A young Ryan Zimmerman.

Tonight Ryan Zimmerman will get some more recognition, and not when he’s just on the field. Zimmerman is one of four players to be profiled by MLB Productions. The first two were Matt Kemp and Torii Hunter, and CC Sabathia is the last one. The 30-minute ‘My Life’ show details the childhood and off-field  life of the player.During the 30-minute show Zimmerman talks about the Nationals success this season, as well as growing up, and his mother’s multiple sclerosis. His parents, fiancee, and grandfather are also interviewed.

Check out Zimmerman’s ‘My Life’ at 6:30 PM tonight or 12:30 PM tomorrow afternoon.

See DC Sport Bog’s post for a preview.

Other good stuff:

• The Nationals are taking on the Cardinals right now. Check the game out on FOX if you can.
• Gio Gonzalez pitched a gem last night.
• It’s September! Time for call-ups.
• Is Ryan Zimmerman’sthrowing (errors) a cause for worry? Davey Johnson doesn’t necessarily think so.

Injury graphic on the Nationals, via Washington Post

“This team is beat up more than any one I’ve ever had.”

Davey Johnson knows the walking wounding when he sees them.

And somehow, the Nats are still in first place.  Granted, it’s just by a half game over the Braves, but don’t knock it. After having their best April ever (they ended the month with a 14-8 record), May is shaping up nicely as well. Oh, and all this is happening with some of their key players out with injuries.

Despite OintmentGate and the miscues in Strasburg’s start on Tuesday (somebody want to catch that pop up? Oh…no?), Gonzalez took control yesterday against the Pirates at home with 10 strikeouts.

He even got some offensive help from Adam LaRoche and his 1000th career hit (which included a home run and bases clearing double) and Xavier Nady(!) who hit his 100th career home run. Henry Rodriguez even decided to exercise his closer abilities and was able to keep the Pirates from causing too much damage.

The Nats went on to beat the Pirates 7-4. (Somewhere Jordan Zimmermann is asking them to save some runs for him.)

So what’s this saying? The Nats are winning. The team is coming together. And that’s with Drew Storen, Chien-Ming Wang, Brad Lidge, Michael Morse, Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos, Mark DeRosa and Sandy Leon injured. (This isn’t including Ryan Zimmerman, who also made a DL stint earlier this season.) For the most part all the players on the DL were projected key players of the Opening Day roster. Also, the players on the DL aren’t just injured, they’re long term injuries. Expected return dates range from months to a year.

» Continue reading “The Casualties”