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My teammate Austin Kearns also made the trip even though he’s still on the disabled list after elbow surgery. But really it’s just nice for both of us to be around the guys. Nick Johnson would have come, too, except he had to get the cast taken off his injured wrist. When the team is on the road like that, I could probably continue to do the rehabilitation exercises for my shoulder as easily at home. But sitting around watching the games on television is tough. You always feel like you could be out there helping.
Injuries have hit us hard. The only good thing is that we’re still a young team and other younger players have had a chance to gain some confidence. Guys like Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Jesus Flores want to be good players in this league. How they develop is a big part of what kind of team we’re going to be in a few years.
When you’re put in a different position — like having to carry the load on offense with so many people hurt — it challenges you to become better. You can see their confidence growing, especially Jesus. No one really saw him doing this well before the season. But he’s proving he belongs in the big leagues. You learn a lot about your team on a long road trip like that, which is good because we have two more nine-game trips later this summer. But for now it’s nice to be back home.
As told to The Examiner’s Brian McNally.
Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is one of baseball’s rising stars and, at 23, the face of the franchise. Now he’ll share his thoughts with The Examiner’s readers each week throughout the baseball season.



Comments from Examiner Readers
12:37 PM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "High school pressure helps create success"
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1:23 AM MST on Sat., Aug. 25, 2007
re: "Preparing for road trips wears on players"
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11:38 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 22, 2007
re: "Zim still learning on the fly"
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8:12 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 22, 2007
re: "Zim still learning on the fly"
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9:13 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "Tough start has not dampened Nats’ spirits"
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9:09 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "‘Feels like you’re floating around the bases’"
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7:20 PM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007
re: "Clowns to the left, jokers to the right"
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6:01 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 19, 2007
re: "Zimmerman: The hits feel better in the later innings"
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Examiner Reader said:
I really wonder if Zimm writes it or tells the reporters and they put it on paper...Either way I love reading his articles!
4 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I wish my boss would send me on a road trip and pay me what these guys make.
217 agree | 234 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Love reading the articles by Zimm. It's a great way for the fan to get an inside glimpse of the Nats and how the team interacts with one another. The practical jokes on one another crack me up. I guess boys still play around in the locker room...even in the big league.
430 agree | 312 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
we are all very proud of Zimmy here in the DC area. Manny Acta and Lerner are going to field a competitive team a lot sooner than anyone thinks. By 2009 or 10, the Nats are going to be in contention for a pennant. They care a lot about the fans here and it shows.
285 agree | 256 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
As a huge Nats fan, it's hard to see them lose this many games, but it's good to know that the team is still positive.
467 agree | 268 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ryan gives a great look into how it's like when you deliver the game winning hit.
271 agree | 293 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great insight Ryan into what it's like in the clubhouse. It made me laugh!
402 agree | 356 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ryan, thanks for writing this column. We're big fans of and wish you a lot lot luck! I'm curious your take on the element of luck that exists in baseball. I've noticed that you're hitting the ball well but many times it's right at an opposing player. How much of this can you control and how much of this is attributed to luck?
402 agree | 323 disagree
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