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Dec 6, 2011 - The answer, of course, is that of course Jayson Werth is a center fielder. If Davey Johnson writes your name in the lineup, you're a center fielder, too.
What we really want to know is whether or not Jayson Werth should be a center fielder. Because the Washington Nationals seem to be considering the possibility. Seriously considering it.
MLB.com's Bill Ladson:
The Nationals are giving serious thought to moving Jayson Werth to center field in 2012, and he could be flanked by Bryce Harper in right.
Washington entered the offseason looking for a center fielder. The team continues to have interest in signing Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes or dealing for a player such as B.J. Upton of the Rays or Denard Span of the Twins.
--snip--
"We put Jayson out there [late last season] to find out if we had ourselves a center fielder in-house," Rizzo said. "We felt he played quite well out there. It doesn't really [force us] to trade for a center fielder, because we feel we have a center fielder in house already.
In Davey Johnson's press conference Monday, he said, "I talked to Jayson last season. He loves center field."
Hey, I love center field. John Fogerty loves center field. Alexander Portnoy loved center field. That doesn't mean any of should actually be playing center field in the furshlugginer Major Leagues of Baseball.
If you believe Ultimate Zone Rating, Jayson Werth used to be an outstanding right fielder. Like, off the charts. If you believe UZR, Werth might have been the best outfielder in the majors from 2002 through 2008, inning for inning.
Since 2008? Not so much. UZR's got him as decent in 2009, subpar in 2010 and just fair in 2011. Add those three seasons together -- which actually makes sense, with fielding stats -- and we're looking at a right fielder who should, all else being equal, probably start thinking about first base in three or four years.
Instead, he's thinking about center field.
Hey, it could work. If moving Werth to center means getting Bryce Harper into the lineup, it's probably worth doing. Hell, it's inevitable since the Nationals sure as hell aren't going to be trading Werth's massive contract anytime soon. In fact, I will argue that shifting Werth to center field will fail only if his defense is so awful that it's awfully noticeable. Which it probably won't be.
9 comments
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Comments
Bryce Harper could probably play CF better than Werth at this point
Given his speed and general athleticism, Harper is probably the better fit in center. I don’t think he’s a center fielder longterm, but there’s a chance he could be decent there for a few years before he fills out.
by Bodhizefa on Dec 6, 2011 9:13 AM EST reply actions
That's my thought too
Didn’t Harper play some center in the minors? Did it go so terribly that Werth is the better choice?
by Drakos on Dec 6, 2011 9:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Harper is athletic...
But still sucks in the OF. He doesn’t read the ball well or get good jumps yet. He will figure it out eventually and maybe CF is better for him because the ball will slice and cut less than in the corner OF positions. Either way, not an ideal fit in CF.
by mrs. nook logan on Dec 6, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
by cookiedabookie on Dec 6, 2011 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
Why not Morse
Morse used to be a SS, so why not move him to CF, or an even better plan: leave Morse at 1B and get an actual CF. It will help the defense and help bolster the bench with LaRoche.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
by Pig.Pen on Dec 6, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions
After watching Morse's lousy instincts and range in RF (2010) and LF (2011), I don't think the Nationals are eager to put that in CF in 2012
Morse is much better than Adam Dunn was in the OF, and probably as good as Josh Willingham was too. That doesn’t mean that he was, in fact, a good OF.
by d_c_guy on Dec 6, 2011 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
Worst of all choices
Morse used to be a SS in that, to quote Neyer, someone wrote his name in the lineup with “SS” next to it. Morse was such a poor fielder the Mariners concluded (correctly) that he’d have to play 1B or DH in the majors. They gave him away because they concluded (incorrectly) that he’d never hit well enough to play those positions.
by AdamSt on Dec 6, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions
Alexander Portnoy loved center field
Not as much as he did shtupping shiksas!
by 8volumesthick on Dec 6, 2011 11:38 AM EST reply actions
They REALLY ain't going to trade Werth...
…since he’s got a no-trade clause.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
by Jorgath on Dec 6, 2011 12:45 PM EST reply actions
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