Williams on Zimmerman, Harper and possibly clinching in Atlanta
By Josh Land
The magic number is down to two and the Nationals are in position to wrap up their second National League East title in three seasons tonight on their archrival's turf.
The club has gotten there with a day-by-day approach, refusing to look too far ahead. Even with clinching such a realistic possibility, manager Matt Williams still isn't ready to do more than dance around the topic.
"We have to play good. (Aaron Harang's) pitched really good against us, this team's played really well against us. So we have to play good today if we're going to win," Williams said at Turner Field. "And if we, in this scenario playing this team, if we can win today's game, then it takes care of itself. So why focus on anything other? Just try to win. And if we can do that, then it'll take care of itself and then all that can be over with. But we have to win the game first and foremost if we're going to get there."
Williams was willing to recognize what an accomplishment it has been for the Nats to get to this point, at 86-63 and about to secure another postseason berth.
Washington has spent much of the season with key pieces missing - whether it be the middle of the lineup with Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper out, or the top of the order with Denard Span out, or a key member of the rotation with Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez spending time on the disabled list.
"It's been difficult. We've lost a lot of guys, but that is what it is," Williams said. "Nobody felt sorry for us at the time and nobody will today. So what these guys have done is they've established the way they want to play and they've done a good job of staying in games, they've done a good job of finishing games and were competitive every day. And that's all we can ask. So we'll try to do that again today and see what we can do. They played really hard all year long and we want them to continue to do that because they're good players and a good team."
One of those missing players, Zimmerman, continues to work his way back to full health. The veteran third baseman hasn't played since July 22 because of a severely strained hamstring. He has played just 53 games this season, also missing significant time with a thumb injury.
Zimmerman participated in his first instructional league game today in Viera, Fla.
"Zim did great today. He played three innings, he got five at-bats, hit a couple of doubles, ran the bases. So all in all, a good day. Full workout, he did mass grounders with the team, hit in the cage, did a full day's work," Williams said. "So he said he felt great afterward. So we'll push him to five innings tomorrow and see where he's at after that, depending on how he comes in and how he says he feels. But it was a good day."
Zimmerman is scheduled to play five innings Wednesday with three at third base and two at first. He'll follow with a day at designated hitter and then go to left field. But he has now experienced game action as he attempts to return to the Nats down the stretch.
"The only thing that's significant is that he got a chance to run the bases, which is important for his injury," Williams said. "And he turned the bases, and was able to get to second base with no issues. He didn't hit a hard grounder to the infield where he had to really go, so that'll probably be a test. But I'm sure he'll get one of those here in the next few days. But the fact that he was able to get out there - his timing was OK, he was able to hit the ball in the gap and get to second base is a good sign, and he had no issues, so that's even better. ...
"For me, it's like spring training for him right now. So you go through two or three days and then you get sore. So we'll see how he comes out of that. So that's why we do the three-inning, the five-inning and then give him a lot of at-bats without taxing his legs playing a defensive position. That's why we do a DH day and then push him to seven and to nine. So if he gets through the seven-inning stint without any issues, then we'll take a hard look at the nine-inning day, and then see where we're at.
"But he's going to get sore. His body's going to be sore, his legs are going to be sore outside the injury. So we've got to work him through that, so when he does come back, then he can just step in and he doesn't have those issues."
Williams isn't yet sure what role Zimmerman will fill when he's back and whether Asdrubal Cabrera will become a reserve at that point. But in a best-case scenario for Zimmerman?
"Well, best-case scenario, he's hitting a whole bunch of homers for us and driving runs in," Williams said. "We don't know that yet. We have to make sure that he gets through his injury first. So once he does that, then we'll have those decisions to make. They're not easy, but it is a very good problem to have when you have somebody like Zim coming back to your team with the ability to produce for you. We'll see."
Also, Harper is back in the lineup tonight after leaving Monday's game with lightheadedness. Williams said Harper caught the bug that had been plaguing much of the team.
"Bryce is OK," Williams said. "He had a bag of fluids last night after the game. A little bit dehydrated last night, so he's OK. We're going to monitor him. He's not going to come out for batting practice. He'll just hit in the cage, and then we'll continue to monitor during the game. But he says he feels OK today."
And now, with Harper in tow, the Nats will be hoping to have plastic decorating their clubhouse for a sudsy celebration after tonight's game.
"Before, it was a little of a beverage of your choice on top of your head or consumed. But now it makes for good TV," Williams said. "Regardless, you want to be one of the teams that has a chance to do that. So we're one step away from that and hopefully we can win a game here, and it'll take care of itself. We'll see what happens."
Williams was willing to recognize what an accomplishment it has been for the Nats to get to this point, at 86-63 and about to secure another postseason berth.
Washington has spent much of the season with key pieces missing - whether it be the middle of the lineup with Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper out, or the top of the order with Denard Span out, or a key member of the rotation with Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez spending time on the disabled list.
"It's been difficult. We've lost a lot of guys, but that is what it is," Williams said. "Nobody felt sorry for us at the time and nobody will today. So what these guys have done is they've established the way they want to play and they've done a good job of staying in games, they've done a good job of finishing games and were competitive every day. And that's all we can ask. So we'll try to do that again today and see what we can do. They played really hard all year long and we want them to continue to do that because they're good players and a good team."
One of those missing players, Zimmerman, continues to work his way back to full health. The veteran third baseman hasn't played since July 22 because of a severely strained hamstring. He has played just 53 games this season, also missing significant time with a thumb injury.
Zimmerman participated in his first instructional league game today in Viera, Fla.
"Zim did great today. He played three innings, he got five at-bats, hit a couple of doubles, ran the bases. So all in all, a good day. Full workout, he did mass grounders with the team, hit in the cage, did a full day's work," Williams said. "So he said he felt great afterward. So we'll push him to five innings tomorrow and see where he's at after that, depending on how he comes in and how he says he feels. But it was a good day."
Zimmerman is scheduled to play five innings Wednesday with three at third base and two at first. He'll follow with a day at designated hitter and then go to left field. But he has now experienced game action as he attempts to return to the Nats down the stretch.
"The only thing that's significant is that he got a chance to run the bases, which is important for his injury," Williams said. "And he turned the bases, and was able to get to second base with no issues. He didn't hit a hard grounder to the infield where he had to really go, so that'll probably be a test. But I'm sure he'll get one of those here in the next few days. But the fact that he was able to get out there - his timing was OK, he was able to hit the ball in the gap and get to second base is a good sign, and he had no issues, so that's even better. ...
"For me, it's like spring training for him right now. So you go through two or three days and then you get sore. So we'll see how he comes out of that. So that's why we do the three-inning, the five-inning and then give him a lot of at-bats without taxing his legs playing a defensive position. That's why we do a DH day and then push him to seven and to nine. So if he gets through the seven-inning stint without any issues, then we'll take a hard look at the nine-inning day, and then see where we're at.
"But he's going to get sore. His body's going to be sore, his legs are going to be sore outside the injury. So we've got to work him through that, so when he does come back, then he can just step in and he doesn't have those issues."
Williams isn't yet sure what role Zimmerman will fill when he's back and whether Asdrubal Cabrera will become a reserve at that point. But in a best-case scenario for Zimmerman?
"Well, best-case scenario, he's hitting a whole bunch of homers for us and driving runs in," Williams said. "We don't know that yet. We have to make sure that he gets through his injury first. So once he does that, then we'll have those decisions to make. They're not easy, but it is a very good problem to have when you have somebody like Zim coming back to your team with the ability to produce for you. We'll see."
Also, Harper is back in the lineup tonight after leaving Monday's game with lightheadedness. Williams said Harper caught the bug that had been plaguing much of the team.
"Bryce is OK," Williams said. "He had a bag of fluids last night after the game. A little bit dehydrated last night, so he's OK. We're going to monitor him. He's not going to come out for batting practice. He'll just hit in the cage, and then we'll continue to monitor during the game. But he says he feels OK today."
And now, with Harper in tow, the Nats will be hoping to have plastic decorating their clubhouse for a sudsy celebration after tonight's game.
"Before, it was a little of a beverage of your choice on top of your head or consumed. But now it makes for good TV," Williams said. "Regardless, you want to be one of the teams that has a chance to do that. So we're one step away from that and hopefully we can win a game here, and it'll take care of itself. We'll see what happens."
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