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Washington Nationals
Location: Washington, D.C. | Ballpark: Nationals Park (41,222) | Spring Training: Viera, Fla.
Managing Principal Owner: Theodore N. Lerner | GM: Mike Rizzo | Manager: Jim Riggleman (interim) | World Championships: 0
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Nationals report: Inside pitch
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Inside pitch · Notes, quotes · Roster
 

 

It may have been a wretched season for the Nationals as a team, but for Ryan Zimmerman, 2009 represented a major breakthrough.

Washington's young third baseman flourished in his fourth big-league season, both at the plate and in the field, earning his first All-Star Game berth and setting himself up to win his first Gold Glove award. Zimmerman set career highs in home runs (33), hits (178), runs (110), batting average (.292) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.888). His 30-game hit streak in April and May was the longest in the majors all year.

Now Zimmerman must prove his fabulous season wasn't a fluke and must establish himself as one of the sport's best players year in and year out.

The 25-year-old has the right attitude to do it. He never made a point to flaunt his own personal success, not with the team struggling through its second consecutive 100-loss season. He also knows he remains an unfinished product and can become more consistent at the plate and in the field.

But overall, the Nationals are very happy with the way their top pick in the 2005 draft has panned out. Zimmerman signed a five-year, $55 million contract extension in April at a time when he had yet to prove himself as an elite big-league player.

By the end of the 2009 season, no one was questioning Zimmerman's elite status anymore.

Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 

Washington Nationals Message Board
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 25, 2006

October 2, 2009 11:02 am
(POLL) Should the Nationals retain Jim Riggleman as Manager in 2010?

Comments anyone?

Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 15, 2008

October 27, 2009 8:37 pm
***Mark McGwire's Five-Step Approach To Hitting***
The Mac is back!  Big Mac, Mark McGwire is back with the Cardinals to be their hitting coach.  McGwire has always been a fan favorite in St. Louis, but it’s almost a written fact that he t
...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jun 17, 2009

August 31, 2009 11:33 am
(POLL) As an angry Met fan, I am having a disagreement with one of my friends, and a local radio station. I believe the Nationals have a brighter future than the Mets. The Nats have Strasburg, Adam Dunn, ...(more)
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:May 22, 2009

September 25, 2009 2:58 am
I don't follow baseball, but did see that you lost to the Dodgers tonight.  Will the Nationals be a World Series contender next year?
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 23, 2008

September 23, 2009 8:41 pm
Bryce Harper with the #1 pick?  Do you think they will be able to afford the contract he would want?   I know both of our team's are very pathetic right now, but hey...we have to get excited about something right?   I'm not sure about the Nationals, but the Pirat ...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 21, 2008

July 18, 2009 9:32 pm
Seriously no fans deserve a team where ownership just doesn't care about the franchise. "Developing our own players" is a garbage excuse considering there isn't much young talent on the team or in the farm system. Look at this team. Mid-July and not even THIRTY wins yet, something most teams have accomplished by early June. Yes I know the Yanke ...(more)
Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:May 21, 2009

August 27, 2009 3:08 pm
This is from a Cub fan, your team can sure hit the ball. With the pitching that should come along for your team, I see your team passing the Mets. They are on a downturn with all the injurys, front office and Mgr. problems they will not be a bother to anyone next season. Mr. Dukes, your right fielder is one big fuse waiting to go off though ...(more)
Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 27, 2006

August 26, 2009 12:31 pm
The Nats seem to be determined not to get the first pick in the draft next year.   A once seemingly insurmountable lead has fallen steadily during August.  The Nats have gone 13-10 and KC has closed the gap to a mere 3.5 games by going 6-17.   With only 39 games to go, can the Nats really waste this bad a season by ...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 10, 2007

July 5, 2009 9:13 pm
As a lifelong Reds fan, I really enjoyed watching Adam Dunn crush homers over the last 8 seasons. Now that he is gone and crushing them in Washington, I was hoping to see him as the Nationals representitive at ...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 21, 2008

July 31, 2009 11:46 pm
Hey Nats fans! I have been watching the Nats for a little more than a year now. I am a life long Dodgers fan. I like the Nationals and think they do have some hidden young talent. Looking at this team comparing it to others it seems the players have little stability and therefore not ...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 3, 2008

August 19, 2009 1:33 pm

The Nats cannot be serious here. Rizzo has done nothing but good for this franchise and helping to change the culture of losing that is associated with the team. I'm sure Dipoto is a nice guy but look at what Rizzo created in Arizona and how that organization has fallen somewhat since his departure. Not a Nats fan here, but I do want to see them suceed and I am just confused by what I perceive ...(more)

Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 23, 2006

August 16, 2009 8:47 pm

Man, that Rob Dibble and his mouth.  Today the Nats Manager tried a squeeze play and the batter, via natural reaction, ducked because the ball came in right at his head!  Dibble made the comment that the batter should have done anything including let the ball hit him to protect the runner.  Dibble keeps on making comments about hitting.  What in the world does he know ...(more)

Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 30, 2008

July 31, 2009 5:27 am
ok so how long until this team goes under and has to move again? i mean come on! who builds a brand new ballpark in SE DC? haha. did they seriously have plans that the ballpark would clean up that part of town? in theory it might work but not for another 15 years. if they were smart the park would have been built in northern va close to dullus airport, then they might sell more then 15 tickets per ...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 10, 2009

July 14, 2009 11:59 am

From The Washington Times' National Pastime

 

There's a lot of blame to be spread around for the ...(more)

Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 3, 2007

July 15, 2009 12:33 pm
Hey Nationals fans, big Pirate fan here, and I was just wondering what you guys thought of this upcoming draft where you will most likely have the #1 pick and can get the next A-Rod in Bryca Harper.  If this happens you will have two of the most highly-touted prospects in decades.  Strausburg and Harper can turn any team around wi ...(more)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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