Harper, Desmond wise to seek hitting advice from Williams

For 17 years, Nationals manager Matt Williams was one of the game's most intense players - but also one of its most dangerous hitters. Williams batted .268 for his career with 378 homers and 1,218 RBIs. But those numbers don't do justice to seasons like 1994, when he belted a league-high 43 homers for the Giants, or 1999 with the Diamondbacks, when he hit .303, pounded 35 homers and drove in an astounding 142 runs. Five times an All-Star, Williams banged out more than 30 homers six times and had more than 100 RBIs in four seasons.

In the Nationals dugout, the manager is the most decorated hitter and it's not really close. So it's refreshing to hear that some of the Nats' most talented players have turned to Williams to help with their approaches at the plate.

"I've been talking to Matt a lot," said shortstop Ian Desmond. "I've really been trying to rely on him. Not to say that we're the same hitter because he accomplished a lot of really good things in his career. Just kind of using him as an extra set of eyes and I really appreciate it. Some of the things that he's been able to say have translated into the game."

Desmond has somehow managed to separate his early-season struggles in the field and remain focused at the plate, where he's been dialed in over the past week. In his last six games, Desmond is hitting .542 (13-for-24) with a home run, two doubles, four RBIs, two walks and four runs scored.

"I just think he's swinging at strikes and he's disciplined up there," said Williams. "He's hit some balls to his pull side, which is important for him to do, to be aggressive in that regard. I don't think he's changed anything. I just think he's recognizing well and laying the bat on it. It's good."

For right fielder Bryce Harper, the potential could fill Nationals Park. The 22-year-old has already blasted 20 or more home runs in two of his first three seasons and most likely would have reached the mark last season had nagging injuries not robbed him of 62 games.

"I love talking to Matt about hitting," said Harper. "He's very impressive with what he has to say, and it's a lot of fun to talk to him about approach and what I'm feeling and what he's thinking I'm doing. I'm trying to be quick, not as strong, do what I can to connect to the baseball, see my pitches, draw my walks if I need to."

"If they're not giving in, keep throwing me off-speed or off the plate or anything like that, don't chase. If you strike out on a good pitch, it happens, but draw your walks, try to get good pitches, and don't miss 'em."

It's been a bizarre start to the season for Harper at the plate, drawing 11 walks, including a major league-best five free passes, while also striking out 18 times, the most among active players. In fact, Harper already has five games with multiple strikeouts.

"The calmness is key for him," said Williams. "Being calm at the plate. (Hitting coach) Rick Schu likes to call it when he gets too jumpy, he rages out at the ball. Where he goes to the ball instead of letting the ball come to him. And that's the telling sign with Bryce. If his lower half is calm, then he sees the baseball, his head doesn't move and he's able to pick pitches on and off the plate to hit."

When Harper has been balanced in the box, it's been devastating for opposing pitchers. He hit moonshots to straightaway center field in consecutive games against the Phillies, including Saturday's bomb that landed in a part of Nats Park that's never been visited by a baseball.

"For Bryce, it's not how far, it's how many," said Williams. "He can hit it a long way, but he doesn't have to fully swing every time to do so."