News
Wells hopes to finish season strong
Toronto (70-84) vs. Seattle (80-74), 1:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/25/09 10:40 PM ET
TORONTO -- A funny thing happened earlier this week. As Vernon Wells made his way around the bases following a three-run home run against the Mariners on Thursday night, the Blue Jays center fielder heard a loud round of cheers from the Rogers Centre crowd."They're rare," Wells said with a smirk.
More often in this trying season for Wells, he has been the target of boos from the Blue Jays faithful. Wells knows as well as anyone that the rough reception he has received from fans this season is simply a result of his diminished production at the plate.
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston believes that Wells -- signed to a seven-year contract prior to the 2007 season to be the cornerstone of Toronto's offense -- will have a better showing next season, and that the fans will react more positively if that is the case.
The cheers Wells has heard on the current homestand provide evidence in that regard, considering he has been performing much better in the batter's box of late.
"He's got to kind of block that out if he can," Gaston said. "If he comes back next year and has a good year, then the boos will go away, too. It's good for him going home with a positive mind, but that's not going to change much unless he comes back and plays well."
Over his past 19 games, Wells has hit at a .397 (27-for-68) clip with two home runs, four doubles, 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs, lifting his season average to .264 from .247 over that span. Through six games on the current homestand -- in a place he has hit just .216 on the year -- Wells has posted a .286 (6-for-21) average with one homer and four RBIs.
"I just think it's a little better pitch selection," Gaston said. "He's been a little bit more aggressive. I don't think he's changed much. I always say, 'Let's get a pitch you can handle and hit it. Get a pitch that you want to sit on and swing at it.' He's pretty much done most of that."
Finishing this season strong would undoubtedly be great for Wells, but he knows the bigger challenge will be returning to form next year.
"It's something that I'll build from this and put the bat down for a little bit in the offseason and rest and get back to work," Wells said. "It's been a learning experience for me. No matter good or bad, I'm going to be the same person. I'm going to continue to work, continue to find things to try to get better. That's the thing about this game -- you never have it figured out.
"You never think you're going to go pretty much the whole season struggling, but the next thing you know, it's 5 1/2 months later and I've gone through what I've gone through."
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP David Purcey (1-2, 5.31 ERA)
Since being recalled from Triple-A, Purcey is 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA in two starts.
Snell has gone 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA over his past seven starts for the Mariners. Bird feed
The Blue Jays have scored more runs (743) than they have allowed (727) this season, representing a plus-16 run differential. Only seven teams in Major League history have finished a season with a positive run differential and ended at least 10 games below .500. The only American League team to accomplish the dubious feat was the 1918 Chicago White Sox, who finished 57-67 with a plus-11 run differential. ... Second baseman Aaron Hill leads all Major League middle infielders with 34 home runs and 322 total bases this season. ... Hill (103) and designated hitter Adam Lind (106) have combined for the most RBIs by a pair of Blue Jays teammates since Wells (106) and Troy Glaus (104) combined for 210 in 2006. .. Ace Roy Halladay currently has 202 strikeouts, making him the first pitcher in Blue Jays history to have at least 200 strikeouts in three seasons (2003, 2008). ... Halladay has a career-best three shutouts this season. Tickets
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• Sunday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 7-9, 5.39) vs. Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith, 4-3, 3.70), 1:07 p.m. ET
• Monday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 7-10, 5.32) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 16-6, 3.78), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 12-9, 4.28) at Red Sox (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
