WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Last week, Dusty Baker for the first time publicly acknowledged he would like the Nationals to extend his contract beyond 2017 before the season started. It wasn’t a surprising admission. Managers would much prefer to not have the lame duck cloud hanging over them.
“We’re not going to talk about Dusty Baker’s extension,” Rizzo said Friday. “It’s not going to be a distraction. Dusty Baker’s got a reputation and an aura that precedes any length of contracts. He’s our manager. He’s a great manager, one of the best in the game. And with his energy and the way he’s feeling, he’s capable of managing well beyond this season.”
The Nationals’ brief history, of course, includes a couple contract snafus with managers. In June 2011, Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned after a win because the team wouldn’t extend his contract. And in October 2015, Bud Black agreed to replace Matt Williams, but was offended by the Nationals’ initial offer and contract talks broke down over the course of a weekend. Baker was the next choice and agreed to a two-year contract worth $4 million.
The 67-year-old Baker is entering his 22nd season as a manager on his fourth club. His 1,766 wins are 17th all-time, but he has yet to win a World Series title in the role.
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Max Scherzer has made some progress since saying he wasn’t sure whether he’d be ready for Opening Day because of the stress fracture in a knuckle in his right ring finger, but obstacles remain. He still can’t throw a fastball without pain and won’t throw any during his bullpen Saturday. But he can use the rest of his arsenal without discomfort and throwing a bullpen is progress regardless.
With that, Rizzo was asked if he is confident Scherzer will be ready for Opening Day. His answer? “Yes.”
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While Scherzer is throwing his bullpen at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, some of his teammates will be 45 minutes north in Port St. Lucie opening the Nationals’ Grapefruit League schedule against the Mets. Gio Gonzalez is scheduled to start the game on the mound and the batting order — with Trea Turner leading off followed by Adam Eaton, Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper — perhaps offers a glimpse into what the club’s brass believes is their best configuration at the top. Or maybe it’s just the first game of the spring and it’s irrelevant.
“Don’t read anything into it,” Baker said. “It’s just I wanted to get certain guys at-bats early in the game. They’ll probably go 4-5 [innings] or 2-3 at-bats so hopefully they get to get their at-bats in the first, third and maybe the fifth so that’s the main reason to get them at-bats early in the game. I think we’re seeing a whole bunch of lefties tomorrow. There’s nothing more than certain guys feel they are ready to play.”
