Where is Ryan Zimmerman helping/hurting us? (2018)

[Expos]

$14 million isn't going to ride the pine.  With another $20 million owed next season, he won't ride the pine then either.

Then we don't want to win ballgames.

[catocony]

They want to win ballgames, but they are aware that if they want to retain free agents, they can't crap on a veteran with a big contract.  It's very easy for guys on chat boards to say "play this guy over this guy".  We're not paying the salaries.  Salary has a very big impact on who plays or who doesn't.  There is no "we don't want to win games".  We don't own the team and don't have a say.

Zim has been playing better the last 10 days.  If he's able to keep it up, he'll have some solid numbers at the end of the season.  I am a Zimmerman fan, and will forever appreciate the great work he did back in 2006-2011 when he was the best player on the team.  He was the only reason to watch during the 100-loss seasons.  However, the situation simply is that he's an average first baseman at best these days, not a Gold Glove/Silver Slugger 3rd baseman.  It's not his fault his shoulder started going earlier in his career than it should have, but the reality is that an average-fielding first baseman, who bats right-handed, and is streaky at the plate is not what you want on a championship team. 

Regardless, he has one more season after this on his contract, and unless he's on the DL, he's going to start most of the games.

[mitlen]

...    It's very easy for guys on chat boards to say "play this guy over this guy".  We're not paying the salaries.  Salary has a very big impact on who plays or who doesn't.  There is no "we don't want to win games".  We don't own the team and don't have a say.   ...

This is why the Lord created chat boards.

[spidernat]

With Zimmerman's salary and status in the organization, he will have to struggle for a while before being benched. He will first undergo getting moved down in the lineup before that happens. And with Murphy and Eaton nowhere close to returning I would say he is safe at 1B.

[mitlen]

With Zimmerman's salary and status in the organization, he will have to struggle for a while before being benched. He will first undergo getting moved down in the lineup before that happens. And with Murphy and Eaton nowhere close to returning I would say he is safe at 1B.

According to Baseball-Reference, he's had 110 plate appearances.    It's time.   

[shoeshineboy]

Quite simply it means that I , along with others on this board , believed that it should have been more than a paltry 3 thus far for the season since we mindfact that every time he comes to bat with a runner on he will GIDP.

Well, the total number of GiDP may be 3, but you are not mindfacting that he has hit more "double play balls". I think some ended in defensive miscue and some he just beat out. Either way, he has been a rally/momentum killer all season and been a disaster batting behind Harper.

[Senatorswin]

Zim hit a ground ball back to the pitcher last night with an exit velocity of 108 MPH. If he gets the swing angle figured out he'll be fine.

[Greg_SRT]

Zim hit a ground ball back to the pitcher last night with an exit velocity of 108 MPH. If he gets the swing angle figured out he'll be fine.

Zimm said all the talk of launch angles is overrated

[Elvir Ovcina]

Zim hit a ground ball back to the pitcher last night with an exit velocity of 108 MPH. If he gets the swing angle figured out he'll be fine.

Switching the plane of one's swing in a precise enough manner to hit more balls in the air without a ton of whiffs is not easy.   But he's actually hitting fewer grounders this year as opposed to last year (at least according to the stats).   The big difference is that he's hitting a lot more balls to CF this year.  Last year he hit a lot more oppo (where he has a lot of power) and pull, and so the same 360-foot fly balls that went out last year are getting caught in CF this year. 

Here's the visual version, but fangraphs also has the underlying numbers: https://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=4220&position=3B&type=battedball&pid2=4220&ss1=2017&se1=2017&ss2=2018&se2=2018&cht1=hittype&cht2=hittype&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL

TL;DR version:  Don't be Austin Kearns.

[varoadking]

Helping tonight...

[Greg_SRT]

He didn’t beat any balls into the ground tonight. I’m sure the grounds crew appreciate that.

[Senatorswin]

“No grounders,” Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, the 2015 American League MVP and one of the movement’s most vocal proponents, said earlier this year. “Groundballs are outs. If you see me hit a groundball, even if it’s a hit, I can tell you: It was an accident.”

There's a ton of players now talking about and practicing the virtue of launch angles. But I'm not sure why Zimm changed his stance to the exaggerated cock in his swing he has now. I looked back at his walk-off home runs. He didn't do all that noise he does now when he's batting. Too much going on in that swing.

[GburgNatsFan]

He didn't have Murph to give him crap during Spring Training.

“No grounders,” Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, the 2015 American League MVP and one of the movement’s most vocal proponents, said earlier this year. “Groundballs are outs. If you see me hit a groundball, even if it’s a hit, I can tell you: It was an accident.”

There's a ton of players now talking about and practicing the virtue of launch angles. But I'm not sure why Zimm changed his stance to the exaggerated cock in his swing he has now. I looked back at his walk-off home runs. He didn't do all that noise he does now when he's batting. Too much going on in that swing.

[NatsAllThe Way]

He homered yesterday...   woohoo!

[mitlen]

He homered yesterday...   woohoo!

He hit a nice shot to right center that was hauled in by the CF.    To this novice's eye (and critic of the Face at the plate), I thought he had a good day.    Of course, winning the game and no DP balls (IIRC) helped stem any criticism.

[varoadking]

He needs to clean out his locker when the team gets back to DC.

.205   .264   .402   .666

Can't believe this topic fell to the second page...

[mitlen]

He needs to clean out his locker when the team gets back to DC.

.205   .264   .402   .666

Can't believe this topic fell to the second page...

It wasn't that long ago he was at .107.

[varoadking]

It wasn't that long ago he was at .107.

Seems he's reached his ceiling...

[imref]

last fifteen games:  .311 / .364. / .590   

Currently has a 5 game hitting streak, 7 for his last 19

I'll never understand the Zimmerman hate on this forum.

[varoadking]

I'll never understand the Zimmerman hate on this forum.

We know...and we feel badly for you...

[awbb]

last fifteen games:  .311 / .364. / .590   

Currently has a 5 game hitting streak, 7 for his last 19

I'll never understand the Zimmerman hate on this forum.

I’m a latecomer (2011) and have only known Zimmerman as an injury prone and extremely streaky hitter. I don’t have the memories of him being the best player on some dreadful teams that some should remember before wheeling out the vitriol.

However, I understand it too. He’s the only remnant of those bad years and as a veteran getting paid like a superstar I haven’t see the leadership from him that contract warrants, compared to, say, Max, who appears to be delivering support every night in the dugout, even when he’s not pitching.

There’s more to it than that I am sure but when we appear to have a superior option to play first in Matt Adams it’s even easier to call for Zimm to pack it in.

My opinion is that the bat is probably going to be OK, not stellar, probably not worth the money, but just about good enough to tide him over. However, assuming the whole Werth thing was on Dusty last post season, Martinez probably knows he is expected to bench underperforming yet highly paid players when it comes to the crunch.

[Slateman]

last fifteen games:  .311 / .364. / .590   

Currently has a 5 game hitting streak, 7 for his last 19

I'll never understand the Zimmerman hate on this forum.

Me either.

Zim is notorious for needing a lot of PAs after significant time off. That 100 PA mark is a think for him.

First 98 PAs for him: .200/.265/.411   
Last 27 PAs: .280/.333/.400

He does this all the time. And honestly, between Eaton and Goodwin being hurt, and Zim's salary, its stupid to talk about benching him. He's going to play for a while.

[Ray D]

assuming the whole Werth thing was on Dusty last post season, Martinez probably knows he is expected to bench underperforming yet highly paid players when it comes to the crunch.

I am still under the opinion that, although the Werth thing was blamed on Dusty, he was directed to play Werth and had no choice. And I suspect the same thing will happen with Martinez and Zimmerman.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Me either.

Zim is notorious for needing a lot of PAs after significant time off. That 100 PA mark is a think for him.

First 98 PAs for him: .200/.265/.411   
Last 27 PAs: .280/.333/.400

He does this all the time. And honestly, between Eaton and Goodwin being hurt, and Zim's salary, its stupid to talk about benching him. He's going to play for a while.

With Murphy and Eaton out, it is barely even a question except to the extent it squeezes one of Adams, Difo, and Kendrick out of the line up.  there's still enough plate appearances to keep everybody rested and sharp.

[GburgNatsFan]

Could be, but Boz reported that Werth's continued appearance in the playoffs was one of the reasons Dusty was let go. By that point, his contract was up. Who would brace Dusty for removing him from the line up at that point?

I am still under the opinion that, although the Werth thing was blamed on Dusty, he was directed to play Werth and had no choice. And I suspect the same thing will happen with Martinez and Zimmerman.