Zimmerman nearing game at-bats, Martinez says

JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman got dressed and headed out to take batting practice this morning in West Palm Beach, still attired in long pants even though most of the rest of the Nationals had switched into shorts and t-shirts, the uniform of the day for their morning workout.

Another day passed without Zimmerman in the lineup for a Grapefruit League game - he's played only once, doubling in one of his two at-bats on March 3, and his Grapefruit League average has been stuck on .500 for since then.

Which is just fine with new manager Davey Martinez, who figures the veteran first baseman knows better than anyone how to prepare his body for the long haul of a 162-game season.

"He's going to start probably getting some at-bats here real soon," Martinez said. "Like I said, we want to make sure we nip all these little nagging injuries before we get him out there."

"General soreness" cost Zimmerman the first week of exhibition games, though he didn't seem to think his delayed start would be an issue. Zimmerman was the designated hitter in his one spring start, so he's yet to play the field as Martinez has chosen to ease him into competition.

"He feels good," Martinez said this morning. "It's just me being cautious."

When Martinez was with Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay and Chicago, it wasn't unusual for veterans to be eased into spring camp in an effort to keep them fresher deeper into the season. Martinez said he's comfortable with that plan for a player with Zimmerman's pedigree.

But with a baker's dozen Grapefruit League games under their belts, Martinez is nearing the period where he takes the bubble wrap off Zimmerman and starts letting him pile up at-bats and innings in the field.

"These guys, especially the veteran guys, have been around for a while," Martinez said. "He knows what he needs to get his body ready. We talk a lot about his at-bats and stuff, and he'll get enough at-bats in spring training."

A few other notes from Martinez's pregame session with the media:

* Left-hander Tommy Milone has been away from the team for a few days for the birth of a child and is expected to return on March 10.

* Righty reliever Koda Glover has yet to throw while recovering from shoulder soreness.

"Just trying to get him healthy," Martinez said.

* As Martinez adjusts to his new clubhouse, he's discovered that a hands-off approach works best for now, considering his team leans to the veteran side.

When he arrives at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches most days at 6:30 a.m., there are already a number of players immersed in weight room workouts that started before sunrise.

"I'm not going to police those guys," he said. "That's not who I am and what I do. It's their clubhouse. If I need to say something, I will. But they get it. These guys have been together for long period of time, a lot of them, and they understand each other and they understand what goes on in that clubhouse. So I'll look at them to do the policing on themselves. Thus far, it's been awesome."

* The Nationals still have 62 players in major league camp and Martinez said the first cuts of the spring were "probably around a week or so" away.