Three-batter rule could play right into Nats' hands

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Most of the discussion surrounding Major League Baseball's new three-batter minimum rule for relievers has focused on the negative impact it will have on teams' pitching staffs.

But what if there's a flip side to the equation, and the controversial rule change might actually be a positive for some teams' offenses?

Davey Martinez is banking on that very possibility. As he has studied and contemplated the new rule, the Nationals manager keeps drawing the same conclusion: This could help his team score more runs, thanks to its deep bench of talented hitters.

"My whole thing with the three-batter minimum, after looking at it and reading everything, I don't necessarily think it's going to speed up the game," Martinez said. "I think you're going to see more offense. All these other rules they plan on applying in baseball later on, it's based on seeing more offense. I think this is just the start of it."

The new rule, for those who still haven't heard, requires all pitchers to face at least three batters per appearance, unless they complete an inning or become injured. The fear many observers have is that an ineffective reliever is going to be forced to stay in a game longer than he would have in the past.

That may be true, but Martinez is trying to look at this from the perspective of the team at bat when a pitching change is made. If an opposing manager decides to bring in a lefty or a righty in an attempt to match up with the next three batters due up, the Nationals could very well have the ability to use one or more pinch-hitters to turn the matchup in their favor.

On any given night, the Nats are likely to have at least three, perhaps four of these veterans on their bench: Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Asdrúbal Cabrera, Michael A. Taylor, Eric Thames, Starlin Castro. If the opponent puts a lefty on the mound in the sixth or seventh inning, Martinez could counter with Zimmerman, Kendrick, Castro or Taylor. If it's a righty, he could go with Cabrera or Thames.

This could end up paying big dividends for the Nationals.

"That's kind of how I'm viewing it right now," Martinez said. "This could definitely help us, in our platoon situation, getting guys into games when the opportunity arises at the right moment."

All teams will get a chance to start testing the new rule out soon. It takes effect Thursday, so the Nationals will have 12 exhibition games with it in place before opening day.