If this is a strange period in Jayson Werth’s life, he’s doing an excellent job of remaining inside the insular world of baseball where seldom do outside forces penetrate. According to the Phillies’ right fielder, not only hasn’t he paid attention to the trade rumors, but he also seemed oblivious to the bad press swirling after an incident involving a fan and his son.
Sure, calling it an “incident” might lend itself to the connotation that something sinister occurred when it was nothing of the sort. Instead, replays showed a fan extending his arms straight up into the air to make a catch of a foul ball as Werth lunged into the stands with his glove hand in attempt to make the catch.
Whether or not Werth could have caught the ball with two outs in the 12th inning is debatable, however, there is no evidence whatsoever that the fan did anything to impede or disrupt the game. Nevertheless, after the man made the catch and handed the ball to his young son — both dressed in Phillies shirts — Werth appeared to angrily shout at the man and child with a curse or two added for emphasis.
As the replays showed, it was not a moment for Werth to be proud of though he admitted he still has not given the incident much thought.
“I may have not still realized that,” Werth said hours before Friday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Bank. “I’m assuming people are upset, but to me it was just something that happened and I moved on right after.”
Yes, Werth apologized… kind of. When asked if he had reached out to the man or child, Werth said he had not. In fact, Werth says he had “moved on.”
“There has been some backlash. Honestly in the heat of the moment and the situation that goes on on the field I’m definitely in a different mindset than I would be in a normal setting,” Werth explained, never using the words “sorry” or “regret” once. “I don’t think I would have yelled at anybody like that if that wasn’t the case. We had the game on the line. If a guy comes up and hits a home run on the next pitch, I think it’s a pretty big deal.
“Obviously I feel bad for the guy and the kid and the people that were sitting around there. It was definitely out of character a little bit. I don’t feel bad about playing hard and going after balls in the stands and stuff like that. It’s just one of those deals — it is part of the game.”
In other words, the only thing that matters to Jayson Werth is Jayson Werth. Considering he is heading into his free-agent winter and has stated that his pending free agency is “something that he has played his entire career for,” his mercenary nature is evident. Sure, Werth has stated that he enjoys playing for the Phillies and would love to remain with the club beyond this season, but, y’know, as long as the price is right.
Still, Werth’s verbal assault on a child and his father mixed with Shane Victorino’s claims that players are beginning to hear some catcalls and boos from the paying customers make it seem as if the bloom is off the rose for the two-time defending National League champs. Resting in third place in the NL East by five games and sixth in the wild-card race by 2½ games, some of the paying customers might not be too pleased with the state of the ballclub. Sure, injuries are partially to blame, but some folks still seem disappointed that the popular lefty ace Cliff Lee was traded away last winter in what some see as a cost-cutting measure.
Plus, with the organization announcing its 81st consecutive sellout crowd on Thursday night—not counting the three “away” games at the Bank against Toronto—a perceived cost-cutting move might not go over well.
Werth acknowledges this.
“I know where we’re playing,” he said. “I know what’s at stake here and the fans know what’s at stake. I was at the parade. There were a lot of people at the parade. This place can be as good as any. When we’re winning and you’re on a float down Broad Street , there is nothing better. Right now we’re not winning. We have to play better.”
But will Werth be one of the guys trying to take the Phillies to an unprecedented fourth straight playoff appearance? According to reports, the Phillies have listened to offers for the right fielder, though some of the reports claim that the price is too high for other clubs. Plus, if Werth were to be dealt it he would be the second of the core group from the 2008 World Champions to depart.
Coincidence that it could be Pat Burrell and Werth?
“It’s part of the game. Right now my focus is playing baseball right here for the Philadelphia Phillies and my teammates and winning ball games,” Werth said.
Manager Charlie Manuel did not offer much insight aside from the notion that he wants the team to add a pitcher. He’s also not sure his wish list will be met since, as he puts it, “my picks are too high.” Certainly he can scratch off Lee from the list after he was traded to a team in bankruptcy.
Back at the Bank, Werth said he had not reached out to the man and child he shouted and it doesn’t appear as if the thought crossed his mind. When asked when he realized the incident had become a big deal, Werth said he might not have come to that conclusion.
Based on his comments and attitude before Friday night’s game, it appears as if he’s not going to get there.
“I may have not realized it was a big deal,” Werth said. “I’m assuming people are upset if that’s what you’re telling me, but to me it’s just something that happened and I moved on right after.”
Meanwhile, reports are that the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays are interesting in brokering a deal for Werth, and if that were to occur, expect him to talk about moving on and trades being part of the game. Apparently brushing past bad behavior is part of the game, too.
Maybe Werth believes that because something occurs "in the heat of the moment" it's OK to excuse dignity and class.