Zim might be the only Nat you'll be meeting in St. Louis
By: Rick Snider
Examiner Sports Columnist
July 5, 2009
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| Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (Getty Images) |
Can the Washington Nationals sneak a second player into the All-Star Game?
Ryan Zimmerman is the first choice when rosters are announced on Sunday, but Cristian Guzman, Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn are having solid seasons. The problem is the Nats are once again baseball's worst team. They have to hit 20 points better than rivals to gain voters' respect.
Meanwhile, the Nats sure won't send any pitchers to the game. Not unless it's for the home run derby.
The Nats tried to stuff the ballot box at the stadium. Too bad they couldn't stuff the ballpark first. Maybe dead people vote in local elections, but baseball requires real bodies to punch the cards distributed at the gate. The Nats' poor attendance certainly factored in only Zimmerman ranking among the top five at any position.
Zimmerman trails New York third baseman David Wright and Atlanta's Chipper Jones, but a 30-game hitting streak this season merits an All-Star appearance. Each team gets one player on the roster and certainly Zimmerman has been Washington's best.
Guzman, Johnson and Dunn can be argued. Maybe not with righteous indignation, but they merit a look. After all, they'll be hot commodities come the trade deadline at month's end as Washington continues to erase the Jim Bowden era.
Florida's Hanley Ramirez is the NL's top shortstop. Guzman could battle Houston's Miguel Tejada for the backup spot. Guzman's average has slipped 20 points lately to .318, but Tejada is hitting .331 and been a five-time All-Star. The last stat makes all the difference in close calls.
Johnson has been the key to the Nats lineup. When he hits well, the team scores big. Too bad Johnson's also slumped lately to .295, but he has been a solid No. 2 hitter and stayed healthy. Also, first base is just stacked with better players.
Dunn is halfway to another 40-homer season. He's a dreadful fielder, though. The arm is suspect, his footwork is worse. Teams regularly run on Dunn, but he could be peddled to an American League team as a designated hitter. The Nats hope his 20 homers and 56 RBI merits an All-Star reserve to increase his trade worth, but poor defense and 87 strikeouts make him a long shot. Maybe Dunn enters the home run contest.
Ultimately, Zimmerman gets the nod and the rest probably gain a three-day holiday.
Rick Snider has covered local
sports since 1978. Read more at
TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail rsnider@washingtonexaminer.com.
