Under Dusty Baker’s leadership, everything going Washington’s way

10:40 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Dusty Baker knows about not gripping your club too tight.

When it comes to handling his team, the 66-year-old skipper, who was hired by the Washington Nationals this past offseason to replace the tightly-wound Matt Williams, is about as chill as they come.

He watches from the dugout with a toothpick dangling from his bottom lip. He dances during batting practice when the mood strikes him. He turns potentially mundane news conferences into stand-up comedy with a disarming brand of I-am-what-I-am candor.

And on Sunday, he gave Bryce Harper the day off.

While that last one may not sound too difficult, put yourself in Baker’s size-14 shoes. The best player on your team also happens to be the best player in the game, a freak of nature who won the MVP last year and looks like he’s planning on doing so again. Your team has spent the first three weeks of the season steamrolling its way to the best record in the league, led by said best player in the game.

Nationals skipper Dusty Baker gave Bryce Harper the day off on Sunday. Why? … Greg Fiume/Getty Images

It obviously ain’t broke, so why bother fixing it?

It’s not like Harper’s a 30-something vet who needs the occasional breather to keep the engine running smoothly. He’s 23 years old, all fifth gear and gas. He’s the same age as the Orioles’ Manny Machado, who last year was the only big leaguer to play in all 162 games.

It’s not like Sunday afternoon’s Twins tilt was a day game after a night game. Nope, this was a day game after a day game. Business as usual.

It’s not as if Harper was hurting, like he was last year when he got his first day off on May 30 after playing in 48 straight to start the season.

But despite all that, and despite the fact the Nats have a scheduled day off on Monday, Harper spent the entirety of Washington’s series finale with the Twins — just the Nationals’ 18th game of the season — patrolling the pine.

Actually, that’s not true. He didn’t get the whole day off — only the first eight and a half innings. In the bottom of the ninth, with Washington trailing 4-3, Baker called on Harper to pinch hit to lead off the inning.

All Harper did was send a 96 mph heater from Kevin Jepsen over the center-field wall. Which, naturally, was followed by full-throated chants of “M-V-P.” …

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