Nats outfielder Jayson Werth made it clear early in the season he wasn’t in love with the organization’s Racing President’s event – the daily mid-fourth inning race at home games where mascot Teddy Roosevelt finds new and inventive ways to fail against his rivals, Abe Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Not sure if Werth sees it hitting too close to home to the organization’s losing ways or what, but he isn’t really a fan. Saturday he and some teammates took matters into their own hands.
With Abe, Tom and George again in the lead – and hapless Teddy trailing far behind – Werth, fellow outfielder Rick Ankiel and about half of Washington’s 87-man bullpen did their best to hold up the other former presidents. Unfortunately, Teddy has a brain the size of a pea and simply jammed into a scrum with Abe and some of the relief pitchers.
Seeing his self-described “coup” attempt foiled, Werth simply entered himself into the race, speeding past the ungainly mascots and – much to the crowd’s delight – crossed the finish line first. The Nats actually announced Werth as the race’s winner, which left him slightly bemused. But he refused to accept.
“If Teddy can’t win then no one wins in my book,” Werth cracked. “I’m the last remaining member of the Bull Moose Party, I guess. I don’t really know what else to say.”
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