Among Dusty Baker’s assessment strategies is the stealth pat. When encountering one of his players in the offseason, after their time of rest and into the start of their winter training, Baker will put out a hand in greeting, giving a test of the back, maybe a brush of the belly. The Washington Nationals manager is conducting an informal body-fat index test to obtain first hints about who remained in shape and who has increased intake levels from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
He was happy last weekend at Nationals Winterfest, where he saw a svelte Max Scherzer, an in-shape Stephen Strasburg and well-proportioned Tanner Roark.