What Did The Blue Jays Ever Do To Vernon Wells?

Apr 25, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Vernon Wells (12) rounds the bases past Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) after hitting a home run during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY SportsIf I was Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos, I would be ringing up principal Bud Selig and reporting a bully on the playground. There is absolutely no reason why this team should have to cower in fear from this 6’1″, 230lb ruffian who apparently is tormenting the Blue Jays for reasons completely unbeknownst to this writer.

Well, perhaps Vernon Wells has reasons that are not completely unbeknownst.

Call it a hunch, but perhaps Wells is still a bit bitter over the way things ended for him in Toronto. Maybe he has some personal demons he wants to exercise in regards to his time with the Blue Jays. Maybe, just maybe, he has an ax to grind.

At the time that Anthopoulos traded Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels, it was thought to be a coup for the young GM. After all, we are talking about a player who had four seasons and $86 million left on what was deemed an untradable contract. In return, Anthopoulos received Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera back while sending only $5 million to Los Angeles in the process.

That move has helped to build Anthopoulos’s reputation in Toronto as a shrewd businessman with foresight.

Wells, of course, experiences a career collapse during his time in Los Angeles. Alas, the Angels also found a buyer for him this spring, when the New York Yankees, completely depleted by injuries, took him off of L.A.’s hands. However, the Yankees were not so eager to take on his contract without the Halos paying $28.1 million of the $42 million left on the Wells contract.

The chance to play regularly and contribute has seemingly reinvigorated the fallen slugger, and no other team is feeling that wrath more than the Toronto Blue Jays.

In four games against the Blue Jays in 2013, Wells has been brutalizing Toronto pitching to the tune of a .421 average, a 1.316 OPS, 3 home runs, 4 RBI, and 5 runs scored. But he hasn’t simply put up at the plate, also tormenting the Blue Jays with some solid plays in the field.

For his career, Wells has notched a .254 batting average, a .847 OPS, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI against his former mates.

While I am all for former players coming back and having success against their former teams, enough is enough. It is high time that Wells regresses back toward the mean and continues along the path that he was on before the 2013 season. It is time for him to stop picking on the Blue Jays.

Don’t go away mad Vernon. Just go away. Please?!