Longest-tenured National Zimmerman on what Game 5 means to D.C.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman has seen the Nationals grow up.

Zimmerman, then 20, played 20 games with the Nats during their first season in Washington, D.C., when they went 81-81 in 2005..

But the seasons were mostly lean in those early days for Zimmerman, when he was earning the moniker "Mr. Walk-Off" as the face of the franchise. During his tenure in Washington, the Nats have had seasons with 91, 93, 102 and 103 losses over the years.

Zimmerman, now 31, met with the media Thursday afternoon before the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers.

The last three questions posed to Zimmerman were all about his club's connection to the city and what a win tonight would mean. He has known no other experience in Major League Baseball than playing in Washington.

Zimmerman reflected on all the teammates he played with in those early difficult seasons when the Nationals weren't good enough to compete for titles like today's Nats are.

"I don't sit back and think about those (seasons), but yeah, sometimes you think or sort of wish that those guys could kind of have a piece of what we're going through now, because those first few years, they were tough," he said.

"We were in the big leagues and we were having fun because we were playing baseball, but not really having a legitimate chance to win, you (knew) that when you come to spring training or come to the field.

"You go out there and try and win every single game still, and you compete. But to have the talent that we have here now and the group of guys and just the whole organization, what it is now, compared to what it used to be, yeah, I guess maybe the biggest thing is sometimes I wish some of those guys could have this, too."

Zimmerman said some former teammates from those early campaigns are now giving back by teaching and coaching baseball in the minor leagues, even in the Nationals organization.

Zimmerman also spoke about the importance of Game 5 to his team and D.C. The city has not had a team in the four major sports reach the final series or game in their respective leagues in quite some time: The Redskins won Super Bowl in 1992, the Bullets won the NBA title in 1978 and the Capitals made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. Obviously, the last World Series championship came in 1924 for the Senators.

Since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005, Zimmerman has seen the fan base build season after season.

"It's been fun for me to grow and also watch the fan base grow," Zimmerman said. "The Senators being here way back, and not having a baseball team here for so long, this was a football town. They love the Redskins here and now the Caps, too.

"A whole generation missed out on baseball, so you're kind of seeing a whole generation of fans, I don't want to say learn how to be baseball fans, but kind of grow up with the team at the same time, which is unique. I don't know if too many other cities can say that they have done that.

"For me to be able to kind of grow up with them, as well, and kind of have a legitimate playoff contender every year and to watch them come out and support us, it's been fun. It's been fun for me. I hope it's been fun for them, too."

The Nationals have never won a playoff series.

Zimmerman said the biggest thing about this organization in 2016 is the Nats are built to win this season, and for subsequent campaigns.

"It would be a huge step to go to the next round," Zimmerman said. "But I think the ultimate goal is to win the World Series, and I think for the fan base, honestly, like I was talking about earlier, the last five years, just having a team that legitimately can make the playoffs every year, from where we came from 10 years ago, I think as a city and as a fan base, to have that every year, is pretty special.

"So we're going to continue to do that. And you know, hopefully, tonight we can kind of take the next step and even go further than that. I think where the organization is now and what the fan base has to root for every year, compared to what it was not too long ago, I think is pretty special."

It hasn't been a long history, but it has included the likes of John Patterson, Alfonso Soriano, Cristian Guzman, Tyler Clippard, Jordan Zimmermann, Austin Kearns, Ryan Church, Livan Hernandez and many more. I would imagine most of those players would have smiles on their faces if the Nationals can pull of the their first major postseason accomplishment with a win tonight.