Perhaps when you sign a 7 year, $126 million deal, then suck for an entire season, you've earned the right to tell reporters that there's a silver lining to not making the playoffs:
"I'm actually looking forward to this winter. When you play in the postseason every year, not only do you miss a month of the offseason, you are playing another month. I will have so much time to prepare and get ready for next season."
(Jayson Werth, via Nationals.com, 9/19/2011)
Thankfully, the Nats have never even sniffed the postseason since arriving in Washington in 2005. That means lots of extra time to prepare, you know?
In a Nationals.com story by MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Werth wishes his ex-mates in Philly well, and has plenty of excuses at the ready to explain his 2011 dud. Did you hear? His videos arrived late to Spring Training:
...he didn't have anybody on the team that knew when he was at his best in the batter's box. As a member of the Phillies, Werth always had at least two teammates who could help pinpoint problems with his swing.
"If you look at my season, I had three or four different stances because I wasn't comfortable," Werth said. "Comfort in the box was the biggest issue. I couldn't get comfortable. My swing wasn't good. I didn't have my videos from last year until almost April -- until the end of Spring Training. Spring Training wasn't sound. Things were a little off. I just kind of marked that up to the situation. I was trying to figure out how to deal with it.
"Since then, I have regained my composure, my style of play and my level of comfort, and played like the player I can be. I have a very unique swing, a very unique swing path. It's my own. There are not too many guys that swing like that."
(via Nationals.com, 9/19/2011)
He forgot to mention his dog ate it
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Too bad that $126 million didn't help make the batters box comfortable, but the Lerners will comforted by the assurance that he'll be fine next year.
Posted by: Peanuts and Cracker Jack | September 20, 2011 at 08:37 AM
His 1st 1/2 and getting boo'd was nothing to be proud of. His constant hustle and good influence in the locker room was good. His OBP and leading the league in seeing pitches is huge.
He also was key in 2 walk-off wins.
Nobody gives a more bizarre interview than JDub and he drives the nicest rides of any of the Nats (guess you can with his $$$$$$$$)
My only problem is in 3 to 4 years his skills will naturally decline to that of a bench player which is where his salary will really hurt. He will be the most expensive bench player in MLB history! --It happens
Posted by: Michael L.G. | September 20, 2011 at 11:02 AM
he has had a poor season, but lets not write him off yet...there's 6 years left. When he gets into more of the complementary in the future when the stars are around him, i think he will return to what he was his previous years. Hopefully its just a 1 year adjustment. I have heard numerous accounts of how hard he works, how he gets to the park early to work on stuff. That work ethic will pay off soon enough.
Posted by: Thomas | September 21, 2011 at 05:31 PM