Kip Wells and Tidbits
Kip Wells signed with the Cardinals today. Good for the Kipper. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to do much hunting in St. Louis so I wonder what he’ll do in his off time? Kip’s a great person and I wish him luck.
Wells had offers from the Astros and Rangers too but settled on the Cardinals because he has some unfinished business with one team in the NLCD – the Pirates.
Cardinal fans who have emailed about a scouting report on Kip, here is what I have to say: had nice late movement on his 2-seamer that has flattened out the last few years, fringy off speed stuff and had relied way too much on a cutter that didn’t cut, pitches down in the zone, and not afraid to attack inside. He walks way too many.. gives up the bomb at the strangest times.. and isn’t very good at getting out of his jams.
His velocity is significantly down since he first became a Pirate. He was in the 96 mph range now he is lucky to touch 94. Kip’s biggest road block is his mental approach to the game – teams know they have to get to him early because once he feels defeated and relaxes on the mound, he’ll roll off a no-hitter over the next 7 innings.
Here is a quick scouting report from former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel on Kip during a game last year that I archived.
At $4m you can’t go wrong with Kip as a Duncan reclamation project. I tend to believe he is better suited in the pen and that is where I believe the Cardinals will use him the most unless they end up a starter short in 2007.
Kip is a wild dresser so if you want to get in good with him, wear a tie-died paisley silk shirt to the game to get his autograph.
—
Rumor has it that Ogden Nutting made David Littlefield’s reservation at Disney’s Dolphin Hotel for the GM meetings. It turns out he actually got Dave the largest suite they had, then asked for 8 roll-a-ways for his entourage to sleep on.
—
The Pirates are reportedly after another pitcher – this time it is Tomo Ohka. Pleeassee.. stop with the PR stuff already.
—
Industry sources report that Kevin McClatchy may bid on the naming rights for the Nats new stadium. The stadium name Kev has allegedly picked out is: "The Hustle".
Pittsburgh Pirates - Bucco Blog 
Re: hunting for Kip…are you crazy? Missouri and Illinois are two of the best deer, duck, and pheasant hunting states in the union.