A modest proposal to try to get Werth and Taylor going

It's only three games, and that caveat must be expressed before going any further. If the same results occurred over three games in May or June or August, you'd never bat an eyelash because it would be hidden among the player's broader performance of the season.

Now, having made that disclaimer, there's no debating the Nationals' biggest concern at this very early stage of the season: Jayson Werth and Michael A. Taylor's 0-fers.

Both outfielders have opened the season 0-for-11. Both have had trouble putting the ball in play. Both have looked uncomfortable at times at the plate.

Werth's early slump comes on the heels of a disappointing spring that saw him carry a .167 batting average into the final week of the Grapefruit League before he got hot right at the end. And, of course, it comes amid the overriding question facing the veteran as he enters the sixth of his seven seasons in Washington: How much does he have left in the tank?

Werth, who turns 37 next month, acknowledged all spring the doubt that's out there about him and has been determined to prove he's still got the goods. Given the unconventional track of his career - he's been a better player in his 30s than he was in his 20s - it would be foolish to give up on him altogether.

But he hasn't looked particularly good at the plate in the Nationals' first three games, taking some awkward swings and going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

Manager Dusty Baker sees a guy whose timing appears to be off.

"When you're in between, you're kind of in no-man's land," Baker said. "You're late on fastballs and you're early on breaking balls. Right now his timing is off. He's frustrated. I can see it in his face. We're all frustrated. But we've played three games. I mean, all you need is a couple good games and you're right back on top, especially early in the year like this. I was hoping that he'd have a big game tonight. We're just going to put him back out there (Saturday)."

Taylor, meanwhile, dazzled all spring, carrying a .500 batting average into the final week of exhibition play. The challenge for the 24-year-old, it appeared, would be maintaining a hot bat once he returned to the bench as the regular season began.

But when Ben Revere strained an oblique muscle on opening day, Taylor found himself right back in the thick of things. He has played the equivalent of 2 1/2 games in center field, serving as the Nationals' leadoff hitter throughout.

The end result: Zero hits in 11 at-bats, zero walks, four strikeouts. (Taylor did produce the sacrifice fly that brought Werth home with the tying run in the ninth inning on opening day in Atlanta.)

Baker, acknowledging Taylor is better-suited to hit sixth or seventh than lead off, has spoken with the young outfielder several times already, trying to guide him through this process.

"I just told him: 'Hey, don't worry about taking pitches and getting deep into counts. You're not that type of hitter yet,' " Baker said. "Michael's been prone to the strikeout in the past. He was a whole lot better this spring. If you see a first pitch, you jump on it."

With Revere out until at least April 20, Taylor and Werth are going to have to remain part of the daily lineup (aside from the occasional day off, with Matt den Dekker or Chris Heisey getting a start off the bench).

Here, then, is a modest proposal for the interim: Have Taylor and Werth swap spots in the lineup.

Werth may not be a traditional leadoff hitter, but he has does it several times in his career, and he's had success. (He holds a career .363 on-base percentage and .815 OPS in 95 games as a leadoff hitter.) It might take some pressure off him, letting him focus on working the count and getting on base, not driving in runs.

Matt Williams moved a struggling Werth into the No. 1 slot late last summer, and Werth enjoyed one of his most-productive offensive stretches of a disappointing season.

Taylor, meanwhile, might benefit from moving down to his more natural spot hitting sixth. That would take some pressure off him to be something he's not: a table-setter. Let him swing away like he always has, hoping he connects with a couple men on base.

Baker may not want to make that kind of drastic move in Game 4 of 162. A couple of hits from either guy over the weekend could completely change the complexion of things.

But if the current pattern continues, it might be worth a shot.