Dusty Baker on managing to win with players in mind

PHILADELPHIA - Manager Dusty Baker knew that during this portion of the schedule, the Nationals would be in the midst of 16 games in a row without an off day. So at the end of the Braves series, he rested two starters for each of the final two games.

The Nationals bench came up big and helped the team win both of those games.

Then, following a rest Thursday, Michael A. Taylor and Jayson Werth returned and combined to contribute four hits, two doubles, a solo homer, three runs and four RBIs.

Werth credits Baker for not being afraid to utilize all of his assets on the roster.

"I think he believes in his players from top to bottom, all 25 guys," Werth said. "I think when he makes a lineup and he rolls the guys out there, he feels like he's going to win. And that's important. He's got confidence in his players. That can go a long way.

"I've been a bench player. I know what its like to not get many looks and then get thrown in there. So keeping guys fresh, especially coming out of spring training is very important. I think not to be overlooked is Dusty's magic of putting a lineup together and believing they're going to win."

Baker said Werth looked refreshed in delivering a two-double, three-RBI night.

"Jay looked like a young man (Friday), but (Thursday) he said he treated his body (with a) massage, probably cold plunge, cold freeze, sauna. Who knows what he did?" Baker said. "Whatever he did yesterday, it certainly worked today."

Taylor admitted the day off allowed him to take a deep breath and calm his nerves, which bothered him the first week.

"I'm not trying to change my swing right now," Taylor said. "It's just getting my timing back and getting comfortable. I felt a little anxious early on trying to do too much. So it's just about relaxing I think."

The 8-1 start is the best in franchise history. The 1974 Expos started 7-2 while the 1951 Washington Senators also started 7-2. Baker said he knew this team would be good but he also believes they can improve game to game.

"I'm hoping we can get better and better because I think we got three or four guys that are swinging the bats pretty good," Baker said. "Our pitching is outstanding, but we can get a lot better. We still got some guys on the interstate up their on their batting averages. So we'd like someday to get everybody popping.

"We're not even as good as we can get yet."

Baker said that winning streaks are good, but that doesn't mean that he just sits back and doesn't keep on his players. Complacency or feeling to good about yourselves can also derail a good run, he said.

"Sometimes you have to be sterner or tougher when you're winning, I think," Baker said. "When you are losing, you got to kind of back off and show some a little bit of compassion unless you see a bad attitude or a complacent attitude.

"Right now, I'm just letting them be. Make sure they still do their thing. Make sure they still eat right, go to the weight room, stretch when its time to stretch and just don't think about the streak that we're on. You just go out there and play. Just go out there and just win."

Bryce Harper had three hits, two runs and a two-run homer in Friday's win. He said the Nationals are locked in and not changing the way they play based on the opponent.

"You still got to score runs to win ball games, still got to pitch well," Harper said. "You're still playing the game of baseball. Even with teams, if they are rebuilding or not, you still got to win ball games. That's a good Phillies team over there. I mean they are young but they are still good. Hopefully, we can get .. and get (Aaron) Nola and see what we can do."