Outfielder struggling after signing big deal
Jayson Werth does not seem like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Maybe that’s because the Nationals right fielder knew what he was getting into after signing a seven-year, $126 million contract with Washington last December. Every expensive deal brings a level of scrutiny that must be reckoned with during the following season. Werth is experiencing that now as every strikeout produces a chorus of boos at Nationals Park, every runner left on base brings grumbles from the fans who thought they were getting an All-Star outfielder.
Entering this weekend’s series against the Colorado Rockies, Werth was batting .218 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI. Werth’s OPS — a better measure of his total offensive contribution given the weak lineup around him much of the season — is a paltry .694. He hasn’t posted a total that low since his early days with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and 2003 when he was a fringe player just trying to establish himself as a big-league player. But at least in public, Werth shows no signs of panic.
“I feel like the offense is going to come,” Werth said. “It’s still got second half of the season here. A lot can happen. And you get hot, you get cold. You just keep hustling, you keep playing the game hard, playing it the right way and helping your team win. I think that’s the most important thing.”
| UP NEXT |
| Rockies at Nationals |
| When » Sunday, 1:35 p.m. |
| Where » Nationals Park |
| TV » MASN2 |
After a July 4th win over the Chicago Cubs where his hustle produced the game-winning run, Werth told reporters it mattered little to him if fans boo him or cheer him when he’s on the field. But there are signs that his offensive struggles are taking a toll. After a few called strikeouts this week, Werth lingered at the plate a beat or two longer than necessary, letting the umpire know what he thought in body language, if not words.
Wednesday — in the midst of a 1-for-16 rut that included seven strikeouts — Werth misplayed a fly ball from Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro. That catchable ball went over his head and the next batter, Aramis Ramirez, tied the game at four with a two-run homer. Earlier in the week, Werth and center fielder Roger Bernadina had a miscommunication in the outfield as a routine fly ball dropped between them.
Are his struggles at the plate are bleeding into other aspects of his game? Several of Werth’s teammates say that’s not the case. His personality allows Werth to handle the extreme lows of game that can grind down even the most optimistic player.
“He’s not going to change,” teammate Laynce Nix said. “He has a track record that he knows what he can do and we do, too. So he doesn’t take it too hard. He knows he hasn’t been playing his best right now, but there’s a long way to go. And I think with his makeup it’ll be OK.”
