Archive for the ‘Vernon Wells’ Category

Vernon Wells, Super Utility Guy

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', New York Yankees, Vernon Wells on May 16, 2013

First, he came for our third baseman. Then, Vernon Wells came for our souls. The former dead money contract is now one of the best offensive contributors in baseball as we near the first quarter pole. Vernon Wells, inexplicably, owns a .387 wOBA and 10 home runs, hitting another in last night’s 12-2 loss to the Mariners.

He also owns a new notch in his infielder’s belt, as recovering five tool stud Vernon Wells played the infield for the second time this season, serving 1/3 of an inning at second base last night – while shortstop Albert Gonzalez pitched! Gonzalez coaxed a shallow fly ball from Robert Andino, showcasing low 80s cheese in his first professional pitching foray.

Never a dull moment with the Yankees, who also allowed reliever Brett Marshall to throw 108 pitches over 5.2 innings. The bullpen (and infielders) were pressed into duty after Phil Hughes recorded exactly one more out than the man who started the game at shortstop.

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Moore’s Play of the Week: Vernon Wells Does It All

Posted by Jack Moore under Play of the Week, Vernon Wells on May 13, 2013

New York Yankees v Colorado Rockies

Vernon Wells is proof no contract is untradeable. Perhaps more accurately, he’s proof no former talent goes uncoveted.

It was easy to mock the Yankees when they acquired Vernon Wells in late March, but what else were they going to do? The outfield was decimated by Curtis Granderson‘s broken wrist, and the club desperately needed a right-handed outfielder. The free agent market was empty. Vernon Wells hit .222/.258/.409 from 2011 to 2012. But nobody available could be expected to do much better, and certainly none of them had done anything like Wells’s 2003 (.317/.359/.550), 2006 (.303/.357/.542), 2008 (.300/.343/.496) or, most notably, his 2010 (.273/.331/.515).

But what Wells has done this year blows past what anybody could (or should) have predicted. Wells hit his ninth home run in Sunday’s win over the Royals, and his batting line is up to .295/.343/.530 — he’s playing about as well as he ever has.

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Video: Vernon Wells Plays Third Base. Seriously

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', New York Yankees, Vernon Wells on May 09, 2013

There are two ways to write the “words” part of this video-based post. One angle would be to marvel at the ability of a player like Vernon Wells, to take a “these guys are good!” approach.

After all, Vernon Wells, he of more than 13700 career innings as an outfielder and zero career innings playing as an infielder, took up the hot corner for the Yankees last night after a flurry of Binderism left the Yankees one infielder short. Vernon Wells stepped in to serve as the Yankees third baseman for the ninth inning, where he helped protect a one-run lead and secure the W.

Awesome, right? No.

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Yankees On Verge Of Acquiring Vernon Wells

Posted by Darren Kritzer under Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, News And Notes, Vernon Wells on Mar 24, 2013

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Seattle Mariners

UPDATE 1: Vernon has agreed to waive his no-trade clause. Two teams are close to making this official.

Well, Well, Well.

Just when you thought the New York Yankees would stay quiet on the trade front with all their injuries this spring, we get word that a potential deal with the Los Angeles Angels is in the works for former Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells.

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Vernon Wells to Retire at End of Current Contract

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Los Angeles Angels, News And Notes, Vernon Wells on Feb 25, 2013

Oakland Athletics v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Your friend and mine Travis Reitsma passes on an Alden Gonzalez story regarding highly paid non-starting Angels outfielder Vernon Wells. The handsomely paid fourifth outfielder will walk away from the game when his current contract expires at the end of the 2014 season.

Though Wells will only be 35 at the end of next season, he will walk away from the game to spend time with his two young sons.

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Vernon “ROI” Wells

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Los Angeles Angels, Vernon Wells on Aug 27, 2012

Sure, the Angels owe enough Vernon Wells enough money through 2014 that, if Vernon wanted to, he could fund the development of an exciting new breed of pygmy gorillas (the house pet of the future! Call me, Vernon. We’ll change the world of domestic animal husbandry!) without batting an eyelash.

Though Wells is showing flickers of life these days, he will never ever earn the pay cheque he receives. That said: amazing highlight reel catches like this are a nice attempt.

The relief Ervin Santana clearly feels, after resigning himself to surrendering yet another homer the moment the ball leaves Infantes’ bat, when Wells pulls in this bomb back into play as to be worth a couple bucks, right? Vernon is just doing his part, trying to be good in the room, you know?

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