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Zimmerman gets well-earned rest
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Zimmerman
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Nationals notebook
Date published: 5/5/2008
BY RICH CAMPBELL
WASHINGTON-- Cal Ripken, Jr.'s consecutive games played record is safe--at least from Ryan Zimmerman's pursuit.
The Washington Nationals' third baseman was granted his request for a day off yesterday, ending his streak of 205 consecutive games. It was the second-longest active streak behind Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur (365).
"It's such a mental grind that if you can get a day off where you don't have to pick up a bat or think about anything, you come back the next day and you're just refreshed," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman will actually have two days off in a row because the Nationals don't play today. They are flying to Houston this evening to begin a three-game series tomorrow. Manager Manny Acta targeted yesterday's game as an off-day for Zimmerman because of the extended rest.
"We decided during spring training that he's going to have a few days off this year," Acta said. "So it's not going to be the last one."
Zimmerman, 23, began his streak on Sept. 19, 2006. He said he is suffering from normal bruises and scrapes but no serious injuries. He is batting .217 this season, though, and has solidified his reputation as a slow starter.
His defense, meanwhile, has been characteristically strong. His .978 fielding percentage is tied with Troy Glaus' among regular National League third basemen.
Zimmerman said players joked with him about falling short of Ripken's record of 2,632 consecutive games played, a record that he said "will never be broken." In fact, Zimmerman would have had to play every game for more than 15 additional seasons to surpass Ripken.
Zimmerman took some good-natured grief from starting pitcher Tim Redding in the clubhouse before the game.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Redding asked.
young off to florida
First baseman Dmitri Young departed Nationals Park yesterday morning and left for the team's spring training complex in Viera, Fla., to intensify his lower back rehabilitation and begin baseball activities in earnest.
Young has played in only two games this season and is currently on the 15-day disabled list.
"It has been a pained vacation, not a paid vacation," he said.
Young experienced a breakthrough in his recovery on Wednesday when a team massage therapist alleviated his lower back pain by massaging his hip flexor, which is located on the front of his upper leg. Afterwards, the team cancelled his appointment at the Mayo Clinic and bought him a plane ticket to Florida.
Young will continue to receive massage therapy while he is in Florida. He hopes to begin playing in extended spring training games as soon as possible, but he declined to set any timetable for his recovery.
EXTRA BASES
The pitching staff that helped stake Single-A Potomac to a 19-9 start has been broken up by several promotions. Starter Jordan Zimmermann (3-1, 1.65 ERA) and reliever Zech Zinicola (2-0, 0.00) have been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg, joining starter Cory VanAllen, who was promoted earlier in the week.
Yesterday's crowd of 30,564 brought the average attendance for the 11-game homestand to 30,622. In 18 home games at Nationals Park, Washington has averaged 29,671 fans, a pace of 2.4 million for the season. Major League Baseball measures attendance by tickets sold.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
Date published: 5/5/2008
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