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Jayson Werth, healthy once again, is ready to prove the doubters wrong Jayson Werth, healthy once again, is ready to prove the doubters wrong
(about 3 hours later)
VIERA, Fla. — Among the moments that stand out to Jayson Werth now, months after a season nearly stolen by injuries, is one of the rare healthy moments when things almost went right. VIERA, Fla. — Among the moments that stand out to Jayson Werth now, months after a season nearly stolen by injuries, is one of the rare healthy times when things almost went right.
One late September game, the Nationals led the Orioles by a run in the seventh and loaded the bases for their veteran left-fielder. Werth worked the count to 2-0, then scalded a line drive down the third base line. One late September game, the Nationals led the Orioles by a run in the seventh and loaded the bases for their veteran left fielder. Werth worked the count to 2-0, then scalded a line drive down the third base line.
After recovery from shoulder surgery held him out until April, and after a broken wrist knocked him out again in May, Werth had finally begun to find his swing, to turn on fastballs as he used to, to spray line drives like that one. But Manny Machado leaped and grabbed it. Inning over. Threat over. A few weeks later, Werth’s season was over, too. He ended with his lowest batting average (.221), fewest hits (51) and lowest on-base percentage (.302) since 2004. After recovery from shoulder surgery held him out until April — and after a broken wrist knocked him out again in May — Werth had finally begun to find his swing, to turn on fastballs as he used to, to spray line drives like that one. But Manny Machado leaped and grabbed it. Inning over. Threat over. A few weeks later, Werth’s season was over, too. He ended with his lowest batting average (.221), fewest hits (51) and lowest on-base percentage (.302) since 2004.
[Can Jayson Werth still play every day?][Can Jayson Werth still play every day?]
Werth admitted injuries contributed to his uncharacteristically unproductive year, but he believes luck — the few inches between that ball ending up in Machado’s glove or bouncing around the left field corner, for example — contributed, too. Werth, a .272 career hitter, admitted injuries contributed to his unproductive year, but he believes luck — the few inches between that ball ending up in Machado’s glove or bouncing around the left field corner, for example — contributed, too.
“Just as a team, just wasn’t our year. We just didn’t get it done for whatever reason,” Werth said. “Whether it was luck or we just stunk, I don’t know. If I’m healthy, I don’t see why I can’t do what I’ve always done.”“Just as a team, just wasn’t our year. We just didn’t get it done for whatever reason,” Werth said. “Whether it was luck or we just stunk, I don’t know. If I’m healthy, I don’t see why I can’t do what I’ve always done.”
When you’re soon-to-be 37 and entering a 14th major league season, bad luck is an unpopular explanation. Declining tools, a disintegrating body and the other perils of age seem more plausible. When you’re entering a 14th major league season and will be 37 in May, bad luck is an unpopular explanation. Declining tools, a disintegrating body and the other perils of age seem more plausible.
But Werth says he can stay healthy. Asked how many more years he wants to play, Werth said “10” without a moment’s hesitation.But Werth says he can stay healthy. Asked how many more years he wants to play, Werth said “10” without a moment’s hesitation.
“Maybe that’s pushing it,” he reconsidered. “Eight?”“Maybe that’s pushing it,” he reconsidered. “Eight?”
After a truncated, almost non-existent spring training last year, Werth had a more familiar offseason. He did not have surgery. He worked out through months of stringent training, inspired by a former pitching coach.After a truncated, almost non-existent spring training last year, Werth had a more familiar offseason. He did not have surgery. He worked out through months of stringent training, inspired by a former pitching coach.
“He’d be like ‘I’m getting ready for war,’ ” Werth remembered. “That was my first year in pro ball and I remember that guy saying that. I’ve thought of it every year since. We’re gonna go to battle this year. We’ve got a lot to prove. I want to be a part of it.” “He’d be like ‘I’m getting ready for war,’ ” Werth remembered. “That was my first year in pro ball and I remember that guy saying that. I’ve thought of it every year since. We’re going to go to battle this year. We’ve got a lot to prove. I want to be a part of it.”
Werth has missed at least 50 games in three of the past four seasons, though he hit at least .292 every year from 2012 to 2014. When he was healthy, he hit. [Boswell: Hiring Mike Maddux might be the Nats’ best offseason move]
Dusty Baker said he developed “tremendous respect” for Werth from across the field over the years, calling him “a smart ballplayer.” Baker also said age and injuries can sometimes dissolve even the most impressive skills — but that Werth has plenty left for a productive season. Werth has missed at least 30 games in three of the past four seasons, though he hit at least .292 every year from 2012 to 2014. When he has been healthy, he has hit.
New Nationals Manager Dusty Baker said he developed “tremendous respect” for Werth from across the field over the years, calling him “a smart ballplayer.” Baker also said age and injuries can sometimes dissolve even the most impressive skills — but that Werth has plenty left for a productive season.
“I mean, big time,” Baker said. “I’m counting on him to have a big year.”“I mean, big time,” Baker said. “I’m counting on him to have a big year.”
The Nationals pursued big-name outfielders such as Jason Heyward and Yoenis Cespedes this offseason. Neither would have supplanted Werth in the outfield; both are all-star caliber players capable of replacing his production if he stumbled again this season, or after his contract expires after next. The Nationals pursued big-name outfielders such as Jason Heyward and Yoenis Cespedes this offseason. Both are all-star caliber players capable of replacing his production if he stumbled again this season, or after his contract expires after next.
“Until I prove that I can’t play, I think I’ll be in left field,” Werth said. “But I think it was great we were going after those guys.”“Until I prove that I can’t play, I think I’ll be in left field,” Werth said. “But I think it was great we were going after those guys.”
Werth switched to left field last season, but never looked quite comfortable, occasionally taking more roundabout routes than baseball textbooks might recommend, less in command of the position than he was in right field. Werth switched to left field last season, but he never looked quite comfortable. He occasionally took more roundabout routes than baseball textbooks might recommend, as he was less in command of the position than he was in right field.
[Ailing Werth misses first workout of spring training][Ailing Werth misses first workout of spring training]
Baker said he doesn’t blame age or high-mileage legs for Werth’s defensive discomfort, but rather the fact that he had to learn a new position without any healthy spring training time in which to do it.Baker said he doesn’t blame age or high-mileage legs for Werth’s defensive discomfort, but rather the fact that he had to learn a new position without any healthy spring training time in which to do it.
“That’s the toughest field to play, especially for a right-handed thrower, because everything is to your backhand basically. Balls are hooking. They pick up velocity from a right-handed bat, and they’re slicing from a left-handed bat,” Baker said. “…Everybody can hit the ball hard to left field. I admire the fact that he went out there without playing in spring training.” “That’s the toughest field to play, especially for a right-handed thrower, because everything is to your backhand basically. Balls are hooking. They pick up velocity from a right-handed bat, and they’re slicing from a left-handed bat,” Baker said. “. . . Everybody can hit the ball hard to left field. I admire the fact that he went out there without playing in spring training.”
Provided he stays healthy, Werth will six weeks to learn the (relatively) unfamiliar position and hone his swing. When Werth was healthy, and when he was ready, in his last Phillies years and early Nationals ones, he was a consistent .290-type hitter with 20-home-run power. If he is healthy now, a few years, a shoulder surgery and another broken wrist later, can he still be that player? Provided he stays healthy, Werth will have six weeks to learn the (relatively) unfamiliar position and hone his swing. When Werth was healthy, and when he was ready, in his last Philadelphia Phillies years and early Nationals ones, he was a consistent .290-type hitter with 20-home-run power. If he is healthy now, a few years, a shoulder surgery and another broken wrist later, can he still be that player?
“The stuff I’ve been reading, it seems like I’m already done,” Werth said. “I don’t know. You guys might have a different idea than I do, but I’m gonna play this thing out as long as I can.” “The stuff I’ve been reading, it seems like I’m already done,” Werth said. “I don’t know. You guys might have a different idea than I do, but I’m going to play this thing out as long as I can.”