Vernon Wells Has Torn Thumb Ligament, Needs Surgery

If I really wanted to arouse panic - panic? - I would've written a headline reading Vernon Wells Has Torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament. It wouldn't even be a lie! Vernon Wells does have a torn ulnar collateral ligament! Just not the usual one. Vernon Wells doesn't need Tommy John surgery.

BREAKING: #Angels outfielder Vernon Wells will miss 8-10 weeks due to surgery on ulnar collateral ligament in right thumb tomorrow.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 21, 2012

The news was broken by none other than Vernon Wells himself:

Got bad news today. Need surgery tomorrow. Torn ligament in my thumb. #PrayersPlease

— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) May 21, 2012

Vernon Wells was injured while attempting a stolen base Sunday. Now he's going to miss something like two months trying to get back. Wells is sitting on a .244/.282/.422 batting line, so it's not like this is a crippling blow to the Angels' lineup, but then one can expect to see more of Peter Bourjos, and he's sitting on a .203/.288/.281 batting line. Of course, Bourjos isn't that bad, and he's an outstanding defender, which Wells isn't. So it's an open question as to whether Wells' injury hurts the Angels at all.

But it definitely hurts Vernon Wells, and by the time he's back in the lineup, we'll know whether or not the Angels are a contender, or a bust. We already have our ideas, but maybe they're just a slow starter.

Angels Recall Kole Calhoun And Bobby Cassevah

The Los Angeles Angels lost two outfielders to injury during Sunday’s loss to the Padres: Vernon Wells with a thumb problem and Ryan Langerhans with a right-shoulder injury.

Monday, they replaced both players on the active roster. Alden Gonzalez:

Minor League outfielder Kole Calhoun will be up with the Angels on Monday, a day after outfielders Vernon Wells (right thumb) and Ryan Langerhans (right shoulder) left the series finale against the Padres with injuries, a source told MLB.com.

Wells and Langerhans are both expected to go on the disabled list, so the Angels will have to call up a second player. Angels manager Mike Scioscia indicated that one of those could be a reliever, after the bullpen accounted for 6 2/3 innings in Sunday’s 3-2, 13-inning loss.

If that’s the case, Bobby Cassevah, Kevin Jepsen or Ryan Brasier could be options.

As it turns out, Cassevah was the choice:

RHP Bobby Cassevah will be the other callup today. Was 1-0 with 3 saves, 6.75 ERA in 13 appearances for Triple-A SLC. #Angels

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 21, 2012

Calhoun, in his third year in the Angels organization, was hitting .296/.365/.491 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 43 games for Triple-A Salt Lake.

For more on the Angels, please visit Halos Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Vernon Wells Headed To DL With Thumb Injury

The Angels are now adding injury to the insult of their 2012 season.