Players hoping to give Baker first title as a manager

Relief pitcher Matt Belisle gets a big smile on his face when he talks about the first time he saw manager Dusty Baker at Nationals spring training.

It had been a while since Belisle and Baker had seen each other.

"He said, 'Matt come on over here and let me give you a big hug,''' Belisle said. "He wants to know how everything's going. He checks in on the family and a few other things. Then, it is time to get down to business of playing baseball. That's Dusty.''

Baker, 66, after two seasons away from managing and thinking he might not get another chance, is determined to win his first World Series as a manager. (As a player, Baker played in three World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning one and losing two, all against the New York Yankees.)

And nobody is more determined to help him get a ring than Nationals players who have played for Baker in Cincinnati.

Belisle, 36, pitched for Baker in Cincinnati, and so did Mat Latos. Outfielder Chris Heisey played four seasons for Baker in Cincinnati. Each said they like turning back the clock to reunite with Baker and help him add to his legacy.

"I know how badly he wants it because that's all he talked about in Cincinnati,'' Belisle said. "He was that type of player, determined to win, to get it done. I want to help him.''

After Cincinnati, Belisle pitched in Colorado and St. Louis, and last offseason, he had options with contenders, but nothing as good as playing for Baker in D.C.

"He commands so much respect,'' Belisle said. "He was a strong player. He's old-school but he has an ability to get a long with all these millenniums. He teaches the right way to play the game, but he bends with the new. He has a good feel for every situation. He has energy and he wants you to succeed. He gets excited for you.''

Heisey, 31, a right-handed pinch-hitting outfielder, appeared in 33 games for the Dodgers last season. Over the winter, when he was thinking about options for 2016, Heisey called Baker.

"He called me back and said he can't guarantee anything, but, 'I'll give you a fair shot,''' Heisey said.

As he spoke, Heisey reached into his locker, slid to one side a few hangers of clothes and pointed to three bottles of wine he received as a gift from Baker.

"He's always giving his players food and wine,'' Heisey said. "He knows everybody, and so if he has a connection that can help you, he will.''

As a Red, Heisey said Baker gave him pinch-hitting tips that have stuck with him.

"He said, 'You get one at-bat and you can't go up there and work the count,''' Heisey said. "He told me to go up there and hunt for the fastball and go after it and usually it is on the first pitch. He told me not to take too many fastballs.''

Latos, 28, had strong seasons in Cincinnati, posting ERAs of 3.48, 3.16 and 3.25. Last season, when he pitched for Miami and both the Angels and the Dodgers in Los Angeles, he was bothered by injuries.

Latos started this season with the Chicago White Sox, but when they released him in June, Baker lobbied to have him come to the Nationals as rotation insurance. Baker figured Latos could pitch, but encouraged him to get in better shape.

So, thanks to Baker, Latos had an opportunity to re-start his career. He made six minor league starts and got a call to the Nationals in September.

"Just getting back with Dusty is helping,'' Latos said. "It makes me feel more comfortable.''

Baker has managed three other NL teams and the only time he's been to the World Series was in 2002, when he and the San Francisco Giants lost in seven games to the Anaheim Angels. Baker had four 90-win seasons and a 103-win season as the Giants manager.

He had four seasons of at least 90 wins in Cincinnati and had two winning seasons with the Cubs.

After two seasons away from the field, Nationals bench coach Chris Speier returned because of Baker. Speier, who was managing Wednesday because Baker had to miss because of a family death, said at a pregame press conference Wednesday that Baker is like a brother, friend and father rolled into one.

"The main reason I came back was because Dusty got the job,'' Speier said. "He asked me to come back.''

Like Speier, Baker was out of uniform for two years. Speier said the game wore on Baker, but, "this time around, he seems happier and a lot more at peace. That's refreshing.''

That's especially true if the Nationals win the World Series.