Angels Lose Wells to DL
By Editorial Staff
The LA Angels have placed outfielder Vernon Wells on the 15 day DL. Wells strained his groin attempting to beat out a grounder in the 4th inning of last night’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
To say Wells has struggled so far this year would be a huge understatement. The outfielder’s batting average has not been above .200 since the first game of the season. After last night’s contest, Wells line looks like this, .183/.224/.303.
I don’t think this is the type of production the Angels were hoping for when they traded for Wells and his albatross of a contract this offseason. Somehow the Blue Jays were able to unload Wells and the rest of his deal without throwing any money at LA. Did I mention the Angels also gave the Jays Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera?
Angels fans were upset this offseason when the team was unable to make good on their word of improving the team after finishing 80-82 last season. The club missed out on big name free agents Adrian Beltre and Carl Crawford and seemed poised to enter the 2011 campaign almost the same as they left 2010.
As January waned, Angels brass knew they needed to make a move. Unfortunately for them, they decided that move was to go out and get the 32 year old Wells.
They did have their reasons. Though certainly not justifying the $86 million they were taking on, Wells did seem to revert back to the All Star of old in 2010, hitting .273 with 31 homeruns and 44 doubles.
While Wells has struggled so far this season, the team noted that it will be missing the outfielder. After the game Monday night, Manager Mike Scioscia was talking about how Wells has been ‘coming alive’ and ‘swinging the bat much better’. I looked at the stats and I just don’t see it; I guess going 7 for your last 30 is good for a guy that’s been hitting below the Mendoza line?
I think what Sosh and the Angels are more concerned about is having to give Bobby Abreu his glove back and adding him to their outfield. Without Wells, the team currently only has 2 true OFs on the roster, Torii Hunter and Peter Bourjos. I hesitate to use the word void, but it will be interesting to see how the Angels fill the area left by Wells.