Hello, old friend
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Hello, old friend
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Eventually, it will not be a novelty. Facing Jayson Werth as a Washington National for 18 times each of the next seven seasons will erode the memories of 543 games and 2,114 plate appearances spent in Philadelphia.
But some of those moments will stick; the red Hulk hand at the championship parade, the day he showed up to camp with a Grizzly Adams beard, the night he stole second, third and home in one trip around the bases.
Tuesday will be another, the first time the Phillies face the right fielder who came to Philadelphia on a contract that paid him $850,000 and left four seasons later to sign the 14th richest deal in baseball history.
"Fans loved him," Ryan Howard said. "We get a pretty big fan following in Washington and they'll probably be respectful of the situation. I think he'll probably get more cheers than boos because fans will look at what he did in Philly and they'll remember that."
Read Tuesday's Inquirer for some funny quotes from Howard, Charlie Manuel and Shane Victorino.
But for now, do you agree with what Howard said? What will the reception be like?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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It would be nice if we treated all members of the 2008 Championship team with respect for being a part of that very rare experience. He should get a standing O on his first at bat, after that, it's game on...— MFPhils- I don't think we're gonna have to face him 18 times a year for the next 7 years.....in a year or two when the Nats realize what a mistake his contract was, they'll ship him off to the Yanks and the Yanks will be glad to get him and put him into a lineup that will let him thrive, just as he did in Philly. He is nothing more than a complimentary piece that is being paid superstar money. The Nats GM should hang his head in disgust and resign, poor dude. He must have gotten reality confused with his Fantasy League stats or something.— Mark1npt
- It's called overpaying for overvalued players. The Phillies did the same thing with Greg Jeffries and David Bell, although at fewer dollars than in 2010. — jman
- The Nats paid way too much for Jason and he took the contract, so I can't blame him even a little. And much of the reason why I think it's too much - besides the fact that sort of money is too much in any real life scenario with any sports figure - is that there's not enough of a team around him to even have a HOPE that it'll be justified.
For myself; I'm cheering Jason for what he did for Philly when he was here. Of course I'll hope he strikes out or hits into DPs when we're playing him. But I can see no good reason to boo him and plenty of reasons to cheer him.— PeteInPhilly - I think anyone who thinks he won't get booed severely underestimates the Philly fans. We're a ruthless bunch.
I won't boo him...but I'll have a good laugh at it.— WerthsOtherWife - I like the approach of MFPhils .... nice ovation and then he's the enemy— shawnmac
- I plan on booing him every time I see him. While I agree that the 08 team members should get a pass in the city, and he was an important member of that team, I think he gave us plenty to boo about. Like being picked off second base because you're not paying attention, or being the opposite of clutch and not hitting at all with RISP, yet somehow being great when it didn't matter, and especially for cursing out a Dad in the stands in front of his kid - when the Dad did absolutely nothing wrong. Let's also not forget the "I hate Philadelphia too" comment, even if it was tongue-in-cheek. Or the crying about how we could've afforded him and Lee if we wanted to. He chased the money, which was his right - but I don't think it gives him the right to whine about not being offered anything in Philly. You made your bed, now lie in it.
Truly, I say good riddance.— jstump29 - I'll cheer for him until he hurts us.— ship01
- Any fan would have taken the deal Werth was offered. Werth did the smart thing and there's no reason to boo him; every fan would've taken advantage of a clueless owner who would pay him $17 million a year.— farley
- i will boo him because he thinks his stuff don't stink. he was a big part of this team, but acted as if he was THE guy. he wasn't. i will boo him because of his comments towards phillies management and how the screwed up and that if they had kept lee, they could have kept him. all of a sudden he's a better GM than amaro when amara has done a great job as GM putting together this rotation and team. and i will especially boo him for being a jerk like when he refused to apologize for cursing at the fan who reached for a foul ball with his son sitting next to him. the fan made a mistake (werth's made his fair share) but wouldn't apologize for cursing in front of an 8-year old boy. great baseball player, humongous arrogant jerk. can't wait to pound him 14 times a year.— The Boston Strangler
- players who get traded away can get cheers. Players who the team chose not to re-sign, like Pat Burrell, can get cheers. Players who leave one of the best teams and best cities in the league to play in a town where no one cares, and are only in it for the money don't get cheered.— Pelti
- I think in Philly the reception will be a mixture of cheers and boos. In any case, it will be a lot warmer than the reception that Scott Rolen gets everytime he shows up in Philly. I think people understand that his decision to leave was purely a business decision. He didn't trash the team and the city like Rolen did.— SteveS11
- Cheer him when he is announced the first time. After that he is like any other player trying to beat us. I would have taken the money also.— Joe at the shore
Werth will get a nice ovation until he hits a home run, ala Pat Burrell, then he'll be treated like all other opposing players - by booing him.
