Phillies fan says he protected son
Jayson Werth was the hot topic in the Phillies' clubhouse Friday night for two reasons: his behavior after he yelled at a fan who prevented him from catching a foul ball in the 12th inning of Thursday night's game against Cincinnati and the persistent trade rumors about him being shipped elsewhere.
Phillies fan says he protected son
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Jayson Werth was the hot topic in the Phillies' clubhouse Friday night for two reasons: his behavior after he yelled at a fan who prevented him from catching a foul ball in the 12th inning of Thursday night's game against Cincinnati and the persistent trade rumors about him being shipped elsewhere.
"There has been some backlash," Werth said when asked about the fan incident.
After making a sensational catch against the wall for the second out of the 12th inning, Werth tracked down a foul ball off the bat of the Reds' Drew Stubbs and appeared ready to catch it, but a fan reached up and got it before him. The fan did not lean over the railing for the foul ball. He stepped in front of his son to make the catch.
The fan, identified only by his first name Pat, said during an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic that he was simply trying to protect his 10-year-old son from being hit by the baseball.
"If I don't catch it, it's hitting him in the head," Pat said. "I wasn't even thinking about Werth."
According to Pat, Werth told him to "get out of my (bleeping) way."
"He shouldn't have said that in front of my son," Pat said. "He's a huge Phillies fan and Werth is one of the ones he really likes. He has been pretty quiet about it. I talked to him about it, but he isn't saying too much."
Werth said he felt "bad" about the incident, but he stopped short of apologizing.
"Honestly, in the heat of the moment and the situation that goes on on the field, I'm definitely in a different mindset than I would be in a normal setting," Werth said. "I don't think I would have yelled at anyboyd like that if that wasn't the case. We had the game on the line. If a guy comes up and hits a home run on the next pitch, I think it's a pretty big deal.
"Obviously I feel bad for the guy and the kid and the people that were sitting around there. It was definitely out of character a little bit. I don’t feel bad about playing hard and going after balls in the stands and stuff like that. It’s just one of those deals – it is part of the game."
Werth said he had not spoken to the fan. He was asked when he realized that it was a big issue.
"It’s part of the game," he said. "If something like that happens I’ll find out about it and I’ll deal with it then. Right now my focus is playing baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies ... and winning ballgames."
In other news, second baseman Wilson Valdez was scratched from the starting lineup with a sore left wrist. Juan Castro started at second base instead.
I cant wait till Hollywood Werth is gone. Period.
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Can we have some middle ground here please? He certainly didn't look like he was trying to protect the child, but at the same time he was just standing up straight, not leaning over, and not looking at Werth to see if he was coming. The Phils won, this is a non-issue.— AbsoluteIrish- Another Priceless Memory provided by the Future Former Phillies RF.— ArtMooney
- Silrock, please don't go to any phillies games, with or without your precious KID.Go buy a couple of Vuvezela's and have at it.Yes, I am a father and my kid knows what a BIG OUT in the 12th means in this city.— waldo
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- Nobody's right or wrong, sometimes the intersection of people's actions causes accidents. Werth's a ballplayer doing his job. The fan sees a high pop fly with a great appreciation for Newton's laws, and yen to catch a souvenir. Now...the real baseball fan knows to steer clear of the home team and try like hell for the ball if a visitor is giving pursuit to the shared treasure. A ballplayer not caught up in pleasing a souring Greek chorus and hearing trade rumors that might be a bit more genteel, pat the fan on the back, sign the baseball after the game and get on with more important things. In this media scorched culture every thing gets blown out of proportion. To the point that theatre of the absurd seems real.— retzlaff
- Amazing, everyone calling this Pat names and what not would have done the EXACT same thing sitting in those seats. He didn't reach into the field of play. Jason Werth acted like a jerk. He could have simply apologized when the inning ended a few pitches later. Perhaps a simple wave over as he jogged in. Instead he acted like the jerk he is and he thinks he's a tough guy belittling a fan and his son. Apparently that impresses most of the posters here. I for one look forward to tough guy Werth leaving town the 1st day of free agency if not sooner. He's brooding attitude has worn its welcome. Yea Jason, we get it, you are so deep and mysterious with your beard and your long hair. Get over yourself— Mottz
- ball came right to the guy. i'm catch the ball too!— jmg7738
- Did you see the look on that poor kids face? I would've preferred to see the Phils lose than see that expression on any childs face. Werth, you're a real class act, were you born in Philly?— surfoc
- The reason Werth didn't realize that this was a big deal is because it ISN'T. Fans should let the players play the game. Tiger Woodz is a redneck idiot.— saneperspective
- @silrock - well said. Your kid's happiness should be your primary concern. Nobody reached into the field of play, and nobody interfered with the game.
- If the ball is hit into the stands then the fans can scrabble and legally go after any ball...everyone in baseball knows that.— Bill20
- Pat is a FULL of $HIT! What is he teaching his kid - this guy said the same think on Missinelli's show today!!! As for Werth's comments - GOOD 4 HIM - I would have said the same thing. This guy could have cost the Phils the game!!!— truebluehen
- If the ball is hit into the stands, then all the fans scramble like crazy for it...it happens in every city in every game. Werth was wrong to embarass that Dad in front of his little kid.— Bill20
