Wells still Bucs' main concern

His raw skills are impressive, but he's had only one winning season.
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates only wish that Kip Wells baffled opposing hitters as much as he does his own team.
Expected to become the Pirates' No. 1 starter for the last several seasons, Wells' career has settled into a perplexing but predictable pattern.
Great start here, terrible one there. No-hitter stuff one night, everything-gets-hit stuff the next. Every winning streak is counterbalanced by a losing streak. His career appears to take off, only to experience a hard landing.
He's 47-51 in six years
Wells' raw skills -- a 95 mph sinking fastball, an excellent slider and a changeup -- are envied even by some teammates. Yet for all of his visible talent, Wells is 47-51 with a 4.20 ERA in six seasons. He has had only one winning record, 10-9 in 2003, since being traded to Pittsburgh before the 2002 season.
Josh Fogg, a close friend who accompanied Wells to Pittsburgh from the White Sox, admittedly has a far less intimidating repertoire, yet is 33-31 with the Pirates compared to Wells' 27-30. Still, that doesn't diminish his importance to a team coming off 12 consecutive losing seasons.
"We need for him to be healthy, make 32-33 starts for us," said manager Lloyd McClendon, who called Wells' status "my biggest concern going into spring training."
Last year illustrates how Wells' career keeps stalling, much like that of the former No. 1 draft pick who pitched alongside him for three seasons, Kris Benson. The Pirates finally gave up on Benson and dealt him to the Mets late last season.
Started strong last year
Wells beat Kevin Millwood and the Phillies 2-1 on opening day and had a 1.89 ERA after three starts, but was 2-4 by May 5. He was winless with a 6.02 ERA in a span of seven starts not long after that, then was troubled by right elbow inflammation and circulation problems in his right hand for the rest of the season.
He pitched only once after mid-August, finishing 5-7 with a 4.55 ERA before needing surgery to repair his right wrist, an injury that apparently caused the numbness problems in his right middle finger.
This spring brought another setback to Wells, who will be 28 next month and is running out of time to become the pitcher the Pirates think he can be.
Developed arm problems
Wells needed just 28 pitches in three scoreless innings March 10 against the Braves, only to develop stiffness in his right forearm. He didn't pitch again against major league hitters until giving up three hits and two runs in two innings in a rain-delayed 6-5 loss Monday to the Blue Jays.
Wells expects to be ready for his first scheduled start April 6 against the Brewers, but wishes he had pitched more than seven innings against big-league hitters by now.
"This is a totally different deal. It's something I haven't had to go through, an injury where I'm coming back from an injury," Wells said.
This is a big season for Wells, if only because it could be his last in Pittsburgh.
Salary is rising
His salary is up to $2,575,000, a modest sum for most teams but a major expenditure for a franchise that figures to start the season with the majors' second-lowest payroll.
With Wells likely to double his salary in arbitration even with another modest season, he might soon cost the Pirates too much for a pitcher whose production never seems to match his potential.
That's why Wells wishes he had experienced a more normal spring training.
"I've still got two [spring starts] left and it's a matter of being ready for the season and not being overly concerned with how many innings I get here," Wells said.
"Like Lloyd told me before camp started, get yourself ready for the season. The goal is still the regular season."
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