A little more on Dusty Baker's sharp learning curve

VIERA, Fla. - We're going to learn a lot about Dusty Baker during the course of spring training - how he uses his starting pitchers, which situations he thinks call for bunts, how long a leash he'll give a reliever who's struggling with his control. Answering those questions are all part of a manger's genesis into a particular job.

But yesterday's postgame media session with Baker shed some light on how he approaches players young and old, as well as hitters and fielders, during this time of year.

It was an astute ask by MASN's Dan Kolko, who questioned Baker about how he approached figuring out how much work his veteran players need each spring. That answer morphed into a discussion of how Baker ensures his Nationals are ready to go when opening day rolls around, especially when his learning curve with a new team is pretty sharp.

"I try to play a lot of the younger guys early because you realize that in the middle to end of the spring, your veterans got to be ready," Baker said. "You want to get a look at a lot of the young guys, the non-roster guys, guys you don't know in order to have some input with the organization when somebody gets hurt or it comes time to call somebody up."

Though Baker was new to the organization this offseason, he made a point of connecting with hitting coach Rick Schu - a holdover from Matt Williams' staff who, like Baker, has roots in Sacramento, Calif. - to get a book on the hitters he'll be managing. Usually, Baker would have his own book, but Schu's input gave him a starting point to get to learn his hitters.

Every batter's swing is as unique as a snowflake or fingerprint. Some guys have a simple approach, others have multiple machinations that must be considered.

"Barry Bonds and Joey Votto, who I had, take very little time, so I had to monitor them so they don't get too sharp too quick and they end up getting bored," Baker said. "Where Matt Williams, he had a bunch of moveable parts that we had to get them together in time. When guys have a lot of moveable parts and they get it, it's like a 12-cylinder engine, you know what I mean?"

While some observers like to break down the raw data to see how a hitter performs, Baker prefers to indulge the eye test and see for himself what's right or wrong with a swing. That extends outside the batter's box, because the minor calf soreness that prevents an outfielder from running at full speed or the shoulder twinge that affects an infielder's throw can eventually trickle down to how they hit.

Face it, legs and arms aren't just used to run and throw.

"I want to know how guys' legs feel, watch them throw," Baker explained. "I can watch them run. I can see most of the times, an outfielder and an infielder, the arm is the last thing in shape. And when that gets in shape, it means your legs are in shape. You see carry on the ball (on a throw). Now, the balls are dying. You know they're not ready."

Baker carries a reputation as a strong communicator, and it's not unusual to see him engaging his charges in the field or around the batting cage. He resembles a D.C. politician working a room in an election year. From those brief conversations punctuated by both listening and laughter, Baker gleans a lot.

"It's just a matter of me knowing them, talking to them," he said.

And it's not all about hitting, either. Yesterday, second baseman Daniel Murphy had a rough inning in the field, prompting the free agent addition to share with his new manager that he wasn't feeling quite himself.

"Right now, he doesn't have his timing," Baker observed. "You're going up and down and trying to time the pitcher when he goes into his windup. You can't just stay (stationary) the whole time. You go up and down, up and down. First step, this way or that way, and it's timing. Today, he told me, 'I don't feel right offensively or defensively.' So he needs some work. This is what we're here for."