annual team picture was taken, several days after being criticized by general manager Dave Littlefield.
Wells initially denied Wednesday that he skipped the picture-taking session Tuesday because he was unhappy with Littlefield's remark that the Pirates "need to get more" from him. Littlefield also said right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (2-7, 6.69 ERA) has been disappointing.
"Me protesting those comments in the paper had nothing to do with me not being in the picture," Wells said. "Obviously, I knew in this day and age that if you're not in the picture, you can be put in through computer stuff. For me to get here on time was not as important as it was for me to pitch well; it had nothing to do with my dealings with the front office."
But Wells then backtracked, saying he might need to be more guarded in his comments to the media -- seemingly, an admission that he at least suggested to reporters that he intentionally missed the picture.
"I try to be as honest as I can," Wells said. "If I feel like I have to watch what I say to make clear what I'm trying to convey, I'll know in the future that comments aren't always written as they are spoken in a particular conversation."
His day to pitch
Manager Lloyd McClendon said Wells was late for the picture because it was his day to pitch and the pitchers usually arrive later on the day they are scheduled to start.
Still, McClendon was unhappy about the entire incident -- not only that it became public, but that it came just when the Pirates are enjoying one of the best surges in seasons. They had won 21 of 28 going into Wednesday night's game against Atlanta.
"It's unfortunate. I hate to have a distraction when the team is playing well," Wells said. "If I had a problem with Dave or someone else I would go to them or someone else."
Whether he was staging a miniprotest or not, Wells wasn't happy at being singled out by Littlefield during interviews last weekend. Littlefield said the Pirates still aren't a championship-caliber team despite their recent surge and don't yet match up with more talented, deeper teams such as NL Central leader St. Louis.
Littlefield also pointed out that, despite a recent a run of excellent starts by the starting pitchers, the Pittsburgh starting staff's ERA remains in the bottom third of the NL.
Littlefield's remarks were highlighted with a yellow marking pen and posted for display in the Pirates clubhouse.
Wells was considered the key to the December 2001 trade that sent Todd Ritchie to the White Sox, but has yet to develop into the dominating pitcher the Pirates still think he can be.
After going 12-14 with a 3.58 ERA in 2002 and 10-9 with a 3.28 ERA in 2003, the right-hander is 4-6 with a 4.37 ERA this season. He has won only once in 12 starts, getting a no-decision in the Pirates' 8-4 decision Tuesday after giving up three runs and nine hits in six innings.
"He still fights himself a lot out there from an emotion standpoint," McClendon said.