Jayson Werth Back For The Phillies July 31?
Jayson Werth, the Nationals injured right fielder, took batting practice at Nationals Park yesterday for Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson. The session went well. Jayson’s swing looked effortless and easy. He and the team believe he is ready to start his rehab assignment, as soon as Thursday at Potomac.
If Werth’s rehab assignment goes well, there is talk that he may be ready to get his first start on July 31–the first day of the Nats series with Philadelphia at Nats Park. Wouldn’t that be perfect?
I have never understood the nasty attitude that the Phillies fans have about Jayson Werth. It doesn’t make any sense. The Philllies fans come to Nationals Park to scream stuff at him about how he is “Werthless” and “Overpaid” If that is true, shouldn’t Phillies fans be glad Werth is not on their team anymore? Shouldn’t the Phillies be heaving a big sigh of relief that they didn’t pay Werth a huge contract to stay at Philadelphia and watch his batting average tank last year?
I had a Phillies fan sitting in front of me at the game on May 5th in left field who was screaming at Werth each time he came to the plate and any time a ball was hit to right field for Jayson to handle. I turned to my husband and said, “I don’t understand why the Phillies fans keep yelling at Jayson Werth. They have Hunter Pence instead of Werth. I would rather have Hunter Pence. Why aren’t they happy Werth is gone?” I made that Phillies fan stop and think, because he stopped screaming at Werth. He was pretty quiet the rest of the game.
Jayson Werth was injured in a game against the Phillies at Nats Park on May 6th. As he left the field with an obviously injured wrist, the Phillies fans in right field, who like to buy tickets out there so they can harass Werth during the game, were still yelling abuse at him.
In an e-mail to the Post, Werth said, “After walking off the field feeling nauseous knowing my wrist was broke and hearing Philly fans yelling ‘You deserve it,’ and, ‘That’s what you get,’ I am motivated to get back quickly and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again.”
(Jayson Werth, via Nationals Journal, 5/7/2012)
You know Werth will want to try to make his post-rehab debut against the Phillies. He will deny it, and the Nationals will deny it. Werth will make all of the right statements about getting his timing back and not wanting to come back from his rehab assignment until he is ready to help the team. The Nationals will make the correct comments that they do not want to rush Werth back, and they will take their time and evaluate him every step of the way.
All I have to say is: Buy your tickets now–it should be a show.