On uniform numbers, hairstyles and the "Circle of Trust"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As anticipated, yesterday was a light day at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Well, aside from the media horde that descended upon the other side of the complex, where the defending World Series champion Astros officially reported for work.

On the Nationals side, pitchers and catchers wandered through the clubhouse, training areas and weight rooms. Some went out to the back fields to play catch. Nothing organized, just the mundane stuff pitchers do every day to keep themselves in shape and loose.

Today will feature a bit more of, to steal a phrase from the NFL, an organized team activity. Though it's not mandatory, many pitchers and catchers are expected to participate in an optional workout beginning at 11 a.m.

That session will begin with - and I'm quoting directly from the scheduled posted in the clubhouse here - a "Meeting on Circle of Trust." If that sounds like the kind of thing Joe Maddon might hold ... well, let's remember who Davey Martinez worked for the last decade.

And, yes, we're officially calling him Davey now. Why, you ask? Because that's what the nameplate outside his office here says his name is. Who are we to argue with something as authoritative as that?

Martinez, if you don't remember is wearing uniform No. 4. Which means Howie Kendrick no longer is. The veteran utilityman, who re-signed a two-year deal with the Nationals this winter, is now wearing the No. 12 that became available when Dusty Baker was let go. Kendrick had always previously worn No. 47 while with the Angels, Dodgers and Phillies, but Gio Gonzalez has had that number locked up for seven seasons now. We'll have to ask Kendrick if there was any special reason for selecting No. 12.

Speaking of uniform numbers, here's what some of the prominent newcomers will be wearing this year: Miguel Montero (14), Matt Adams (15), Reid Brignac (17), Matt Reynolds (19). Besides Kendrick, it doesn't appear any returning players are switching numbers.

If you're into these kinds of things: The only numbers not currently being worn by a Nationals player between 1 and 41 is 28. Whether clubhouse manager Mike Wallace is holding that one back just in case Jayson Werth makes a surprise return, or because it's been determined nobody else will be wearing Werth's number for the immediate future remains a mystery.

If you're into players' hairstyles, you'll either be excited or crushed to learn that Anthony Rendon has received a major trim. I wouldn't quite refer to his hair as short by conventional society standards. But by his standards, it's a striking difference.

And in news from elsewhere in baseball, Athletics manager Bob Melvin yesterday named his closer to begin the season. It's Blake Treinen. Yes, that Blake Treinen. If you lost track of him following his trade last summer, Treinen pitched quite well for Oakland. In 35 games, he posted a 2.13 ERA, 1.158 WHIP and 13 saves in 15 opportunities to earn the ninth-inning job entering 2018.

So after waiting until the final day of camp last spring to learn he had been named Nationals closer, Treinen found out on the first day of camp this spring that he'll be the A's closer.