HURTS SO GOOD

It's been a tough week and a half for David Wells. The usually impervious Boomer can't catch a break, and it seems to be getting to him. (Is there anyone out there who feels even the slightest bit of sympathy for him?) Wells gave up 9 hits and 5 runs in 3 innings against the Braves yesterday. To add insult to injury, Wells was knocked on his ass on a comebacker through the box, he threw a ball into center field on another play, and brought back memories of Hideki Irabu as he failed to cover first base on yet another play.

When it rains it pours. Boss George, who called Irabu a "fat pus-sy toad" for neglecting to cover first base in a 1999 spring training game, has yet to address the Wells issue. The Yankee faithful in Tampa let Wells have it though, showering him with a chorus of boos.

According to John Harper in the Daily News:

To be fair, this was no routine play yesterday, as a hard ground ball caromed off a diving Todd Zeile's glove, right to second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Still, Wells admitted he shouldn't have given up on the play.

"It was my fault," he said. "The way it was going out there, nothing I could do was right. When the ball went right to Soriano, I said, 'Oh, bleep.'"

Yankee GM Brian Cashman is considering disciplinary action against Wells, but has yet to make a move.

"I'm talking to our personnel internally," Cashman said. "Other than that, I can't comment."

Several club officials said that the Yankees were not considering trading or releasing Wells and that they had not asked him to waive his no-trade clause, which Wells has said he will not do. But there is a growing sense that Cashman will try to discipline Wells in some way.

...Steinbrenner has stayed silent on all things Wells.

"I'm handling it solely," Cashman said. "It's in my lap to handle, as it should be."

ETC.

The Yanks have hired Jimmy Key as a minor league instructor. Key will report to spring training and work with both the minor league and major league pitchers. Key is considered to be a possible replacement for Yankee pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre.

"I don't know if it's something he'd like to do," General Manager Brian Cashman said. "But with his ability, rZsumZ and demeanor, I'm sure that's something he would be capable of doing."

Alfonso Soriano signed a one-year $800,000 deal, insuring that he'll remain one of the better bargains in the game, at least for one more season (knock on wood).