Jayson Werth Appreciation Thread

[mitlen]

One of the Schofield's is his uncle?  People I know who have met him say he is obnoxious off the field but who really cares if he produces.
I think all the time it took for him to make it as an everyday player makes him conduct himself the way he does on the field.

"Ducky" Schofield is his Grandfather.

[tomterp]

It was widely regarded as a huge over pay before he ever took the field for the Nats. His first season just compounded it.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=23619

Painting the Black  (May 20, 2014)
 
The Werth-Case Outcome
 
by R.J. Anderson
 
When the Nationals signed Jayson Werth to a seven-year deal worth $126 million, back in winter 2010, the expectation was that they would come to regret the decision.

The reasons were obvious. Werth was a 31-year-old corner outfielder who was closer to good than elite. Moreover, the Nationals were closer to bad than average. Washington had gone five years since its most recent .500 effort, and in the previous season had won just 69 games. True, the Nats had an impressive array of young talent climbing the organizational depth chart, but it seemed Werth would be in his mid-30s and on the decline by the time those kids matured. All those variables factored into a rival general manager telling Ken Rosenthal that the deal was “Absolutely bat[flipping] crazy.”

Detroit's decision a few years earlier to ink Magglio Ordonez became the chic comparison in the following days (perhaps because the Nationals also had Ivan Rodriguez in tow). Signing Werth was less about the player, defenders of the deal said, and more about the implicit statement; this was a plant-your-flag deal that announced to the league the Nationals were serious about winning games—or, at the very least, shedding their loser label. Scott Boras even played that tune:
 
"So, in addition to growing for the player's performance, the brand in Washington is now a different brand. It is now an acknowledged brand. Their fans know it. Other players know it. And it provides a brand value to the franchise that did not exist prior to Jayson Werth signing."
 
We're about halfway through the contract now, give or take a few weeks, and you know what? The Werth contract is not a disaster; in fact, it looks like fine.
 
Part of the improved standing has to do with the money flying around the league; eight players, including four free agents, agreed to deals last offseason that guaranteed more money than Werth received. The wild-haired outfielder helped his own cause by rebounding from a sluggish first season. Since 2012, Werth has batted .308/.392/.485 while stealing 21 bases (on 24 attempts). Add in the qualitative aspects—a memorable postseason home run, a "Mean Girl" reference, and some surreal Ben Bernanke encounters—and Nats fans have plenty of reasons to embrace their former rival.
 
Meanwhile, the rest of us are left asking questions, like: is Werth's contract the best of that free-agent class? The answer is no, of course; the best returns on investment are almost always yielded by one-year deals, such as the one signed that winter by Melky Cabrera. However, if we thin the pool a bit, by limiting it to big-monied deals of (to pick a round number) at least $50 million, then the answer remains the same, but more thought is required.
 
Just where does Werth's contract fall in line among his former free-agent peers? Let's take a look.

Excluding discussion, here's the list:

Deals worse than Werth's
Adam Dunn
Contract: Four years, $56 million
WARP gap (Werth's minus the player in question's; includes 2014): 10

Carl Crawford
Contract: Seven years, $142 million
WARP gap: 7
 
Derek Jeter
Contract: Three years, $51 million
WARP gap: 7

Deal (maybe) worse than Werth's
 
Victor Martinez
Contract: Four years, $50 million
WARP gap: 6

Deals better than Werth's
Cliff Lee
Contract: Five years, $120 million
WARP gap: -3
 
Adrian Beltre
Contract: Five years, $80 million
WARP gap: -5

[Optics]

If we win a ring and Werth is one of if not the most important players, he'll have been worth every penny and then some.

[TigerFan]

If we win a ring and Werth is one of if not the most important players, he'll have been werth every penny and then some.

I see what you did there

[imref]

i hope he doesn't have to play tomorrow:

https://vine.co/v/OWmxLiiLJYU

[houston-nat]

i hope he doesn't have to play tomorrow:

https://vine.co/v/OWmxLiiLJYU

a true American hero

[skippy1999]

i hope he doesn't have to play tomorrow:

https://vine.co/v/OWmxLiiLJYU

lololol so awesome

[mitlen]

"Go get 'em Dan Kolko."

[JCA-CrystalCity]

i hope he doesn't have to play tomorrow:

https://vine.co/v/OWmxLiiLJYU

My goodness, I've got to try that someday.  I never thought of using the back pockets.  3 is easy, but 6 is genius.  Much harder than algorithms.

[Smithian]

ERTH IT!!!

[whytev]

My goodness, I've got to try that someday.  I never thought of using the back pockets.  3 is easy, but 6 is genius.  Much harder than algorithms.

I read that those were special gluten free beers and that was why he was saving them.

[mitlen]

I read that those were special gluten free beers and that was why he was saving them.

I gotta remember that one.

[whytev]

I gotta remember that one.

It's not worth it if you actually have to drink them.

[mitlen]

It's not worth it if you actually have to drink them.

Not that particular brand but just the idea of having a six pack on me walking around at the next family reunion and finding an excuse to tell the missus.    "But they're gluten free baby."

[DPMOmaha]

Tom Jackman @stateofnova  ·  3h 3 hours ago
Interested to see Jayson Werth 105 mph reckless driving result. Regular folks usually get jail time for that in Fairfax.
Jayson Werth drew Fx GDC Judge Penney Azcarate for his 105 mph reckless trial. Ex prosecutor known to be verry tough on defendants.
But even if Judge Azcarate gives Werth 5 days in jail he can appeal to circuit court. And a jury trial. For a popular Nats player.
State trooper said he asked Jayson Werth what he was doing driving 105 mph. "Pressing my luck," Werth said.

[Galah]

Tom Jackman @stateofnova  ·  3h 3 hours ago
Interested to see Jayson Werth 105 mph reckless driving result. Regular folks usually get jail time for that in Fairfax.
Jayson Werth drew Fx GDC Judge Penney Azcarate for his 105 mph reckless trial. Ex prosecutor known to be verry tough on defendants.
But even if Judge Azcarate gives Werth 5 days in jail he can appeal to circuit court. And a jury trial. For a popular Nats player.
State trooper said he asked Jayson Werth what he was doing driving 105 mph. "Pressing my luck," Werth said.

Why do people even talk to Troopers when they get pulled over?

[blue911]

Why do people even talk to Troopers when they get pulled over?

Yes sir and No sir were the extend of my participation in such cases.

[DPMOmaha]

Tom Jackman ‏@stateofnova  4m4 minutes ago
Jayson Werth guilty, gets 10-day jail sentence in reckless driving case. Will appeal. "495 not a racetrack" judge says.

[Mattionals]

VA really has some dumb speeding laws.  Sure, it's dumb to speed, especially that much (can't say that I am innocent of that speed or faster though) but a hefty fine and maybe community service should be the extent.  I live in a much more densely populated area and I doubt that "jail time" is going to fix speeding issues.  Hell, I think NJ promotes speeding to help fund the state.

[nats2playoffs]

Tom Jackman ‏@stateofnova  4m4 minutes ago
Jayson Werth guilty, gets 10-day jail sentence in reckless driving case. Will appeal. "495 not a racetrack" judge says.

Werth has the means to challenge the law as an unconstitutional violation of "cruel and unusual punishment." I'm not sure if there is another state in the nation that can sentence you to jail for speeding alone, with no other incriminating circumstances.

[UMDNats]

Tom Jackman ‏@stateofnova  4m4 minutes ago
Jayson Werth guilty, gets 10-day jail sentence in reckless driving case. Will appeal. "495 not a racetrack" judge says.

Virginia!

[nfotiu]

Werth has the means to challenge the law as an unconstitutional violation of "cruel and unusual punishment." I'm not sure if there is another state in the nation that can sentence you to jail for speeding alone, with no other incriminating circumstances.

I don't know 105 in a 55 is probably putting a lot more people in danger than being a drink or two over .08.  I have no ill feelings towards him as a person and still like him and all that, but I have no issues sending him to jail.  He probably wouldn't even have noticed a large fine.

[mitlen]

Werth has the means to challenge the law as an unconstitutional violation of "cruel and unusual punishment." I'm not sure if there is another state in the nation that can sentence you to jail for speeding alone, with no other incriminating circumstances.

Isn't it "reckless driving" if 20 MPH over the posted speed?    Don't ask me how I know this:

A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of 80 miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

[1995hoo]

Judges in Fairfax usually give one day for every mph over 90. Werth actually got off a little easy.

[Mattionals]

I don't know 105 in a 55 is probably putting a lot more people in danger than being a drink or two over .08.  I have no ill feelings towards him as a person and still like him and all that, but I have no issues sending him to jail.  He probably wouldn't even have noticed a large fine.

Speeding reduces reaction time.  Drinking reduces reaction time, motor skills and cognitive decision making.  Drunk driving is worse than speeding IMO.  Granted getting behind the wheel of a vehicle puts everyone at risk of some sort, but speeding alone without any other impairment is not grounds for jail time.