Nationals star outfielder/colorful character Jayson Werth had, how shall we put this, an eventful offseason. Between the shoulder pain and operation that has slowed his start here in spring training plus the brief five-day jail stay for driving too fast, it's hard to imagine many more interesting winters.
Werth isn't able to drive yet, or hit for that matter.
It isn't like he could fool anyone and take a car for a spin even if he wanted to (the 6-foot-6 frame and famed bushy beard are a dead giveaway). He'll re-apply for a restricted license when he returns home to Virginia. In the meantime, he's making progress on the field here, and will play outfield in a minor-league game Friday. But he still has a ways to go.
"I always said spring training should be three weeks. So that's what I've got left," Werth, seeming determined, said.
The good news is, he feels quite a bit better than when he arrived at Nats camp. When he got here a few weeks back, his arm hadn't recovered at all. He could barely pull it back, and he was quite worried as wrote in CBSSport.com.
"I wasn't sure I was going to be able to throw ever again," he said.
Now the arm is fine, he reported. However, Werth, who posted an OPS of .931 and .849 the past two seasons as he has gotten into his mid-30s, still needs to take many cuts to be ready for game action. He said it'll be "close" whether he can make Opening Day.
"I can throw no problem. The swing's not quite there," Werth, 35 now, admitted.
While the Nats have an overwhelming pitching staff, including baseball's best and deepest rotation, various injuries have curtailed the everyday lineup. Center fielder Denard Span (muscle core) won't make Opening Day. Second baseman Yunel Escobar (oblique), outfielder Nate McLouth (shoulder) and third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) are all working to get back onto the field. So is Werth, who plans to make the transition to left field, something that should be easy for such an excellent and adept outfielder.
The Nats need him, and he knows it.
Werth has proved to be a worthwhile signing for the Nats, who moved from laughingstock to World Series favorite in the four short years since he arrived, and he wants to make sure that doesn't change. Though his deal for $126 million over seven years was criticized at the time, he has been well worth it as a player and clubhouse leader.
The first year in Washington wasn't hit best one, but the Nationals finally started to play respectably. Then, after a 2012 season in which he played well when healthy, in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals in 2012, Werth hit his 14th career postseason home run, a game winner. The past two seasons have been his best as a Nat, finishing 18th in MVP voting in 2013, and 13th last year.
Jayson Werth takes some cuts at camp, looking to get back on the field. (USATSI) Jayson Werth takes some cuts at camp, looking to get back on the field. (USATSI)
Werth admits he isn't quite as fast as he was, but he has showed no signs of slowing down as a hitter. He has three more years to go on the deal, and sees himself playing beyond it, perhaps as a DH in the American League.
It hasn't been such an easy past few months time for Werth, though, as he served two weekends to fulfill the necessary five says in jail and accommodate his surgery rehab (he also paid a $1,000 fine). Werth said he received 10 days, one day for every mile over 90 mph he was said to be traveling, cut from the first offer of 20 days. The officer ticketed him for allegedly going 105 but the judge knocked it down to 100.
Werth said he isn't sure how fast he was going in his track-ready Porsche GT3 RS but agreed he gunned it on the open five-lane 495 highway. The officer, he recalled, was none too happy, not that anyone could reasonably expect him to be.
Werth said he remained calm, though the officer apparently was not. Werth may have been a little shocked to see the officer put his hand on his gun.
The officer honestly testified that there was no one else on the road at 9 in the morning when he nabbed Werth on his way to Nationals Park for a day game, Werth recalled. The outfielder said he didn't realize the speed limit was only 55, not that he's claiming that makes it much better, or that he wasn't well over the limit after gunning the classic car.
"I did the crime, so I did the time," Werth said.
He recalled that jail was no fun at all, and he learned his lesson, and said he will make sure to obey the limit from now. He may also realize he isn't quite invincible now. While taking an online driving test afterward, he was surprised to learn how many fatalities are caused by speeding.
Now he has little time to be ready for the season. So he's working hard to make sure the Nats aren't quite so short-handed in the field for the opener.
Werth has quite a challenge to rehab quickly, made just a tiny bit harder by having to bum rides to and from Space Coast Stadium.
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| Werth Trying To Make Opening Day After Interesting Winter |
Werth isn't able to drive yet, or hit for that matter.
It isn't like he could fool anyone and take a car for a spin even if he wanted to (the 6-foot-6 frame and famed bushy beard are a dead giveaway). He'll re-apply for a restricted license when he returns home to Virginia. In the meantime, he's making progress on the field here, and will play outfield in a minor-league game Friday. But he still has a ways to go.
"I always said spring training should be three weeks. So that's what I've got left," Werth, seeming determined, said.
The good news is, he feels quite a bit better than when he arrived at Nats camp. When he got here a few weeks back, his arm hadn't recovered at all. He could barely pull it back, and he was quite worried as wrote in CBSSport.com.
"I wasn't sure I was going to be able to throw ever again," he said.
Now the arm is fine, he reported. However, Werth, who posted an OPS of .931 and .849 the past two seasons as he has gotten into his mid-30s, still needs to take many cuts to be ready for game action. He said it'll be "close" whether he can make Opening Day.
"I can throw no problem. The swing's not quite there," Werth, 35 now, admitted.
While the Nats have an overwhelming pitching staff, including baseball's best and deepest rotation, various injuries have curtailed the everyday lineup. Center fielder Denard Span (muscle core) won't make Opening Day. Second baseman Yunel Escobar (oblique), outfielder Nate McLouth (shoulder) and third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) are all working to get back onto the field. So is Werth, who plans to make the transition to left field, something that should be easy for such an excellent and adept outfielder.
The Nats need him, and he knows it.
Werth has proved to be a worthwhile signing for the Nats, who moved from laughingstock to World Series favorite in the four short years since he arrived, and he wants to make sure that doesn't change. Though his deal for $126 million over seven years was criticized at the time, he has been well worth it as a player and clubhouse leader.
The first year in Washington wasn't hit best one, but the Nationals finally started to play respectably. Then, after a 2012 season in which he played well when healthy, in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals in 2012, Werth hit his 14th career postseason home run, a game winner. The past two seasons have been his best as a Nat, finishing 18th in MVP voting in 2013, and 13th last year.
Jayson Werth takes some cuts at camp, looking to get back on the field. (USATSI) Jayson Werth takes some cuts at camp, looking to get back on the field. (USATSI)
Werth admits he isn't quite as fast as he was, but he has showed no signs of slowing down as a hitter. He has three more years to go on the deal, and sees himself playing beyond it, perhaps as a DH in the American League.
It hasn't been such an easy past few months time for Werth, though, as he served two weekends to fulfill the necessary five says in jail and accommodate his surgery rehab (he also paid a $1,000 fine). Werth said he received 10 days, one day for every mile over 90 mph he was said to be traveling, cut from the first offer of 20 days. The officer ticketed him for allegedly going 105 but the judge knocked it down to 100.
Werth said he isn't sure how fast he was going in his track-ready Porsche GT3 RS but agreed he gunned it on the open five-lane 495 highway. The officer, he recalled, was none too happy, not that anyone could reasonably expect him to be.
Werth said he remained calm, though the officer apparently was not. Werth may have been a little shocked to see the officer put his hand on his gun.
|
| Jayson Werth Takes Some Cuts At Camp, Looking To Get Back On The Field |
The officer honestly testified that there was no one else on the road at 9 in the morning when he nabbed Werth on his way to Nationals Park for a day game, Werth recalled. The outfielder said he didn't realize the speed limit was only 55, not that he's claiming that makes it much better, or that he wasn't well over the limit after gunning the classic car.
"I did the crime, so I did the time," Werth said.
He recalled that jail was no fun at all, and he learned his lesson, and said he will make sure to obey the limit from now. He may also realize he isn't quite invincible now. While taking an online driving test afterward, he was surprised to learn how many fatalities are caused by speeding.
Now he has little time to be ready for the season. So he's working hard to make sure the Nats aren't quite so short-handed in the field for the opener.
Werth has quite a challenge to rehab quickly, made just a tiny bit harder by having to bum rides to and from Space Coast Stadium.
