PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from the Nationals' lineup less than an hour before first pitch of tonight's game against the Phillies after telling manager Davey Johnson his right shoulder was sore.Though Zimmerman insisted he could play, Johnson insisted his star third baseman take the night off. The manager said Zimmerman would return to the lineup for tomorrow's series finale at Citizens Bank Park.
"He wanted to play," Johnson said following a 5-2 victory. "I said: 'Let's just let the thing calm down. We're in a war here. We can lose this battle, but I need you for three games in Atlanta.' They're the ones on top, and we need to put our best foot forward down there. Not that I'm slighting this club, but if we've got a chance to nip this thing in the bud, I'm nipping it in the bud."
Zimmerman spent two weeks on the disabled list earlier this season with inflammation in the AC joint of that shoulder but returned on May 8 and had been swinging a potent bat in recent days. Over his last five games, he's hitting .348 with a homer and three RBI.
He said the soreness he's felt the last two days was not in the same area as the previous injury and downplayed the significance of this day off.
"I think it's just from playing every day again, coming back," Zimmerman said. "It's not even in the same region as the other one. It's just general soreness. I took BP. I did everything I usually do today to play a game, and then Davey just wouldn't let me play. He's the boss, I guess."
Chad Tracy, celebrating his 32nd birthday, started in Zimmerman's place and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
26 comments:
Not liking the secrecy.
Please make it stop. Someone.
Not again. Let's hope it's minor.
Love Zim, but boy is he fragile.
Are we really better off with Tracy at 3d and Lombo in LF? At least with Lombo at 3d we'd have ONE of the two players who was at least moderately suited to the position they were playing.
I know, we'd have Tracy who's completely wrong for the OF, instead of two layers who are just both mediocre at the poditions they're in. Don't mind me, I'm just tryna keep the kids offy lawn.
Maybe Davey wanted to give Zim a blow and give Tracy some reps on his birthday. It does add another left-handed bat to the lineup against Halladay.
Lombo {L{
Harper [L}
Tracy [L]
LaRoch [L}
Desmond [R]
Espinosa [L]
Flores [R]
Zimmermann [R]
He was 0 for 4 last night with 2 strikeouts but he looked OK at the plate. I don't remember any diving catches. Boy, is this worrisome.
@needham_Chris: Waiting for some genius to propose Stras to closer to save innings, w Wang in rotation.
Okay ... that's a good one ... LOL ... still Stras has the stuff to close ... and it would limit his innings making him available for the post-season should they get there? It is something to ponder ...
Hmmm... this is frustrating and starting to remind me of a player the O's had a few years back. David Segui was good but never really as adominant as his stats because he was a frequent no show in the lineup.
Here's hoping Zim can shake the injury bug.
I don't think it's an injury. I think this is one of those we are never going to get a straight answer about. Maybe he was just hungover or something. If it was an injury, they wouldn't hide it.
Maybe its as simple as give the birthday boy a start plus he is LH
He did turn his ankle over running the bases the other night......... worry, worry, worry....
If the manager wants to give a starter a blow, he doesn't pull him from the announced lineup one hour before the game. I sniff more shoulder problems. The Nats are famous for sugar coating injuries.
Man , oh man, do I hope you're wrong, phil dunton.
You go, Bryce!
I hope NatsJack has it right. I really do.
Agree w/ NatsJack.
Somebody compared Z-man to David Segui -- apart from the fact I don't think Zimmerman is hurt, I do believe that Segui was the victim of self-medication.
@needham_Chris: Waiting for some genius to propose Stras to closer to save innings, w Wang in rotation.
Section 3, My PFB Hitterish Sofa said...
I think the same could be said for Strasburg -- he seems to get pissed off and lose focus for a few hitters when things don't go his way sometimes, which is death for closers.
May 22, 2012 2:34 PM
Hey, Needham thinks I'm a genius, too!
Wait, that was the wrong post...
Of course, if they moved Strasburg to left field, they'd save his innings for later in the year, and have a spot for another starter. Problem solved!
May 22, 2012 10:07 AM
Hope so. A Goon Squad special.
NatsJack in Florida said...
I'm thinking it's more like.... 1 hour before first pitch.....Tracey.."Man, can't even get a start on my birthday."....Davey.."I didn't know it was your bithday. Let me see what I can do."
May 22, 2012 7:40 PM
Davey seeing the big picture: willing to sacrifice a bit against Phillies if it'll help improve odds against Atlanta.
Phil is dead on, you don't pull a guy from a posted lineup unless it's injury or some other off feild event
Well ... Sounds like a good plan to me. Step 1 - rest Zimm. Step 2 - beat Philly. Step 3 - beat Atlanta. What's not to like.
Ejax and Hammels are both going to want this one tomorrow. It would be pretty cool to spank him good and sweep. It would be nice to get Ejax the win. He's been cheated out of a few this year.
Dear Johnson & Rizzo: If and when Rendon is ready, please move Zimmerman to first base.
Looks like the move made sense for a lot of reasons and didn't affect the offense. Hopefully, Zim improves because this certainly must be affecting his bat.
Harper looks as if he is already starting to come on. And LaRoche's bat cooling down significantly. Hopefully, Harper and Morse can provide enough run production down the road. Perhaps Desmond can keep up the torrid hitting ... and hopefully not revert to a right-handed Ankiel.
Dear Johnson & Rizzo: If and when Rendon is ready, please move Zimmerman to first base.
After two broken ankles (already!) plus two or three surgeries on them? Are you certain Rendon can survive at third base? He looks worse off than the Z-man!
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