When Jayson Werth signed his seven-year, $126 million contract with the Nationals before the 2011 season, many believed he would go down as one of the most overpaid players in MLB history. Werth did absolutely nothing to prove those doubters wrong during his first season in Washington. He hit just .232 with 20 homers and 58 RBI last year and was a major disappointment for Nationals fans. However, Werth has different plans for himself in the second year of his monster deal.
“I do feel like it was an easy fix,” Werth said according to the Washington Post. “That doesn’t always translate into great numbers. But I feel confident about this season and this team and where I’m at and what I’ve done. Last year is just one year. I got six more years on this contract, and I plan on playing after this contract. I’ll look back and 2011 will be a fart in the wind.”
Couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Werth says he had a problem with his swing last year and feels confident that he has been able to identify what was wrong and address the issue. He hit only .184 against left-handed pitchers last year, which is absurd considering he’s a right-handed power hitter.
The good news for Nats fans is Werth really can’t get any worse. Last season, local bars were dropping beer prices to match their right fielder’s abysmal batting average. This year, they’re hoping Werth is right and the stench blows in the breeze and ends up somewhere far, far away.
H/T Hardball Talk
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE
