Wells gets start on new memories

Published Tuesday, April 3, 2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The first two games of the season, with the championship flag raising followed by World Series ring ceremonies, is an emotional time for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Even if you’re a newcomer.

Kip Wells, the team’s new No. 2 starter, makes his debut tonight against the New York Mets after his teammates update their jewelry collection.

"It’s neat," Wells said. "Obviously, this time next year I’d like to have the memories these guys have."

Wells knows he can’t get afford to get too far ahead of himself, though. Though the Cardinals were attracted by his potential and live arm, Wells won only two games in an injury-plagued 2006 that was his third straight season of hard times.

He’s a career 57-74 pitcher and had a 6.50 ERA in nine starts last year.

The Cardinals gave Wells, 29, a one-year, $4 million free-agent contract.

He was a first-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 1998 and had three straight years with double-digit wins from 2001-03, although he also had a major-high 18 losses in 2005.

Last year, Wells underwent surgery for a blocked artery near his right shoulder and then broke his foot. Spending most of his career with noncontenders hasn’t helped his bottom line, and he also blames himself for over-enthusiasm.

He’ll work to avoid that becoming an issue in his first outing this year while pitching in front of the usual sellout crowd at Busch Stadium.

"You’ve got to enjoy the situation but not get distracted and try to do too much," he said. "That’s my M.O. When the situation calls for it, I overdo it at times."

Wells, who will face the Mets’ Orlando Hernandez, will try to build on impressive spring numbers. He had a stingy 1.16 ERA in six spring-training games, striking out 22 in 231/3 innings.