Game day routine

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A player’s day begins earlier than you probably think. I like to get to the ballpark earlier than most players, especially those who have families. So for a 7 p.m. game, I’ll get there around 2, hang out and do some extra work.

I’ll often eat lunch at the ballpark, read the paper to see how other guys are doing around the league, maybe get a massage. Then I’ll go hit some flips or off the tee.

Sometimes I’ll lift before a game, for maybe 20 or 30 minutes, and other times I’ll lift after. We usually lift three days and then take a day off. We rotate what we work on when we lift, but every day we do some sort of core work, on my abs or hips, because that twisting action is a huge part of baseball.

I’ll hang out after that, then go onto the field to stretch and get ready for batting practice. We get about five rounds of five pitches, two or three rounds of three pitches and a couple rounds of two pitches. Usually the first few rounds you try to hit the other way and get loose. After that, you swing harder and the last couple rounds are at game speed.

Some guys take a shower after batting practice. I’ll get a sandwich, get dressed and watch some film before we go to the dugout. I’ll watch my at-bats against that night’s starter from the last time he faced me. If he had success, he’ll likely go with the same game plan. If not, then I’ll see what he did against other batters.

I like to see what he throws in certain counts. If a runner is on base, does he always start with offspeed pitches to get ahead or does he come right at you? Does he pitch you away or in tight when you have two strikes?

And sometimes I’ll watch myself just to see real little things, like if I’m getting my foot down in time or am I getting my hands ready early? Those things throw you off because when you’re off, you’re not off by a lot.

Then it’s game time. You don’t get nervous, but you do get a little bit excited and the adrenaline starts going. You can be tired and sluggish, but once you run out there, all that goes away.

As told to The Examiner’s John Keim.

Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is one of baseball’s rising stars and, at 22, the face of the franchise. Now he’ll share his thoughts with The Examiner’s readers each week throughout the baseball season.

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