GLENDALE, Ariz. — Forget the glasses. Randy Wells has given up the idea of wearing them. And they wouldn't have helped the Cubs' pitcher get out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth on Friday.
Wells escaped a self-created mess against the White Sox in front of a Cactus League record 13,413 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. A.J. Pierzynski singled to lead off the fourth, Wells hit the next batter and Mark Kotsay singled to fill the bases. Wells then got Mark Teahen to bounce the ball to him for a forceout at the plate. The next batter lined out, and Juan Pierre ended the inning with a comebacker to Wells.
It was a good experience, especially since it was in a Cactus League game.
"You'd like to have it happen in Spring Training and not during the season," Wells said of the jam. "You never want to put yourself in those positions, but to be able to make pitches and get out of it and get a little lucky there [is good]."
The right-hander had been considering wearing eye glasses and tested a pair during a couple of side sessions. Unfortunately, they kept fogging up.
"I think I'm going to bang the glasses," Wells said. "I don't need them to play baseball. I don't mind wearing glasses off the field. It's a non-issue."
The glasses were prescribed for reading and seeing at night. When he wears them in the clubhouse, Wells said he can see a little farther and read signs that he couldn't read before.
"It's not like you put them on and all of a sudden I'm Nolan Ryan," Wells said. "I only need them for driving and reading. It's an idea I had."
2010 Spring Training – Chicago Cubs
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Wells puts glasses idea to rest
Cubs nail four homers vs. White Sox
Clock ticking on Gray's shot at 'pen
Cubs reassign Cashner, seven others
Ramirez continues to battle sore triceps
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Nady's first homer of the spring
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He's still trying to get a feel for his breaking pitches, particularly his slider. It's been tough in his last couple of outings to find that.
"I'm still struggling to find the slider and get that sinker refined and where I need it to be day in and day out," said Wells, who will be the Cubs' No. 3 starter when the season opens. "All in all, [Friday] was pretty good, when your back is against the wall to make pitches."
In his outing, Wells gave up two runs on six hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings and picked up the win as the Cubs posted an 8-4 victory. He was "perturbed" about the walk to Pierre with one out in the third. Pierre then scored on Gordon Beckham's double.
"That's a prime example of why you can't walk a guy like Juan Pierre," Wells said. "You worry about him on the base paths and you leave a pitch up and the guy hits a double and he's guaranteed to score from first."
Wells also was disappointed he couldn't go five innings, but the Cubs wanted lefty James Russell to come in and face a left-handed hitter in a tough situation. While Wells' spot is set, the team is still sorting out the bullpen.
Maybe he can't get his slider right because of the Arizona heat?
"I'm not going to blame it on the weather," Wells said. "You can still throw good sliders here. That's a pitch you need. You throw a good fastball and get ahead of guys and you need that to put them away."
He doesn't need glasses to be able to see that.