Turner Sports Adds David Wells to Roster
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Turner Sports added a three-time All-Star pitcher to its Sunday MLB on TBS broadcast team: the colorful and controversial David Wells.
“Boomer” will join play-by-play man Chip Caray and either Ron Darling, Dennis Eckersley or Buck Martinez (analysts) for games. He will also be in the studio for TBS’ exclusive coverage of the 2009 MLB All-Star Selection Show Sunday, July 5; all four Division Series; and the 2009 National League Championship Series.
Wells’ first Sunday MLB on TBS game will be May 3, when the Boston Red Sox visit the Tampa Bay Rays in a rematch of last year’s American League Championship Series. His second will be May 17, the anniversary of his perfect game, featuring the same matchup: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees.
Turner originally approached Wells last year, but he said he was still trying to catch on with a team and continue pitching. After speaking with ESPN but not hearing anything back, when the opportunity with Turner came up again, “How can you say no to something like that knowing that they want you to be yourself?” he asked, adding, “Some places to work are a little uptight, but it’s very comfortable to work with TBS.”
Wells joked about people “taking bets that I go two games before I drop an F-bomb,” but added, “Sometimes you’ve got to watch what you say and be careful … I am going to speak my mind. If I see something, I’m going to call it as I see it.”
The left-hander cited Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully and Jerry Coleman as broadcasting influences, saying, “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d get in the booth. I thought I’d be coaching somewhere before getting in the booth. Me and the media never saw eye to eye.”
Wells spent 21 years in Major League Baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
He won the 1998 ALCS MVP; pitched a perfect game for the Yankees against the Twins May 17, 1998; and was a member of World Series winners in 1992 (Blue Jays) and 1998 (Yankees).
