Baker says starting pitching depth will sort itself out

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Dusty Baker knows that he's putting young right-hander Erick Fedde in a tough spot in today's game against the Mets. Fedde hasn't started a game all spring training - he's only pitched twice - but if Baker wants to see the promising starting pitcher stretched out instead of in two-inning relief outings, Fedde has got to take what the manager can give him.

Based on what he's seen in a small sample size and his conversations with the 24-year-old, Baker thinks Fedde might be equal to the task.

"He hasn't that many opportunities, but I'm looking at his background," Baker said this morning in the dugout at First Data Field. "I'm looking at how other scouts have talked about him, conversations we've had. You don't have to tell (him) the same thing twice. He told me he don't want to walk anybody. You don't hear young guys talk about that too much. Most times, they're talking about velocity, this pitch and that pitch."

While so much attention has been focused on the Nationals rotation this spring - when Max Scherzer is going to finally pitch in a game, whether Stephen Strasburg has found something in his no-windup approach - there's a second tier of pitchers who are very important to the organization.

By trading Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning to the White Sox for center fielder Adam Eaton, the Nats have whittled down their starting pitching depth. If Baker needs to dip into the minors for a sixth, seventh or eighth starter, guys like A.J. Cole, Fedde and Austin Voth are going to be asked to answer the call.

Fedde has yielded two hits and an unearned run in four innings this spring. As Baker is apt to do, he looked at his past for comparative purposes and likens the 6-foot-4 Fedde to a former Dodgers teammate who enjoyed a long career, posting 211 career wins and a 3.47 ERA over 17 major league seasons.

"I hate to make comparisons, but he reminds me of a young Bob Welch at that point," Baker said. "He has that long body, throwing downhill. Seems like he's highly competitive."

But competitiveness will only take Fedde so far, and Baker readily admits that the youngster's time in camp will be short. He needs to find innings for starting pitchers working deeper into games, and Fedde needs to start lengthening his workload in preparation for pitching in the Triple-A Syracuse rotation.

"I know we're having trouble getting him stretched out and we got to get him stretched out, you know what I mean?" Baker said. "I'd like to get a longer look, but I don't know how much longer I can. ... These innings are becoming precious, especially after the off-days."

With Giolito and Lopez no longer at the Nationals' disposal, Baker understands that the Triple-A rotation could play an important part in the Nationals' success. But the manager doesn't want to start designated anyone as the next man up, lest fate intercede, as it often does in such matters.

"It's going to take care of itself," Baker said. "You can figure all you want to, but they figure it out for you by how they perform and how they progress. We always want to have a set plan, but it doesn't work like that. All I've learned is that you plan and then you have to re-plan invariably for everything. Because you don't know what kid is going to get it together, what kid is going to find the strike zone, what kid is going to come up with another pitch. You just don't know when the light's going to come on for a person. You just have to let them pitch.

"And sometimes, all this rating and stuff that we do, it don't mean nothing. What draft choice, how much money they gave you - none of that means anything to me. I'll see what my eyes tell me and what I think, then I'll put my two cents in. Pitch. Sometimes you want to plan so much for these kids, but sometimes you just got to let them play. They'll make up your mind. They'll either play their way in or they'll play they way out. You got to give them ample chance to do that. You can't make any snap decisions."