Precisely. First of all, the injury year is not an excuse. If he was so hurt that all he could put up were those numbers, he should have told the coaches to shut himself down. He was a negative with what he was bringing to the table, especially when the team had a capable CF in Rios. The awful year we need not discuss. As for the terrific year, I find that to be serious revisionist history. The Jays were 12.5 games back on August 22, and Vernon was hitting a whopping .280/.324/.436 with atrocious CF D. I care very little for the stat padding he did over the final 6 weeks of the season when the attention/TV is already tuned into the NFL. Vernon has been a maddeningly frustrating player since he signed his contract, and I’m not sure why that perplexes you.

MW: It’s probably because I don’t believe that big-league hitters have a switch that they can turn on and off that allows them to get hits when they want to. The coaching staff was completely aware of Wells’ injury situation in 2007.

While it may accomplish nothing, it was entirely fair to boo Vernon all season. He was atrocious. You can come up with the tired – it’s not his fault the Jays offered him that money – argument, but that doesn’t change the fact that Wells’ albatross contract and lack of high-calibre play is what keeps the Jays from being able to compete. I would never boo a Blue Jay, but I completely understand those who do. It’s an expression of frustration at the player Vernon has become since signing a superstar’s contract.

MW: The player Vernon has become? One terrible year playing on one shoulder, one terrific year, one awful year?

MW: WAY cool. Everyone who is reading this – go buy it.

MW: He didn’t say that he’s not interested in the fans, but can you blame him? He wasn’t exactly treated very fairly this year.

“Fairly”? In some cities his life would have been absolute hell – here all he had to contend with what always sounded like weak and sporadic booing – based completely on his absolutely atrocious performance (frankly, I didn’t think he was worth the effort booing entails.) With timely help from Rios, Millar and especially (“Mr. Cleanup”) Overbay, Ole Vern wss easily the biggest reason for the Jays losing season – he was simply AWFUL (bloated, obscene contract aside), and the fans were paying big money they actually earned to watch him fail repeatedly.

If ONLY the Jays could cut him loose there might be a ray of hope, but, sadly,as has been said, he’s going to be a killing burden until that contract expires – or just maybe (wishful thinking) that shrewd operator Beeston will find some way to get him off the payroll and out of town?

MW: He didn’t say that he’s not interested in the fans, but can you blame him? He wasn’t exactly treated very fairly this year.

MW: Didn’t I give those in the post to which you’re replying (other than his 8-for-14)?

This one is gone in 5. Yankee’s record when Burnett starts in post season will soon be 0-3. I was a little shocked at the 4-0 lead going into the 9th.
BTW fans, Vernon Wells cannot get any worse (I mean really look at those numbers), will he really hit 185 with 9 HR’s and 25 RBI’s, not likely. Unfortunately i think he fell into the category that A-Fraud admitted to this year. Maybe the truth will “set you free Vernon”.

Thanks
Trevor

MW: I don’t understand why some think that Wells’ bad season is proof that he was a steroid user. He was bad in 2006, terrific in 2007 and awful in 2008. So he got off the juice after ’05, then got back on after ’06 and got back off after last season?

MW: An error can be scored on any play in which an extra base is gained as a result of an error, whether an out is made on the play or not. I think you’re confusing this with the “you can’t assume a double play” rule. Had Rollins’ wild throw not gone into the dugout, and had Derek Jeter stayed at third and Mark Teixiera at first, there wouldn’t have been an error charged.