Washington Nationals Rapid Reactions: Ryan Zimmerman’s Still Got It
By Matt Weyrich
Ryan Zimmerman may have only played in 91 games this season, but when he’s hot, there may not be a better hitter in the Washington Nationals’ (67-65) lineup (save for maybe Bryce Harper). In the Nats’ 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night, Zim went 3-4 with two home runs, a double, and three RBIs. On the season, he is only hitting .237/.301/.459, his lowest batting average of any season in his eleven-year career. However, games like Wednesday night’s give Nats fans a glimpse of what Mr. Walk Off can really do. With two home runs last night, he has seven home runs in his ten games.
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Zimmerman’s second home run of the night came in the 6th inning off Cardinals’ starter Tyler Lyons. This 404-foot blast was his 200th homer of his career, putting him at 318th on the all-time home run list. Every single one of those long balls came with a Nationals uniform, putting him first on the Nats’ franchise record list. The Face of the Franchise does not just hold one team record however, he is also the Nats’ team leader in nearly every offensive category there is. Some of these include batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, runs scored, RBIs, and extra base hits.
As the Nats enter the final month of the season, playoff chances are looking slim in Washington. The Nationals sit 6.5 games back of the New York Mets in the National League East and eight games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Race. Between injuries, poor bullpen management, and overall lack of production on the field, the Nats have kicked themselves right out of the playoff race. While that may be the case, Washington fans still have another month of baseball to watch guys like Ryan Zimmerman do their thing out on the field.
If you are the optimistic type of fan, then the rest of this article is for you. If the Nats are still in it, then guys like Zimmerman need to stay hot and carry this team. This offense has barely stayed afloat amidst what has been a trainwreck of a season. If Zim’s bat, while being supported by the rest of the lineup, can take ahold of this offense, then the Nats are still in this thing. With guys like Harper, Anthony Rendon, and Yunel Escobar, the potential is there. It is now up to the players to perform. Whether or not you think this season is salvageable or not, hopefully they’ll be able to put on a show.
Next: Recap: Ryan Zimmerman Carries Team To 4-3 Victory Over Cardinals