Dusty Baker inching closer to decisions on lineup makeup

VIERA, Fla. - The significance of Dusty Baker's starting lineup Sunday against the Cardinals was not lost on observers inside and outside of the Nationals clubhouse.

For one thing, guys who spent much of last season on the sidelines - Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman - were part of the lineup. The key offseason additions were represented, Ben Revere atop the order to lend some speed and Daniel Murphy batting fifth to add protection and length to the order. The pitcher was Max Scherzer, the presumptive opening day starter for the second year in a row.

"We have a chance to have a good offense and really score some runs," Scherzer said. "It's going to be exciting to see those guys produce runs because I love run support."

Aside from overstating the obvious, there was something else unique about this particular group of players in this particular order. Starting with Revere, Baker alternated left- and right-handed batters through the first eight spots in the order, finishing up with a switch-hitter Danny Espinosa.

That's balance, spelled L-R-L-R-L-R-L-R-S.

To those who pore over every possible permutation of lineup construction, the alignment was more than just aesthetically pleasing. Instead of just trotting out an order filled with whoever was healthy and hoping for production, as Matt Williams was forced to do much of last season, Baker is taking tentative steps toward figuring out how to set up his offense heading into the new campaign.

"I like it a lot," Baker said. "I've got a lot of interchangeable parts, a lot of guys I can hit anywhere from second to sixth and different combinations thereof. It all depends who's hot, who's not, who's healthy, who's not. We got a lot of offense. Quality offense."

Keep in mind that what happens in the third week of March can be much different than what is written on the lineup card for the season opener on April 4 in Atlanta. Guys can play themselves on and off the 25-man roster, injuries could force some shuffling and Baker has spent enough time managing in the major to know nothing is written in stone, even if it could or should be.

Something as simple as which pitchers start for the Braves in the two-game opening series, how the opposition's bullpen is comprised, and how the Marlins rotation lines up for the April 7 home opener and the rest of the first series at Nationals Park could mean the lineup, however packed with speed and power it may be, will be in semi-constant motion as Baker continues to become familiar with the weapons at his disposal.

"I got a pretty good idea, it just depends on how many left-handed starters, per se," he explained. "It depends on how many left-handed relievers they have in their bullpen. I don't like to stack too many lefties in a row, but it depends on seeing how my lefties hit lefties.

"If they only have one lefty in the bullpen, then I can do something a little bit differently because I can hopefully force the other manager to use his ace in the hole early. But if he has three of them, now he kind of has be behind the eight-ball and he can bring in three different guys to face two or three lefties in a row. Depends on their roster and depends on how our guys are doing."

Yes, there are givens. Revere will probably bat leadoff, Bryce Harper will be slotted third, and Wilson Ramos and Espinosa will likely be at the bottom of the order. But the rest of the lineup construction is lining up as pleasantly challenging task for the new skipper.