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Dusty Baker is making the Nationals his team without lifting a finger Dusty Baker is making the Nationals his team without lifting a finger
(about 2 hours later)
VIERA, Fla. — Twice in three days of spring training camp this week, new Nationals manager Dusty Baker couldn’t remember Bryce Harper’s first name, calling him “Royce.” The first time, he joked, “I don’t think I’ve ever known a Bryce.” VIERA, Fla. — Twice in three days of spring training this week, new Nationals Manager Dusty Baker couldn’t remember Bryce Harper’s first name, calling him “Royce.” The first time, he joked, “I don’t think I’ve ever known a Bryce.”
But by the Nationals’ first full workout Thursday, Baker knew the buzz: The 66-year-old manager couldn’t always recall the name of the National League MVP.But by the Nationals’ first full workout Thursday, Baker knew the buzz: The 66-year-old manager couldn’t always recall the name of the National League MVP.
“My wife called me,” said Baker. “I blamed it on my military upbringing. You call everybody by their last name. She said, ‘Then call him ‘Harp.’ I said, ‘I don’t know if I know him well enough yet to call him that.’ ” “My wife called me,” said Baker. “I blamed it on my military upbringing. You call everybody by their last name. She said, ‘Then call him ‘Harp.’ I said, ‘I don’t know if I know him well enough yet to call him that.’ ”
So, in the middle of the first full team meeting, Baker introduced Harper to the team as Royce. “Now, they’ve got a new player,” he said.So, in the middle of the first full team meeting, Baker introduced Harper to the team as Royce. “Now, they’ve got a new player,” he said.
With quiet but memorable aphorisms, with private meetings and public jokes, with force of personality and 50 years of hold-a-crowd-in-your-hand stories, Baker has started to make the Nationals his team. He doesn’t try. It just happens. That’s leadership.With quiet but memorable aphorisms, with private meetings and public jokes, with force of personality and 50 years of hold-a-crowd-in-your-hand stories, Baker has started to make the Nationals his team. He doesn’t try. It just happens. That’s leadership.
“Leadership isn’t easy. Some people have it. Bronson Arroyo is a leader,” said Baker of the former Reds pitcher who’s getting a chance here. “People just follow him.” “Leadership isn’t easy. Some people have it. Bronson Arroyo is a leader,” Baker said of the former Reds pitcher, who’s getting another chance here. “People just follow him.”
[Dusty Baker wants the Nats to be like a family, disfunction included][Dusty Baker wants the Nats to be like a family, disfunction included]
That applies to Baker, too. And it’s perhaps the biggest reason he’s managed seven teams to the playoffs in 20 seasons. His unforced charisma, his sense that simply being himself will do the job, is directly linked to his ability to guide 12 teams that, as a group, averaged 92.2 wins. That applies to Baker, too. And it’s perhaps the biggest reason he’s managed seven teams to the playoffs in 20 seasons. His unforced charisma, his sense that simply being himself will do the job, is directly linked to his success.
Former manager Matt Williams, a fine man, collected sayings for years for the day when he got to manage; one slogan per day, he posted them in the Nats’ locker room in spring training for six weeks. Within one week, that well was dry. Former manager Matt Williams, a fine man, collected sayings for years for the day when he got to manage, aiming to post one slogan per day in the Nats’ locker room in spring training for six weeks. Within one, that well was dry.
So far, Baker’s off-the-cuff remarks include:So far, Baker’s off-the-cuff remarks include:
• “It takes a lifetime to know yourself. How are you going to know somebody else?”• “It takes a lifetime to know yourself. How are you going to know somebody else?”
• “The first year you manage a team, everybody is on their best behavior. The second and third year? They know you and you know them. Then you find out.”• “The first year you manage a team, everybody is on their best behavior. The second and third year? They know you and you know them. Then you find out.”
• Does he have a feel for his players yet? “I’ve only been here a week. I got to spend time with Dusty, too.”• Does he have a feel for his players yet? “I’ve only been here a week. I got to spend time with Dusty, too.”
• Should Harper be expected to be a team leader at age 23? “The last leader that was that young that I can think of was David (pause) in the Bible.”• Should Harper be expected to be a team leader at age 23? “The last leader that was that young that I can think of was David (pause) in the Bible.”
• When he sees a player eating junk food, he says, “You can’t put no low-octane gas in a Maserati.”• When he sees a player eating junk food, he says, “You can’t put no low-octane gas in a Maserati.”
Baker is part of a grand tradition of veteran managers who know exactly what they are saying and why — including the occasional lapse in grammar to make a point or get a laugh. After Williams, Baker is a daily reminder that while leading by our actions sounds noble, the scoreboard for skippers since 1890 is: Words 875,982, Deeds 7.Baker is part of a grand tradition of veteran managers who know exactly what they are saying and why — including the occasional lapse in grammar to make a point or get a laugh. After Williams, Baker is a daily reminder that while leading by our actions sounds noble, the scoreboard for skippers since 1890 is: Words 875,982, Deeds 7.
That skill with language, that tone, helps Baker back up a player in public but also tell him the hard truth, face-to-face, in his office. Baker will become as close to you as you want; he’s already figuring out which players to take fishing. That skill with language, that tone, helps Baker back up a player in public but also tell him the hard truth, face-to-face, in his office. Baker will become as close with you as you want; he’s already figuring out which players to take fishing.
But unlike some “communicators,” he also gives players distance. “I don’t want to learn any more about Bryce Harper than he wants me to learn about him,” Baker said.But unlike some “communicators,” he also gives players distance. “I don’t want to learn any more about Bryce Harper than he wants me to learn about him,” Baker said.
Baker seldom muzzles himself. He trusts who he is and wants to be known, not shielded. Consequently, almost everything he says gives some hint about his theories on managing.Baker seldom muzzles himself. He trusts who he is and wants to be known, not shielded. Consequently, almost everything he says gives some hint about his theories on managing.
For example, like any “player’s manager,” Baker believes deeply in respecting past big-league performance, but he’ll replace a respected vet such as Scott Hatteberg in Cincinnati with fast-arriving rookie Joey Votto. For example, like any “player’s manager,” Baker believes deeply in respecting past big league performance, but he’ll also replace a respected vet such as Scott Hatteberg in Cincinnati with fast-arriving rookie Joey Votto.
Baker’s views on innocence vs. experience became apparent when he was asked, “Is (rookie Wilmer) Difo in camp yet?” Baker’s views on innocence vs. experience became apparent when he was asked, “Is [rookie Wilmer] Difo in camp yet?”
Baker looked like he’s been asked, “Where’s Waldo?” “Man, I don’t know Difo,” Baker said. “You tell me when Difo is in camp.”Baker looked like he’s been asked, “Where’s Waldo?” “Man, I don’t know Difo,” Baker said. “You tell me when Difo is in camp.”
Baker the leader and communicator has never been in doubt. But the Nationals may have to insist, as the Reds did at times, that Baker get up to speed on current theories. He still says the No. 2 spot in the lineup is for “Junior Gilliam or Bill Russell,” somebody who can “drive in a few runs” and “be a double leadoff man.” (Excuse me while I find a quiet place to scream.) Current research points toward using your best overall hitter (who doesn’t have mega-power) at No. 2. Baker the leader and communicator has never been in doubt. But the Nationals may have to insist, as the Reds did at times, that Baker get up to speed on current theories. He still says the No. 2 spot in the lineup is for “Junior Gilliam or Bill Russell,” somebody who can “drive in a few runs” and “be a double leadoff man.” (Excuse me while I find a quiet place to scream.) Current research points toward using your best overall hitter who doesn’t have mega-power at No. 2.
Those who want to debate old-school vs. new-school strategies will have a chance to make mischief with Baker’s occasional go-by-the-gut moves. But, as studies have shown, it takes dozens of in-game decisions by a manager to amount to one game’s worth of difference in the standings.Those who want to debate old-school vs. new-school strategies will have a chance to make mischief with Baker’s occasional go-by-the-gut moves. But, as studies have shown, it takes dozens of in-game decisions by a manager to amount to one game’s worth of difference in the standings.
That’s part of the reason assistant GM Bob Boone, a former manager, says, “It’s not so much how you run a game. It’s how you run a clubhouse that makes the big difference… Dusty (in that regard) reminds me of Joe Maddon and Joe Torre.” That’s part of the reason assistant GM Bob Boone, a former manager with the Reds and Royals, says, “It’s not so much how you run a game. It’s how you run a clubhouse that makes the big difference. . . . Dusty [in that regard] reminds me of Joe Maddon and Joe Torre.”
[Dusty Baker hopes to go out on top with the Nationals][Dusty Baker hopes to go out on top with the Nationals]
The Nationals’ clubhouse, if Baker has his way, will resemble Davey Johnson’s. They’ll be somewhat cocky, an attitude that has rubbed some foes wrong in recent years.The Nationals’ clubhouse, if Baker has his way, will resemble Davey Johnson’s. They’ll be somewhat cocky, an attitude that has rubbed some foes wrong in recent years.
“My first bubble-gum card said on the back, ‘The fleet-footed cocky outfielder was a long-jumper in high school.’ That upset me. I thought I was just confident,” says Baker, who made the majors with the not-so-good Braves. That baseball card made him reconsider the whole cocky-vs.-confident conundrum.“My first bubble-gum card said on the back, ‘The fleet-footed cocky outfielder was a long-jumper in high school.’ That upset me. I thought I was just confident,” says Baker, who made the majors with the not-so-good Braves. That baseball card made him reconsider the whole cocky-vs.-confident conundrum.
“I thought I could always spot a Dodger player. Good athletic body. Kind of good-looking. And they looked like you couldn’t beat ‘em,” said Baker. “I always thought, ‘How come I’m not over there with them? That’s where I belong.’” “I thought I could always spot a Dodger player. Good, athletic body. Kind of good-looking. And they looked like you couldn’t beat ’em,” said Baker. “I always thought, ‘How come I’m not over there with them? That’s where I belong.’ ”
Then Baker was traded to L.A. where he played in three World Series as a Dodger. So, a team with presence — cockiness, confidence, whatever — suits him fine. Then Baker was traded to L.A., where he played in three World Series as a Dodger. So, a team with presence — cockiness, confidence, whatever — suits him just fine.
“I don’t like a lot of clowning, showing up the other team, but that (look of confidence) doesn’t bother me,” said Baker. “Also, look where this franchise came from — they were the (impoverished) Expos, then they playing in old RFK Stadium (in D.C.). Long before that, the Washington Senators — always bottom dwellers. If that attitude is part of what they needed to become a winner, I understand it. “I don’t like a lot of clowning, showing up the other team, but that [look of confidence] doesn’t bother me,” said Baker. “Also, look where this franchise came from — they were the Expos, then they playing in old RFK Stadium. Long before that, the Washington Senators — always bottom dwellers. If that attitude is part of what they needed to become a winner, I understand it.
“We’re good. We just don’t know how good yet. One time around the league and we’ll know if we need to add something.” “We’re good. We just don’t know how good yet,” Baker said. “One time around the league and we’ll know if we need to add something.”
The formerly fleet-footed and stillcocky Baker looked like he didn’t think his team — you know, Royce and the rest of ‘em — would need to add a great deal. The formerly fleet-footed and still cocky Baker looked like he doesn’t think his team — you know, Royce and the rest of ’em — will need to add much.
For more by Thomas Boswell, visit washingtonpost.com/boswell.For more by Thomas Boswell, visit washingtonpost.com/boswell.