The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 24

C4 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2007 PRO BASEBALL THE MORNING CALL Werth's turnaround has spark tSi helps iiiliis 7, 1 finally found a surgeon capable of diagnosing and repairing the problem, and in December signed with the Phillies and with Gillick, who as Orioles general manager had made him a first-round draft pick 10 years ago (and still believes Werth would be a fine catcher, his position back then). Werth, 28, played sparingly the first three months of the season, then spent all of July on the disabled list with another injury to the same wrist his left that had bothered him before. It was nothing serious this time, but he seemed headed toward another lost season. Except Victorino was injured, and Charlie Manuel had nowhere else to turn. Except that Werth began to hit .414 in August, including that 9-for-9, to inflate his average from .235 at the beginning of the month to 326 at the end.

Except that he's agile enough, at 6-4 and 210 pounds, to make every play in the outfield. And quick enough to steal bases, like the two he swiped against Mets closer Billy Wagner in the ninth inning last Thursday afternoon on consecutive pitches, no less as the Phils rallied for that pulsating 11-10 victory. No wonder everybody was looking at him, and everything else, a little differently. "I'd just like to introduce myself as Wally Pipp," Victorino told him last Monday night. "BleephY guy," Werth said, stifling a laugh.

"Unbelievable." It's every bit that. Werth's breakout season appeared to have come three years ago, when he was with the Dodgers. The Orioles had long before given up on him, trading him to Toronto after he had knocked around the Baltimore system for four years. The Jays moved him from behind the plate to the outfield in 2002, and gave him a couple cups of coffee, in the form of 41 major-league games, spread out over two seasons. They dealt him to Los Angeles in the spring of '04, though, and he ripped 16 homers in 89 games that season.

But in the very first spring-training game the following year, he took a fastball from Florida's A.J. Burnett a 96-mile-an-hour fastball, he said off his left wrist. Werth was told it was nothing serious, that he would be back in two weeks. Two months later, he rejoined the club. And, he said, "I was still having problems.

Hand doctors and team doctors told me there's nothing wrong; everything's fine. I sucked it up. I went out there and played." But not well. In 102 games, he batted .234, with just seven dingers and 43 RBIs. An MRI after the season revealed torn ligaments in his wrist.

Werth said the Dodgers' team doctor performed surgery. It didn't help. When Werth arrived at spring training in 2006, he said, "I'm worse. I can't even swing a bat. At least before the surgery, I can swing with pain.

Now I can't swing at all because of the pain. "I stuck to my guns. I'm glad I did, because I had second, third, fourth, fifth opinions by doctors out there, and they all gave me the same deal: I'm fine. They thought it was more of a mental thing. But I knew there was something wrong." Unable to play, he returned to his home in Illinois in June.

"There was a point where I thought I was done playing baseball," he said. "There was a good six weeks there, where I was trying to figure out what I was going to do." But as he was walking to his mailbox one day, a neighbor suggested he go see Dr. Richard Berger at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. In Werth's mind, it was "kind of a last-resort-type thing." Berger diagnosed the problem a split tear of the ulnot-riquetral ligament and After a nigged first half, he has become a starter in right outfield. By Gordie Jones Of The Morning Call Last week the best week of Jayson Werth's journeyman career led everyone to look at him differently.

Above his cubicle in the Phillies' clubhouse last Monday night, after the first of four victories over the Mets, somebody had placed a piece of tape over his nameplate. Scrawled upon it was the following: Rose." Werth, with nine hits in as many at-bats at that point (one off an NL record shared by 10 players), had become the Hit King. Across the room, somebody the same prankster, more than likely had also put a piece of tape over the name-plate of Shane Victorino, whose calf injury at the end of July had opened up playing time for Werth in right field. Pipp," it said. Once viewed as another failed offseason acquisition by general manager Pat Gillick (one worthy of mention in the same breath as Freddy Garcia and Rod Barajas), Werth is a fixture now, an integral part of a playoff push that stalled over the weekend in South Florida.

And he might prove to be something more. Is it too far-fetched, for instance, to believe that he could be the everyday right fielder next year, should the club decline to re-sign center fielder Aaron Rowand (as seems likely)? Victorino, a natural center fielder anyway, could change positions. And Pat Burrell is entrenched in left. Werth has clearly redefined himself, clearly rediscovered what he always thought he could be. Idle most of 2005 and all of 2006 with a wrist injury that stubbornly refused to heal, he contemplated retirement at one point last summer.

He George Widman Associated Press signed over the winter as bench help. But he has been inserted into August, including a 9-for-9 stretch, to up his average from .235 to 326. Werth assured Gillick he wasn't averse to catching, if only in a pinch. He caught a few spring-training games, and remains the team's emergency receiver. But as it turns out, he has redefined himself in dozens of other ways.

And along the way, he has rediscovered what he always -thought he could be. gordon.jonesSmcall.com 610-820-6628 said. "We didn't think it was a big chance." His only question was how long it would take Werth to scrape the rust off the game. Actually, there was one more: Would Werth have any interest in being a part-time catcher? Gillick remembered that he had performed well at that position, and said that if it had been up to him the last several years, he "would have preferred" that Werth remain behind the plate. PHILLIES NOTEBOOK A behind-the-scenes look at Philadelphia's major league baseball team SEEKING SOME (MIDDLE) RELIEF A bullpen expanded by September call-ups hasn't helped the Phillies find the middle relief help they need.

With Sunday's game against Florida tied headed into the bottom of the seventh inning, manager Charlie Manuel turned to recently promoted right-hander Kane Davis to keep the game close. Davis couldn't repeat his strong effort from Friday, allowing back-to-back home runs to Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla that served as the difference in Florida's 7-6 win. Francisco Rosario (one hit in one-third of an inning) and J.C. Romero (two walks in two-thirds of an inning) also endured shaky moments in the eighth inning, but Florida left the bases loaded without scoring. Manuel didn't have any other middle relievers to call upon, anyway.

Marlins 7, Phillies 6 PMbddpNl AB I Bl BS SO Rollins ss 5 1 1 0 1 1 .299 Iguchi 2b 5 0 2 0 0 0 J15 Rosarlap 0 0 0 0 0 0 Romero 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Burrell If 3 1 0 0 2 0 J62 Howard lb 5 1 2 1 0 2 .272 Rowand cf 5 2 3 1 0 0 .312 Werth rl 3 0 1 2 2 2 .326 Helms 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .248 c-Dobbsph-3b 1 0 0 0 1 1 .283 Rulzc 3 0 1 1 2 1 .262 1-Roberson pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 J80 Eaton 3 1 1 1 0 1 .236 KDavis 0 0 0 0 0 0 d-Utleyph-2b 1 0 0 0 1 1 .336 Totals 31 11 6 9 Florida AB Bl BB SO Avg HaRamlrezss 3 1 1 1 0 0 .333 Uggla 2b 4 1 1 2 1 1 .249 Hermidarf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .283 MICabrera3b 3 12 12 0 .316 Jacobs lb 4 110 10 .267 CROSS If 4 2 3 3 0 1 J30 Ollvoc 4 0 0 0 0 1 .235 Gregg 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Deazacf 400000 .224 Olsenp 1 0 0 0 0 0 .191 Barone 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 a-Willlsph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .235 Kensingp 0 0 0 0 0 0 b-Llndenph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .216 JuMlller 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Tankersleyp 0 0 0 0 0 0 Treanorc 1 0 1 0 0 0 J95 Totals 34 7 11 7 4 MadelpNa M41MM1- 611 2 Florida H0311 20n- 7M 1 a-doubled for Barone In the 5th. a-doubled for Bar-one In the 5th. Mined out for Kensing In the 6th. b-lined out for Kensing In the 6th. c-struck out for Helms In the 7th.

c-struck out for Helms In the 7th. d-struck out for Davis In the 8th. d-struck out for Davis In the 8th. 1-ran for Ruiz In the 9th. 1-ran for Ruiz In the 9th.

E-Howard (10), Dobbs (7), Jacobs (5). LOB-Phlladelphla 13, Florida 10. 2B-lguchl (9), Rowand (37), Werth (9), Jacobs (20), Willis (1), Tre-anor (6). 3B-Rollins (16). HR-Uggla (28), off KDavis; HaRamirez (24), off KDavis: CRoss 2 (10), off Eaton MICabrera (31), off Eaton; Eaton (1).

off Olsen. RBIs-Howard (111), Rowand (77), Werth 2 (31), Ruiz (46), Eaton (5), HaRamirez (67), Uggla 2 (79), MICabrera (94), CRoss 3 (31). CS-Rowand (3). S-HaRamirez 2. PhiadelpMa II ER BB SO NP ERA Eaton 6 6 5 5 1 5 89 6-28 KDavfcL 1 3 2 2 1 0 25 6.00' Rosarlo Ullll 3 5.96 Romero i 0 0 0 2 0 21 2.11 Florida REBBBSO Nf EU Olsen 3'-, 7 5 5 3 3 97 5.76 Barone l'l 0 0 0 2 1 30 6.00 Kensing 1 0 0 0 1 1 14 0.00 JuMlller l'l 1 0 0 0 2 15 3.75 "i 1 0 0 1 1 14 4J7 Gregg IS 2 1 1 2 2 43 3.05 Records: JuMiller 5-0; KDavis 0-1; Gregg 28.

HBP-by Eaton (Hermlda). WP-Gregg, T-321. (3M31). I t' Hi- I I i THE PHILLIES' JAYSON WERTH was the lineup recently, hitting .414 in knew exactly how to repair it. "The surgery that he did on Aug.

16, 2006 is named after him," Werth said. "He's the only one that does the surgery, diagnoses the injury. It's a relatively new find." He and the Dodgers parted company in December, and Gillick called immediately, offering a one-year, $400,000 contract. Werth was quick to accept. "We had him checked out, his wrist examined," Gillick Lynne Sladky Associated Press ers to Hanky Ramirez and Dan Uggla, giving Florida the lead for good at 7-5.

Now the Phillies head to Atlanta, where the Braves are desperate for victories after falling T'i games behind the Mets this weekend. The Phillies could use a few wins, too. "It's not like we didn't play well while we were here," outfielder Jayson Werth said. "We just didn't win games. "It's a situation where down the stretch here, crunch time, guys are going to have to step up, pick other guys up," he added.

"We definitely didn't get it done today." stephen.mllleromcall.com 61CK320-6750 Antonio Alfonseca has run out of gas, allowing nine runs, eight hits and six walks over his last 23 innings (five games). Jose Mesa has also faltered in recent weeks, allowing 11 runs and 11 hits in his last four innings (five games). "We definitely need somebody to pitch in that sixth and seventh inning for us and give us some help," Manuel said. "Davis' stuff was good. Ramirez hit a ball that was down, and it was a good pitch really.

The other guy, Uggla, looked for something out over the plate and just went the other way with it. He hit the ball good. They both hit the ball good." Davis, who threw two scoreless innings Friday in his first major league appearance since 2005, hopes to have another chance to pitch in an important spot. He will probably get one since most -of the middle relievers are scuffling. "I feel like I can do the job there," Davis said.

"I wasn't as sharp Alfonseca that was Olsen PHILLIES PITCHER ADAM EATON (right) is visited on the mound by catcher Carlos Ruiz (50) and pitching coach Rich Dubee (left) in the fourth inning Sunday. Eaton allowed five runs in six innings. as I wanted to be there today. But HOW DOES HE FEEL NOW? The Phillies gave Florida starter Scott Olsen another reason to despise them Sunday. Olsen, who said he hated the Phillies last September and again earlier this year, got ripped for seven hits and five runs over 3l'i innings Sunday.

He received a no-decision, but his career ERA against the Phillies swelled to 6.00 in PHILLIES FROM PAGE lies four games back in the National League East. The Phillies remained three games out in the wild-card race. Rollins at first downplayed the Phillies' two-game losing streak, saying they hadn't lost any momentum. He later admitted the loss hurt. "We needed today, no doubt," Rollins said.

"We jump out there, throw up a five spot There's no way in the world that five spot should be given up the way it was. But it was." The Phillies' offense nearly rescued the pitching staff. Down derline pitch at the knees for strike two. Rollins flied out on the next pitch, giving Gregg his 28th save. "Well, you know, when you've got that guy Drake in a situation like that deciding that he's going to control how the game gets to a certain point, it can change the outcome of the game," Rollins said.

Another subpar start from Adam Eaton hurt the Phillies. Staked to a 5-0 lead he contributed to with a solo homer, he gave up five runs, including three homers, from the fourth through the sixth inning. Cody Ross hit two of the homers. Kane Davis (0-1) took the loss an inning later when he surreiWered back-to-back hom 7-5 headed into the ninth, the Phils staged a rally against Florida closer Kevin Gregg, who was trying to convert a four-out save for the second straight day. Gregg had a runner on first and two outs when he began to waver.

A walk to Greg Dobbs and an RBI single by Carlos Ruiz pulled the Phillies within one run, leaving runners at the corners for Chase Utley. Utley walked to bring Rollins, the Phillies' hottest hitter, to the plate. Rollins took two balls before taking a third pitch near his letters. Drake called it a strike, causing Rollins to bristle. Another ball put Rollins one pitch away from tying the game with -J walk, but Drake called a bor nine starts.

Olsen first said he hated the Phillies because of the way they dominated the Marlins last September. He lost to them three times that month, but is 2-0 against them this year. SHORT HOPS Jimmy Rollins had his streak of multi-hit games stopped at seven with his l-for-5 game. The streak was the longest by a Phillie since Ricky Jordan had eight straight multi-hit games in 1992. Outfielder Chris Roberson was recalled from Triple-A Ottawa.

Stephen Mler.