Zimmerman at 28
Ryan Zimmerman's hitting streak has been great for getting the Nationals better coverage on the networks.
Once you hit 20 games, everyone wants to keep up with how you're doing. To get to 28 is fabulous. The all-time Washington record is 33, held by Hall of Famer Heinie Manush in 1933, the last year the Nats went to the Series. Just behind Manush is Sam Rice at 31 in 1924.
Driving home from MASN last night and scanning the AM dial, I happened to catch someone's national talk show - could've been Fox or Sporting News Radio, I'm really not sure since it faded in and out. Anyway, the caller was a Yankee fan who was saying essentially that it didn't matter how long Zim's streak went, that even if he reached 56, DiMaggio's was still more impressive.
The reasons why seemed to center simply on the fact that Joe D was a Yankee and Zim was not, which seems a little weak. However, there's also the matter of the 30th and 31st games of DiMaggio's streak, games against the Chicago White Sox.
In each game Joe grounded a ball to shortstop Luke Appling. In game 30, the ball basically rolled up Luke's arm and he couldn't make the play. The fans were certain it was an error, but the official scorer at Yankee Stadium called it a hit. In game 31, Appling actually gloved the ball, but dropped it, and once again, the fans thought the streak surely had ended. But again, the official scorer called it a hit.
The official scorer at Yankee Stadium those days was baseball writer Dan Daniel. He was close friends with Joe D, and his expenses on the road were paid for by the Yankees. Objective? Likely not.
It's worth pointing out here too that Luke Appling, a terrific hitter, was only an adequate shortstop, but the Daniel connection is still bothersome.
Ryan Zimmerman looks every bit like the player he was expected to be when he was drafted and signed in 2005. Whether he extends his streak or not, he's having an All-Star caliber year.
And unlike the Yankee third baseman, there are no clouds over Zim.
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Categories (click for archive)Phil Wood |
Yankee fans are the biggest jerks around. Their team was always based on money. They had more money than other clubs to pay signing bonuses and put more scouts on the road than other clubs did in their heyday. There was also just eight teams to beat and no playoffs. So really they have never been on an even playing field.
About Zimmerman. He deserves all the kudo's he will get. I really doubt he was taking Steriods in highschool.
Would you do a Zimmerman for Markakis straight up? Who get's your pick to build a franchise around? Does it just come down to premium position? =========== I don't think I'd make that trade. Zimmerman has shown a great deal of leadership in the clubhouse this year, and he plays the more skilled position. I really wish everyone could get to know Ryan - he's clearly a reflection of his parents, who did a fabulous job raising him. And you're right - I'd bet my house he never used any performance-enhancing substance other than Ben-Gay and an ACE bandage.
Dan Daniel? Who does that to a child? ======================== Hopefully it's just a nickname. I know a guy whose last name is Thomas and everyone calls him Tom, even his mother, though his first name is Henry.
Phil,
At this time Zimmerman has extended this streak to 29 games with hard solid base hits. Not one of his hits that extended the streak has been a cheap hit.
That is interesting about games 30 and 31. Also, how the guy made 3 great plays in game 57 to rob Joe D of all that ketchup money and then Joe went on to hit in anothere 20+ games. It is a record that will never be broken, although never is a long time.
I was watching Baseball Tonight and Peter Gammons had Elias look into the different pitchers Joe D faced in his 56 games and Pete Rose faced in his 44. Joe faced 53 different pitchers during his steak and Pete Rose faced 60. Zimmerman, so far, has faced 64+ (can't remember the exact #) different pitchers. A lot harder to do now, plus with all the media etc.