Take a seat Vern (Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE)

Luke Hochevar and Jonathan Sanchez weren’t brilliant but they were good enough to stifle the Angels lineup for wins. Obviously, it’s a small sample size so I won’t break out my “jump to conclusions” mat just yet. But Vernon Wells is hitting .154/.154/.385 with four strikeouts. One of his two hits was a home run which probably gives him a little more length on that leash. It does look like there is a leash on him though.

#Angels OF Vernon Wells (.154) not in lineup. Met with MGR before game. “He needs to get simple,” Mike Scioscia said. “Less is more.”

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) April 9, 2012

Wells will sit Monday in favor of Bobby Abreu. *cough*MikeTrout*cough* Excuse me. I can’t seem to shake this case of troutchitis.

The good news is that Kendrys Morales looks good and healthy (he did strikeout three times on Sunday) and Albert Pujols is still Pujols. SSS aside, Howie Kendrick looks locked in and is raking a .417/.462/.583 line. He might best his 2011 career year this season.

It’s unfortunate that the Pujols era got off to a 1-2 start but it’s a long season. And the Royals aren’t the doormats they used to be. The Twins on the other hand…