FALSE hes having a bad season mostly because its clear his shoulder is still injured. He's still the 3 hole hitter and will continue to be he IS the face of the franchise and will continue to be for at least a couple more seasons. Don't be so quick to write him off.

Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are the faces of the franchise, at this point. You might think of Ryan Zimmerman when someone says "Washington Nationals", but I'm pretty sure the rest of the world doesn't.

He needs to stop the Bambino waggle and get ready to swing.

I agree with you completely regarding Zimm. He has a good chance of reaching the HOF. He is the Nats first star. He gave the Nat's fan something to cheer about during 6 losing seasons. How quickly some forget and turn on their heros. For years baseball fans outside DC knew only one Nats player, Ryan Zimmerman. I know, because I've attended plenty of Nats away games thru the years as they make their west coast swing.

Zimm needs two things to make it to the Hall. Stay healthy and have a decent LH bat behind him.

LOL
Weirdly, the Yankees won a few with a lineup that featured the slowest guy on the team - forget who - hitting leadoff.

For a guy who's reputation is an avid stats guy, DJ doesn't juggle his lineup that much. Felipe Alou juggled his more than anyone I ever saw and he'd always have one of those "this guy is 5 for 8 against tonight's pitcher or this guy has a little shoulder tweak and can't drive the ball like usual" kind of rationale.

Players got used to it - even if some didn't especially like it - and played well. One thing about it: if you were a bench player you came to every game ready to be in the lineup as you just never knew til you saw it posted. Other thing was, nobody thought they owned any particular spot in the batting order so the changes were no big deal.

>>I agree with you completely regarding Zimm. He has a good chance of reaching the HOF<<
_____

You are joking, aren't you?

I wouldn't go so far as "good chance", but if he were to put up numbers like he's done when healthy for an entire season, for, say 10-12 seasons, he's a lock for the hall of fame. Likely won't happen because he won't stay healthy, but it isn't a totally far-fetched idea.

What ? That I actually agree with somebody, or that Zmm has a good chance at the Hall, or both ?

Ray: He's had some nice numbers when healthy, but even those over a career are not enough for the hOF. He will not have 500 home runs (and probably not 400) if healthy, his batting average will not be .300 over his career, his career OPS is a "B" Level, his OBP is the equivalent of Bill White, Hal McCrae, and Gary Roenicke, all decent players, but not HOF, and his Isolated Power number (.184) is middle of the pack. I just don't see it even under the best of circumstances.
_____

Let's go Nationals!

" I just don't see it even under the best of circumstances."

That's the problem with all the numbers you posted. Zimm hasn't played under the best of circumstances. He has palyed for the Nats.

He's only 27 which means he's just entering his prime. He now has a team around him. As I said, he needs to stay healthy, have a good LH bat behind him for a little protection, and needs a decent 1bman to throw to. He has the talent, just not enough to do it all by himself. Heck, if Walter Johnson hadn't palyed for Washington, they'd be calling it the "Big Train Award", not the Cy Young.

I'm basing it on the fact that he is an elite third baseman and the assumption that he will continue to be. If they move him to first base (as some suggest) then yes, not a chance he makes the hall. And if he stays at third but loses his range and his reflexes slow down, similarly, not a chance.

But Zimmerman to date has been a hall-of-fame caliber third basemen. Not quite Brooks Robinson but not far. And Brooks hit under .270 and under 270 homeruns, he too would not be in the hall if not an elite thirdbaseman. (Zimmerman doesn't have a great arm, but neither did Brooks.

You are an idiot. Pitchers can't be the FACE of the franchise, Strasburg is a huge name and will always be but franchise players are those that spend careers with the same team and are consistently loyal and great players that play EVERY DAY (think Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, Craig Biggio) Harper may be down the road but he's only been around for almost 3 months. A rookie is not the face of the franchise, you're dumb.

Dear God, stop with the name calling. He's hardly an idiot. This is a disagreement about opinions and ideas, not about intelligence, character or morality. It's totally inappropriate to insult another poster, no matter how much you disagree.

It's the only way I know how to force my opinions on other people.

I pray you said this in jest.

I did and perhaps I was a bit harsh. I still think he is completely wrong on the subject.

There's a difference between "franchise player" and "face of the franchise".

This is the same person who can't tolerate criticism of Wang because the rest of the pitching staff is doing so well. Obviously an irrational person.

>>"But Zimmerman to date has been a hall-of-fame caliber third basemen. Not quite Brooks Robinson but not far. And Brooks hit under .270 and under 270 homeruns, he too would not be in the hall if not an elite thirdbaseman."

I agree he's an elite defensive third basemen, perhaps the best overall glove at the position in the Majors, but he's trailing Brooks by a lot in a number of ways, and it's already too late to catch him on most of them.

Some of Brooks other numbers/awards:

MVP- '64
MVP - 2nd - '66 (behind the other Robinson on his team)
MVP - 3rd - '59 & '65
MVP - 4th - '71

World Series MVP - 1970

All-Star Game - 15 appearances (all consecutive) '60 - '74.
Gold Gloves - 16 (all consecutive) '60 - '75.

I argued from the beginning that Wang should be pushed into the bullpen and Detwiler should remain the 5th starter. I just don't understand the freakout about our pitching situation when clearly our problem as a team is offensive run scoring and bad pitch selection.