Beerleaguer for breakfast: Werth turning heel

First it was Tiger Woods, then LeBron James. Now, it appears that Jayson Werth has become the latest face to turn heel in 2010. From Ryan Lawrence of the Delco Times.

"Strange things are afoot in the clubhouse of the two-time defending National League champions," Lawrence writes. "Heads are hanging. Making excuses has become tiresome. Players have become downright snippy. After Ryan Madson served up the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of the Phillies 4-3 defeat to the Cubs Friday afternoon, the dejected setup man stood his ground as a couple of questions were lobbed his way. A few feet away in the close-quarters clubhouse, when Madson’s brief Q&A session ended, Jayson Werth decided to chime in. 'Nice interview, guys,' said the starting right fielder, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, all looking, Friday.

"Nice game, Jayson," Lawrence quips. [Link]

Comments

[Hugh Mulcahy]

Did Werth swing hte bat once today? Hard to stand out for impotence and indifference on a day like yesterday but, he managed to do so. Eight Ks looking was maddening. That curve that Lilly threw with two strikes was as predictable as they come - it also wasn't a strike but, I'm not wearing blue and it doesn't take 7 innings to figure out it's going to get called.

At one point in teh broadcast, Hollandsworth opines that Francisco is a breaking ball hitter who should hit Lilly. Nice job making crap up. I want Francisco to get more starts but, he likes fastballs Todd.

Sad to say but, that was just about Blanton's best start. The Lilly at bat was a mortal sin. He's dead to me after that. He deliberately avoided throwing strikes trying to get teh WORST HITTER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES to swing at a ball out of hte zone and ended up walking him. The double by Ramirez was a tough pitch. The next pitch was a fvcking meatball - seemed like he lost concentration when Ramirez poked that ball. He can't do that in a tight game at Wrigley. Can't do that, period.

[EastFallowfield]

If reporters wrote about all their interactions with the players, most of the athletes would come out looking pretty bad.

Think how snippy folks here are after a tough loss. Then add in the joy of being a part of it and having to talk about your failures.

[Greg V.]

I've been on the side that says it may be a nice time for him to get a change of scenery, for a while. The way he has played the game for the better part of the season has been downright disgraceful. He makes no effort at the plate, looks lifeless in the outfield, and when he does play hard, he ends up barking at fans. The very people who wanted him locked up and were cheering for him are being chased away by a guy who obviously can't handle adversity and I think he's really starting to rub off on the team. He should be traded immediately and I'm not so sure I care what is acquired in return anymore. His subtraction could be plenty enough.

[Salt]

Werth needs to sit a few days like was done with Rollins a few years ago. The bench has a way of making players hungry again. Let Ben take the righthanded at bats.

[Brian G]

So Werth is a bad guy and we all hate him now because he's in a slump and made a snippy joke? Good to know.

[Meyer]

The whole team should shave their heads to welcome back Polanco and remain silent until they win the NL East. Oh and watch Caillou episodes before the game.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Werth is making it easy not to be upset if he is traded. I'm beginning to hope it happens.

[Klaus]

From Ryan Lawrence I learned that Ted Lilly is a bad pitcher:

"Against Lilly, who entered the day 3-8, the Phillies struck out 10 times, eight by watching the third strike land in Cubs’ catcher Geovany Soto’s glove."

I can't understand why baseball writers don't have Werth's complete respect.

[Heather]

"If reporters wrote about all their interactions with the players, most of the athletes would come out looking pretty bad. "

Which is why, based on the fact he chose to write about it, I wonder if Jayson was being an exceptional douche and he highlighted just a minor part of it.

Reporters rarely bite the hand that feeds them, unless the bad behavior gets really egregious.

[Salt]

I don't think that Werth needs to be traded. Especially now when you'd get reduced value for him. As the biggest RH bat in the lineup they need him to start getting the clutch hits again.

[Bob]

Just before the decline, in mid May, I posted that I was enjoying watching how well Werth was playing. Not only because it helped the Phils, but because I liked him, he seemed like a decent guy, and I wished him well, whether he ended up with the Phils next year or not.

Still trying to give him slack because it can't be easy to go through what he is going through. But I have to confess that Bed Beard's comment hit home with me a bit. Tempting as it may be, when you're struggling is not a great time to lash out and alienate the press and the fans, particularly when both of these groups have by and large treated you pretty well over the years.

[dick-allen15]

Its time for Reuben and Uncle Charlie to pull the plug on the 2010 version of E Bruntlett, Fidel "where are my cigars" Castro to make room for Polanco. Although Ransome wont remind anyone of G Gross at least he gives the threat of a decent at bat and the long ball. Goddbye Mr Castro and good riddance

[Meyer]

Polanco singles and Howard walks now what. Where the devil is Brown? I hope he's learning to switch hit.

[J T. Ramsay]

How awkward will it be if they raise season ticket prices next year? They'll probably have to, right? I ask only because people are turning on this team as seemingly only Philadelphia fans can.

Has anyone considered that they thought this season would be a breeze, and they're frustrated that it's been a slog?

[Heather]

If you have a team that is consistenly underperforming, at what point do we have to start pointing the finger at the manager and/or coaches?

Aren't they paid to get the best out of the players? If they can't do that for an extended period of time, doesn't that mean they're not doing their job?

[Heather]

"Has anyone considered that they thought this season would be a breeze, and they're frustrated that it's been a slog?"

Our team is apparently good enough that we released Cliff Lee this year.

We apparently did not need the best pitcher in baseball making a salary of peanuts. At least according to our management.

If our team is that good we didn't need CL to win this year, our team sure as heck better be OUTSTANDING.

[Brian G]

Bob: "Tempting as it may be, when you're struggling is not a great time to lash out and alienate the press and the fans, particularly when both of these groups have by and large treated you pretty well over the years."
Werth struggled when he got here, was ridiculed as "werthless", started to play well as the Phillies won and suddenly everyone loved him. Which part of that are fans supposed to be given credit for by Werth?

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread

[Jacob]

When teams fall on tough times these sort of things seem to always happen. Hopefully they can turn it around or we might see some players getting moved before the season is over.