Whole again
By Dan Kolko
MIAMI - Not every team is this lucky. Most aren't.
The Nationals have been through loads of injuries this season. They've twice lost Ryan Zimmerman for long stretches. Bryce Harper was out two months. Wilson Ramos had two stints on the DL. Doug Fister missed the first five weeks of the season. Gio Gonzalez lost a month due to a shoulder issue. Adam LaRoche missed 15 days.
But now, with just nine games left in the regular season, the Nats are whole again. Zimmerman will be activated from the DL today after missing the last two months due to a strained hamstring, and he could very well be in the lineup tonight.
With his return, the Nats will be completely healthy and have everyone available as they make this final push towards the postseason, and barring any late-season issues, should be full-go for playoff ball.
Again, not every team is so fortunate in that regard.
"It's unbelievable," reliever Drew Storen said. "That's a good feeling we've had all year. We've had our fair share of injuries, but we've also done a great job keeping the ship afloat every time, and we've really learned something about ourselves. And then when you get somebody like Zim coming off the DL, it's a really nice gift to have."
"That's kind of what great seasons are all about: Kind of peaking at the right time, everybody getting healthy at the right time," reliever Tyler Clippard said. "This last month-and-a-half everybody's been pretty healthy and we've been playing pretty good ball. It's been nice. We just have to keep everybody feeling good and keep playing well."
And make no mistake - Zimmerman's return will fire up a clubhouse that has missed his presence since he went down in Colorado on July 22.
Players felt bad that Zimmerman couldn't partake in the champagne celebration the other night in Atlanta. They hated seeing Zimmerman miss another lengthy stretch after he had already been out an extended period due to a fractured thumb early this season.
Zimmerman has only gotten a chance to play in 53 games this season. Tonight could be No. 54. And his teammates are thrilled that the Face of the Franchise is back, is healthy and rounds out a complete unit.
"Just having his presence here, his experiences and his personality, is a good thing for us," Fister said. "He's a very important key for us, on the field, off the field. It doesn't matter where he is. He carries himself with a lot of greatness."
With his return, the Nats will be completely healthy and have everyone available as they make this final push towards the postseason, and barring any late-season issues, should be full-go for playoff ball.
Again, not every team is so fortunate in that regard.
"It's unbelievable," reliever Drew Storen said. "That's a good feeling we've had all year. We've had our fair share of injuries, but we've also done a great job keeping the ship afloat every time, and we've really learned something about ourselves. And then when you get somebody like Zim coming off the DL, it's a really nice gift to have."
"That's kind of what great seasons are all about: Kind of peaking at the right time, everybody getting healthy at the right time," reliever Tyler Clippard said. "This last month-and-a-half everybody's been pretty healthy and we've been playing pretty good ball. It's been nice. We just have to keep everybody feeling good and keep playing well."
And make no mistake - Zimmerman's return will fire up a clubhouse that has missed his presence since he went down in Colorado on July 22.
Players felt bad that Zimmerman couldn't partake in the champagne celebration the other night in Atlanta. They hated seeing Zimmerman miss another lengthy stretch after he had already been out an extended period due to a fractured thumb early this season.
Zimmerman has only gotten a chance to play in 53 games this season. Tonight could be No. 54. And his teammates are thrilled that the Face of the Franchise is back, is healthy and rounds out a complete unit.
"Just having his presence here, his experiences and his personality, is a good thing for us," Fister said. "He's a very important key for us, on the field, off the field. It doesn't matter where he is. He carries himself with a lot of greatness."
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