NL Beast

More on what to do with OF Jayson Werth from David Murphy:

Is Jason Werth ready to be an everyday player? And, most important, with Shane Victorino coming off the disabled list and a plethora of bodies in the outfield, are the Phillies ready to make him one?
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When he became a free agent that offseason, the Phillies were one of the few teams willing to give him a chance.

“There was a time when I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play,” Werth said.

Now, the question is, how much will he play?

Two days ago, manager Charlie Manuel acknowledged that leaving Werth in centerfield even with Victorino healthy was a possibility.

“Werth has definitely earned his right to play,” Manuel said.

That could mean Victorino plays more in rightfield, where he established himself as one of the league’s better fielders last season. But Werth could end up back in rightfield, where he began the season sharing time with Jenkins, a free-agent acquisition.

Victorino’s arm is better suited to rightfield, but his speed is a tremendous strength in center.

“Victorino’s one of the best rightfielders that I’ve seen in quite a while,” Manuel said. “He could play in right, but I also look at him as a centerfielder. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Manuel acknowledged the possibility that Werth’s productivity could suffer if he returned to a platoon role.

“I think he can cool off by sitting, yeah,” Manuel said…

I have advocated for Werth’s spot in the lineup continuously and I think it’s becoming clear at this point that he is going to be an every day player. Geoff Jenkins should be the odd man out here. Leave Werth in center, start Victorino in right, and give Jenkins the odd day in right in which Victorino or Werth would play center. The bottom line is that Jason Werth has served more valuable to this team than Jenkins and even Victorino this season. Werth has earned his spot in the lineup.

Come on Charlie, make the move…

-Greg Berlin