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Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:22 pm
by RocLaFamilia
Going back to Canada Day, there’s been a steady procession of special baseball moments at the Rogers Centre. There was the return of Roy Halladay, plus the excitement of the entire Phillies series, followed by the Yankees with Derek Jeter fresh off his 3,000th hit. A month later, there’s more subplots — the intensity and hype of Brett Lawrie’s debut on Tuesday and on Friday the return to Toronto of Vernon Wells, one of the most overrated yet at the same time underrated Blue Jays in club history.
“Not just what he did in the community was underrated, he was always doing something for Jays Care, his own foundation, the amount of time and money that he put out there,” Jays second baseman Aaron Hill said. “And the clubhouse — I never heard anybody say a bad thing about him as far as the kind of guy he was. He was always even-keeled no matter the ups and downs, no matter what it was. He was always happy, always approachable for the young players. Didn’t matter, young player or old player he was always there. There was a calmness about him that was comforting.”
Wells is easily among the top 10 position players to ever wear the Jays uniform. All-time with the Jays, he ranks first in at-bats, second in homers, runs, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, RBIs and total bases, and third in games played. Yet in his last couple of years he was routinely heckled by the fans. How did that happen? Part of it was that he made the game look effortless, and his hustle and heart were easily overlooked. Defensively, only this year when he was gone did fans realize how good he was.
Good article I think, only put in bits and pieces. I have to admit I was hard on V-Dubb the last few years, but he was a good guy and decent ball player.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... ers-centre
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:28 pm
by evilRyu
I really hope no one boos the guy.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:33 pm
by sonn
evilRyu wrote:I really hope no one boos the guy.
I'm sure he'll get booed all weekend, hell even the Jays promo for the series basically says to boo him.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:40 pm
by number15
is that just a Toronto thing..... booing all former player?
i mean it happens with the Leafs, Raptors, Jays etc..... are we really that frustrated?
.......................... boy, we need a championship soon
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:50 pm
by Skin Blues
I really don't think he'll be booed. I imagine it'll be quite the opposite actually. How can a player give that much to a city for so long, without even looking at how good a player he was for so long, and not be appreciated? The reason he was heckled in his last couple years was because he sucked, but now he sucks on the Angels so there's no reason to hate.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:52 pm
by gei
I think the Toronto faithful will actually cheer him. I'm usually the first person to boo someone for little to no reason but Wells really was a character guy and I think most people will recognize that.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:53 pm
by Wo1verine
I think he'll get booed just for the fact that he never lived up to his contract..
But i agree he shouldn't get booed because he's done many good things in the community while he was here..
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:01 pm
by Raps in 4
Whoever boos him is an idiot. It's fine to boo douchebags like VC and Bosh, but Wells was pure class during his time here. It wasn't his fault that he got overpaid.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:45 pm
by tecumseh18
UssjTrunks wrote:It's fine to boo douchebags like VC ...
Just not anymore, please. It ruins the atmosphere of the basketball game.
UssjTrunks wrote:... and Bosh ...
Absolutely, but only for a season or two.
But booing Vernon is ridiculous. He's a good guy, and removed roadblocks for AA trading him. The exciting transformation the team is undergoing this year would not have been possible - at all - without that. We should cheer him to the rafters.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:28 pm
by CapeCrusader
We cheer for Doc, then we should cheer for Wells. Different players and scenarios? yes...but both had their hearts in Toronto and would of loved to stay.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:08 pm
by Brinbe
I'll definitely be cheering him tonight at the Dome... but I'm expecting a mixed reaction.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:09 pm
by Evermore
CapeCrusader wrote:We cheer for Doc, then we should cheer for Wells. Different players and scenarios? yes...but both had their hearts in Toronto and would of loved to stay.
Actually, I think the reason Doc was traded because he wasn't going to re-sign in Toronto...
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:03 pm
by TorontoRaptures
Scott Downs is returning too. I imagine he'll get a positive response. He had some great seasons for us.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:08 pm
by DonYon
only morons are gonna boo him. I would cheer for the man even if hit .200 during his career here.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:59 pm
by ThemCrookedRefs
DonYon wrote:only morons are gonna boo him. I would cheer for the man even if hit .200 during his career here.
If that's the case, I have a feeling that there will be a lot of morons in the crowd...
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:25 pm
by xAIRNESSx
Nice reaction at Wells fist at bat. It's what I was expecting. No reason why he deserves to be boo'ed. Hit a homer tho lol. Welcome back VDub.
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:36 am
by 5DOM
Re: Wells returns to Rogers Centre
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:34 am
by RocLaFamilia
5DOM wrote:http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17930449
haha
that was epic, badass move by V-Dub
