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Ryan Zimmerman
Zim lands on DL but still involved
- I might be on the disabled list for a while longer, but I’m still with the team all the time. I made the nine-game road trip to Pittsburgh, Seattle and Minnesota that just ended yesterday. It was fun, but we all wish we could have won at least one game in Minnesota and finished with a winning record. Any time you can find a way to do that on the road you feel good about things.
The bobblehead curse of 2008?
- Maybe there is some kind of curse going around. Because I’m still on the disabled list with my shoulder injury, I didn’t get a chance to play last Thursday when the Nationals gave out my very first bobblehead doll to our fans.
Reflections from the bench
- I’ve had the chance to watch our games from a little different perspective the last couple of days because of a minor shoulder injury. It’s something that every player has to go through at some point. You want to be out there for key at-bats. Every hitter loves that challenge. At the same time, I trust my teammates — Aaron Boone played third base for us on Tuesday and hit a two-run homer — and there’s no reason to jeopardize the rest of the season to play a couple of extra games in late May.
On matters of media, honesty is my policy
- Before and after every game, a baseball player at some point will deal with members of the media. There are newspaper reporters who cover the team on a daily basis. There are television reporters who need a quick sound bite. Or maybe the broadcast crews want to talk. All of these people are in the clubhouse a few hours before the first pitch, on the field during batting practice and back after the game.
High school pressure helps create success
- As a professional athlete you face pressure situations a lot. Sometimes you come through and other times you don’t. But by the time you reach the major leagues you pretty much know how well you cope.
Back on track
- Our team feels like it is back on track after the 8-3 homestand we put together last week. Probably the biggest part of that success is how well our starting pitchers are performing.
Still new, but it feels more like home
- Our team is right in the middle of our second full homestand at Nationals Park. To tell you the truth, I think the new stadium is better than any of us expected. We walked onto the field for the first time a few days before Opening Night and it really had that wow factor. You can see it in pictures. But nothing is ever as good as the first time you see a new stadium in person. It really is night and day. Last year we kind of looked forward to going on the road because those parks were usually nicer than what we had at home.
- Our team is right in the middle of our second full homestand at Nationals Park. To tell you the truth, I think the new stadium is better than any of us expected. We walked onto the field for the first time a few days before Opening Night and it really had that wow factor. You can see it in pictures. But nothing is ever as good as the first time you see a new stadium in person. It really is night and day. Last year we kind of looked forward to going on the road because those parks were usually nicer than what we had at home.
Offseason is a time to get away from the everyday grind
- For the first couple weeks after the season you just relax. I go home for a little bit, play a couple of charity golf tournaments and I won’t work out for the first two or three weeks after the season. And I don’t do any baseball stuff until almost into December and maybe even later than that.
Playing for pride, future teammates
- It should be a fun last three days at RFK Stadium. To have National League East rivals like the Mets, Braves and Phillies come in for the final homestand has been exciting for all of us because every single game feels like it’s the postseason.
RFK holds special memories, but looking forward to new stadium
- Our team starts the final homestand of the season tonight at RFK Stadium with a series against Atlanta before we finish with New York and Philadelphia. It should be an interesting 10 days since it’s also the last time we’ll play there. Speaking as a hitter, it will be nice to move into the new stadium next year and have a friendlier hitting environment. I’d be lying if I said I’d rather spend another year in RFK. But at the same time I’ve had a lot of great moments here during my short career. Those are the things I’ll remember most.
Nats have chance to play spoiler
- It is always hard when you play the last month of the season and your team is not in the playoff race anymore. But I still think this is the most fun time of year. Even if we can’t make it there is always a chance to spoil it, for the other teams in the National League East.
Preparing for road trips wears on players
- We have been in Houston since Monday and last night finished a four-game series. This is our longest road trip of the season and the travel can really wear on a player sometimes. Not that we complain about it, too much. But you have to prepare yourself for it so it doesn’t take too big of a toll.
- We have been in Houston since Monday and last night finished a four-game series. This is our longest road trip of the season and the travel can really wear on a player sometimes. Not that we complain about it, too much. But you have to prepare yourself for it so it doesn’t take too big of a toll.
Nats looking to finish in front of the Fish
- Yes, we’re paying attention to the Florida Marlins, just for fun. Nobody wants to finish last, so we’re looking at the papers to see the standings and how close we are to them. Nobody wants to finish fourth, either, but that would be a mental victory for us. Everyone thought we would be so horrible this year so it’s nice to surprise people and prove them wrong.
- Yes, we’re paying attention to the Florida Marlins, just for fun. Nobody wants to finish last, so we’re looking at the papers to see the standings and how close we are to them. Nobody wants to finish fourth, either, but that would be a mental victory for us. Everyone thought we would be so horrible this year so it’s nice to surprise people and prove them wrong.
