Fire Dusty Baker!

[Slateman]

Sink. And when it's not sinking...

Not really. In 2014, he didn't have a substantial ground ball rate. He's really not a ground ball pitcher. David Price had a similar GB rate, and I wouldnt call him a sinkerballer.

Roark, when he's successful, lives on the corners and uses deception to get batters out. In 2014, he was masterful with his two seamer, getting it to come back over that left corner, and then working his offsleed in. His pitches look similar coming out of his hand. His strength has always been locating, mixing speeds, and outsmarting hitters.

He isn't locating anymore. His two seamed sits up and over the plate and he struggles to throw his breaking stuff for strikes.

[whytev]

If he was getting the OBP he was 2/3 years ago, sure, but why the hell would anyone not give him meat right now? He's awful.

To not walk him for Rendon/Harper/Zimmerman?

[whytev]

MurphDawg should be at two, but Rendon is nice there too. I wouldn't mind Tony Two Bags/Murph/Harp/Zimm till Revere gets back. Not ideal, but better than the garbage Werth/MAT are putting out there right now

Split the lefties.  Murphy/Rendon/Harper/Zimmerman/Ramos/Werth/Taylor/Espinosa would be tasty.

[whytev]

My nephew-in-law and I were talking about the NL figuring out Roark's stuff.    This may be who he is.

If Roark is this bad, Scherzer must be terrible!

[PC]

There is no ideal lineup with Taylor and Werth in it but I'd go.

Rendon
Murphy
Harper
Zimmerman
Ramos
Espinosa
Taylor
Werth

...and then start a pool for who gets a hit first, Taylor or Werth. My money's on none of the above.

[Optics]

I kinda like the idea of Werth hitting leadoff. Maybe that'll energize him. At the very worst, he'll at least take a few more pitches then Taylor before inevitably going out.

[Squab]

I'd love to put Werth up there and tell him to waste as many pitches as possible. He's pretty good at fouling off pitches, try and make them throw 10 per at bat.

[imref]

as much as I like having speed at the top of the lineup, the OBP and pitches seen per AB make Werth the top guy for the job until Revere is healthy or someone else (den Dekker?) shows they can do it.

[skippy1999]

Didn't Werth do a fairly decent job when he was leadoff hitter for a brief time last year, or am I mindfacting that?

[imref]

Didn't Werth do a fairly decent job when he was leadoff hitter for a brief time last year, or am I mindfacting that?

Nationals Arms Race notes:

"he sees a ton of pitches (4.16 P/PA last year, which would make him top 10 if he qualified … and that’s WAY down from normal).  Great OBP (.365 for his career, and while 2015 was an aberration the three years before he was in the .380 to .390+ range), and when he was coming back from his wrist injury and batting lead-off for the team in 2012 his splits batting lead-off were fantastic (.309/.388/.450)."

Career batting leadoff: .278 / .363 / .452

[PebbleBall]

Didn't Werth do a fairly decent job when he was leadoff hitter for a brief time last year, or am I mindfacting that?

21 games, .318/.388/.580

[dcpatti]

I'm a big fan of Werth in that Leadoff spot. When the Leadoff guy sees a lot of pitches, all the guys behind him get to see what the pitcher has that day too. Plus get those pitch counts up early!  He's definitely showing signs of age but I think he can still be a valuable part of the lineup.

[Smithian]

I think Werth should be hitting up top. He still will give some OBP and take pitches plus with Rendon, Harper, and Zim coming up teams will give him pitches to hit.

Our center fielder needs to get going. Looks like Tarzan, played like Tarzan is spring, and now is back to playing like Jane. I want to believe he can be a stud and not just a defensive 4th OF who is a threat to put one over the fence as a pinch hitter.

[HalfSmokes]

I think Werth should be hitting up top. He still will give some OBP and take pitches plus with Rendon, Harper, and Zim coming up teams will give him pitches to hit.

Our center fielder needs to get going. Looks like Tarzan, played like Tarzan is spring, and now is back to playing like Jane. I want to believe he can be a stud and not just a defensive 4th OF who is a threat to put one over the fence as a pinch hitter.

His obp is above 0, so better than MAT, but probably still not ideal for leadoff

[varoadking]

Ray is reading WNFF...

[Natsinpwc]

Ray is reading WNFF...

I had the same thought. Going off on you all who want to switch the lineup around. I hope he gets Dusty to read it also.

[Slateman]

Likes the stolen base

[nfotiu]

I like Duary Baker.  I didn't think I would.  Granted, I didn't stay up watching many (any?) Giants games.  He is very thoughtful in all his post game analyses compared to Matt Williams who came across as a manager who consulted "Managing Major League Baseball Teams for Dummies" for every decision and every press conference question.  He's made some cunning in game decisions that demonstrated thoughtfulness (I don't think Matt even made one thoughtful decision in his term here), he's managed the SP and bullpen well, and definitely seems to have created a positive, winning vibe in the clubhouse.

I have a lot of respect for Rizzo's baseball smarts, but he has generally failed when it comes to picking managers.  So, I don't know if this was an accidental good hire, or if he is getting better... but I like the hire so far.. a lot.

[imref]

Gio:

"It's crazy how it is when a manager lets you pitch more than three innings," Gonzalez said. "When your manager believes in you so much. I'm just happy to see has all the confidence in the world to let me pitch. I've been doing this for quite a while. I'm just grateful that he believes in me every inning and he lets me go out there and become the pitcher I am. I'm glad he's giving me a little more rope."

[tzinc]

dusty haters can hate on him all they want but in the end he keeps winning major league ball games

[JCA-CrystalCity]

dusty haters can hate on him all they want but in the end he keeps winning major league ball games

The guy has been a manager what, close to 20 years, maybe more? He seems to learn, which should not be surprising since he's human.  I think he may have earned some skepticism at times, but he seems to have enough confidence to admit errors, change his ways, listen to input, surround himself with good coaches, and encourage his players rather than undermine them.

[Smithian]

Dusty Baker is an old school baseball guy who has adopted just enough new age ideas like defensive shifts to stay relevant. This team has a ton of talent. He is under the philosophy of our Jimmy's are better than our opponents' Joe's. I like that. Don't out think ourselves. Go out and play ball.

Doesn't help Mike Maddux has been awesome. I wasn't a McCatty hater but Maddux has been a big time addition for our staff.

[Squab]

It's obviously early blah blah, but his history shows how important being a good people manager is for managing a baseball team. He's a pretty average tactician but the emotional part of the game and his soft skills are off the charts.

[aussienatsfan]

bumping this today, Dusty was at fault for the L, papsmear imploded, after the game was tied he should have been gone. or after the royals got 1st and third with 2 out. terrible

[zimm_da_kid]

once revere gets back and Turner is up, I hope the lineup is as follows:

CF Revere
3B Rendon
RF Harper
C  Ramos (Imagine what he could do with protection.  When was the last time he was healthy and had protection?)
2B Murphy
1B Zimmerman
SS Turner
LF Werth (his passive approach is perfect for the 8 spot)