Results tagged ‘ Ryan Zimmerman ’
Night at the Park with Zimmerman
The second annual “A Night at the Park” was held Thursday night at Nationals Park. The event was hosted by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
The event helped raise money to find a treatment and cure for Multiple Sclerosis. There were $63,200 raised at the live auction, which included a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix and the US Open in New York.
During the live auction, Nationals reliever Todd Coffey, one of several teammates on hand, donated $2,200 and won a trip to the Masters Tournament. He received two single-day passes to next year’s Wednesday’s practice round and Par 3 tournament.
There was also a silent auction. People at the event had a chance to acquire Zimmerman’s jersey, Buster Posey’s Rookie of the Year bat, a Shaquille O’Neal-signed basketball and a signed football signed by Eli and Payton Manning.
“We have some interesting things,” Zimmerman said. “There were some great live auction items this year. It’s just going to get better and better each year. Last year was kind of a stepping stone. We learned from it and it was great last year. It shaping up to be a lot better.”
Coffey had his eyes on a framed photo of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. He also wanted to buy a framed picture of singer Justin Bieber for his daughter. It’s not known if Coffey was able to obtain the pictures.
“There are several things I’m looking at right now,” Coffey said. “I’m out there keeping my eye on it — making sure I’m the only bid so I could win,” Coffey said before the auction closed at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The event also feature a special performance from country music star Rodney Atkins, who has a brother-in-law with MS, according to Zimmerman. Atkins sung the fan favorites such as “Cleaning the gun,” “Farmer’s Daughter” and “Watching You.”
“It means a lot to my family that Rodney comes out here and does this,” Zimmerman said.
Nationals Park was transformed into an intimate concert hall for 1,000 guests. A custom stage was built on the outside concourse of the Presidents’ Club with attendees sitting in the Diamond Club seats.
MS is a disease close to Ryan’s heart. In 1995, his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system.
As President of the ziMS Foundation, which he founded in 2006, Zimmerman is excited to give back to his community and find a cure for this debilitating disease. The 2010 “A Night At The Park” raised roughly $200,000 for the ziMS Foundation
“It’s personal with my mom having it,” Zimmerman said. “It’s good to be able to give back. So many people have helped me get where I am now. This is not only for my Mom, we have met a number of families and people who have been affected by this disease. For me to be able to have platform and the resources to give back just a little bit is the least I could do.”
Zimmerman to have rehab assignment in Syracuse
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at 7:00 PM.
The plan is for Zimmerman to play Saturday and Sunday, take the day off Monday and then be taken off the disabled list before the Nationals play against the Cardinals on Tuesday at Nationals Park.
Zimmerman was a combined 6-for-12 (.500) with two RBIs in rehab stint games for Class-A Hagerstown and Class-A Potomac. Zimmerman has been recovering from a torn abdominal muscle and has not appeared in a Major League game since April 9. He underwent surgery on May 3.
Zimmerman has played in eight games with the Nationals this season. He is 10-for-28 [.357] with one home run and four RBIs.
Zimmerman understands Rendon selection
After the Nationals selected third baseman Anthony Rendon with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the question was, what position will he play, since the team already have a third baseman for years to come in Ryan Zimmerman?
There is a strong possibility that Rendon could be switched to second or first base, but the Nationals have not determined their plans.
After playing his second rehab game Monday, Zimmerman said he understood why the Nationals selected a player who plays the same position as he does.
“I better shape up, huh?” Zimmerman asked jokingly. “Obviously the point of the draft is to take the best player available. Whether he’s a shortstop and you have Jose Reyes or he’s a first baseman and you have Albert Pujols, if that’s the best guy, you take him. Talent plays in the big leagues. We’ll see, but I’m sure they have a plan.”
Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list because of an abdominal strain, is currently on a rehab assignment. On Monday, he played for Class A Potomac and went 2-for-3 with a double.
The Nationals are hoping that Zimmerman can be activated from the DL when the Nationals play the Cardinals starting June 14th at Nationals Park.
Hairston: Nats need Zimmerman
The Nationals’ offense has been missing in action all season. Entering Sunday’s game against the D-backs, Washington has a .231 batting average, which ranks 28th in the Major Leagues and is the No. 1 reason its in fifth place, nine games behind the Phillies in the National League East.
Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. doesn’t have to think twice as to why the Nationals haven’t been able to hit on a consistent basis. They miss third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has not played in a Major League game since April 9 because of an abdominal strain.
The Nationals are hoping Zimmerman can be activated from the disabled list during the next homestand, which starts June 14th against the Cardinals at Nationals Park.
With Zimmerman back, it would mean Jayson Werth would have protection in the lineup. Manager Jim Riggleman plans to hit Werth second and Zimmerman third.
“When you are missing your best player, that can kind of hurt you a little bit,’ Hairston said. “[Zimmerman] definitely takes the pressure off the hitters. Having that big guy in the lineup really makes a difference. … At the same time, we don’t have him. We just have to find a way to keep scrapping.”
Once Zimmerman returns to the lineup, Hairston will be back on the bench. Hairston has been the primary third baseman during Zimmerman’s absence.
It remains to be seen if Hairston returns to the outfield. Hairston originally signed with the Nationals to platoon with Rick Ankiel in center field.
Nats’ Zimmerman ready for rehab assignment
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the disabled list because of an abdominal strain, played in his second extended Spring Training game, playing four innings and going 0-for-4.
After the game, Zimmerman went home to Washington DC and will begin a rehab assignment for Class A Hagerstown starting Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The news means that Zimmerman will be a teammate of outfielder Bryce Harper for a few games.
Zimmerman has missed more than a month because of the abdominal problems. He is hoping to return to the Nationals during their next homestand, which starts June 14th against the Cardinals.
Zimmerman eyes Tulowitzki-type contract
A few days after Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $134 million, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said Thursday he would love to sign a similar extension with the Nationals.
However, Zimmerman, who has three years left on a five-year, $45 million contract, said he wants to make sure the Nationals are winning on a consistent basis before considering such a deal. He was not happy that former teammate Adam Dunn agreed to terms with the White Sox.
“[Signing an extension] is something I would want,” Zimmerman said. “I made it clear that I wouldn’t mind playing in Washington for the rest of my career. Obviously, we need to do something to prove that we are going to try win championships here for the next 10 years. I have no doubt that the front office will do that. It’s one of the reasons I signed the first deal. It’s one reason I would sign a deal like Tulo signed.”
Zimmerman, 26, and Tulowitzki were selected fourth and seventh, respectively, in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft and have become close friends over the years.
“I’m really happy for Tulo,” Zimmerman said. “We have known each other since college. We played on Team USA together, we were drafted the same year and we are pretty close friends. He is recognized as the best shortstop the last two years.
“It’s funny the deal happened. As soon as it happened, people ask me if it’s going to happen to me. We has similar careers, the numbers are almost identical for our careers. If you ask me if I would take a similar deal, I would say 99.9 percent that I would take that deal.”
Zimmerman sad to see Dunn leave Nationals
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said Thursday that he is happy for first baseman Adam Dunn, who agreed to a four-year deal with the White Sox. However, Zimmerman acknowledged that he is concerned about the Nationals. How are they going replace Dunn in the lineup?
It was Dunn who protected Zimmermann in the lineup. Zimmerman will be the first to say that he was able to win the Silver Slugger Award the last two seasons because Dunn was hitting behind him in the lineup.
“I’m very concerned. I think these are supposed to be the years we take a step forward and become more competitive,” Zimmerman said via phone. “We are supposed to be becoming a team that goes out and gets more free agents. To not be able to sign the best free agent that was on your team to begin with is tough. … It’s going to be hard to replace someone [like Dunn] that is in the middle of the order. I hope — just like everyone hopes – that the front office has a plan in place in the next week or two when all this stuff goes on. Hopefully, this will all makes sense.”
While no one questioned Dunn’s ability as a hitter, there were questions about his defense. People in the Nationals’ front office believed he was a defensive liability, but Zimmermann argues that that Dunn was better than what people believed. Zimmerman indicated that Dunn improved at first base by the second half of the 2010 season.
“Adam is the most one of the most underrated players in the game,” Zimmerman said. “Defensively, I think a lot of people think back to when he was in the outfield. He will be the first to tell you that he wasn’t a very good outfielder. He moved to first. I think the second half of last year he started to get better.
“My biggest comparison is Ryan Howard, who I love to death, but Ryan Howard had one more error than Adam Dunn last year, You never hear anyone talk about Ryan Howard’s defense. If you put Adam Dunn in the Phillies lineup, his offense is going to be as good as his. All of a sudden, you have the same player and Ryan Howard makes $25 million a year.”
Zimmerman is aware that the Nationals have a plan in place, trying to replace Dunn with free agents such as Carlos Pena or Adam LaRoche. They could even trade for a first baseman like James Loney. But Zimmerman still wonders if it was worth letting Dunn sign with the White Sox.
“I think myself, including the fans and a lot of other people, are wondering and hoping that the plan is there,” Zimmerman said. “If it’s not there, this is something we are going to look back on and think, ‘Why didn’t we take care of [Dunn]?’ “:
Zimmerman wants to win, but understands process
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has played with the Nationals since late 2005 and watched the team finish in sixth place every year except for 2007.
While he doesn’t like to lose, Zimmerman said he understands that the Nationals are trying to build a team through the farm system.
“Nobody like losing, but it’s a process here,” Zimmerman said. “We have a young team. It’s hard to compete day in and day out with teams that have veteran guys. We are learning here. Do I think we have enough to win? Of course.
“A lot of these guys are learning to play every day in the big leagues. It’s not an easy place to learn. It’s a hard thing to learn how to be consistent and be successful every day. It’s a fun team to be on because I get to watch it happen like I had to go through. We are in that process now. Nobody likes to lose.”
Nationals make two sparkling defensive plays
The Nationals are one of the worst defensive teams in baseball this season, but they made two sparkling gems during Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Marlins.
In the fifth inning, with runners on first and third, two outs and Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis on the mound, Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison hit a shot up the middle that looked like a base hit. But second baseman Danny Espinosa made a great diving play and threw out Morrison for the final out of the inning.
“That was great play,” Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. “The range to get it and then the arm to finish it off was tremendous. I don’t know what more you could do there.”
A natural shortstop, Espinosa sounded like a person who doesn’t need to make adjustments at second base. Espinosa didn’t start playing the position until after the All-Star break.
“I’m trying to feel more comfortable everyday over there to make my routine plays. It makes me feel better,” Espinosa said.
In the sixth inning, the Nationals were able to turn a great double play. With no outs and a runner on first, Dan Uggla hit what looked like a routine groundball to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who booted the ball, but manage to throw out Uggla at first base.
At the same time, Hanley Ramirez didn’t stop at second and decided to go to third. Luckily for the Nationals, shortstop Ian Desmond was covering third as first baseman Adam Dunn threw out Ramirez for the double play.
“I saw that he didn’t stop at second,” Desmond said about Ramirez. “I just knew to run to third. That’s the way they teach you to do it. I ran to third, hoping that Dunn was going to throw it and he did.”
Nats tidbits for Sunday
The Nationals still want a veteran starting pitcher, but don’t expect general manager Mike Rizzo to look hard for one on the free-agent market. In fact, the club is waiting for free-agent pitchers to come to them at the right price.
So don’t look for the Nationals to break the bank for pitchers such as right-hander John Smoltz or left-hander Jarrod Washburn.
“During the early part of the winter, we made sure we got things done,” Rizzo said. “I made sure we had a Major League veteran starter [Jason Marquis], Major League catcher [Ivan Rodriguez] and improved the bullpen [Matt Capps, Brian Bruney and Eddie Guardado]. We took care of that.
“I think during the second half of the offseason we are going to let a little bit of that come to us. We do think there is a surplus of people out there … that we are talking about. There is nobody … out there on the pitching market that is a difference maker.”
* Center fielder Nyjer Morgan acknowledged that he needs to improve his batting average against left-handed pitching. Last season, for example, the left-handed hitting Morgan hit .175 with a homer and 12 RBIs against southpaws.
“I’ll try to figure something out — if it’s a little adjustment,” Morgan said. “I’ll make something happen. Last year was probably my worst year of hitting lefties. Like I said, you got to take your lumps but you learn off your mistakes and you try to get better off your mistakes.”
* Right-hander Craig Stammen said he is willing to be a starter or reliever in 2010, but he is going into Spring Training believing that he will be a starter. Stammen said his right elbow is 100 percent after having bone spurs removed toward the end of the season.
* The Nationals displayed Ryan Zimmerman’s first Gold Glove at NatsFest. It was obvious that he was pleased to get the award.
“Defense is an important part of the game. It’s a part of the game that is overlooked,” he said. Everyone loves offense, home runs and everything. You have to be able to play defense and work hard for that, too. I take a lot of pride in that.”
The Rocket
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