RickD
05-18-2011, 04:43 PM
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Ryan Zimmerman (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zimmery01.shtml) is a professional Baseball player in the Washington Nationals organization.
Thank you for agreeing to this interview for the members of Baseball Nation.
I'd like to start off with a few baseball related questions:
Q: Baseball Nation - Who were your favorite players growing up?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - Cal Ripken Jr. and Chipper Jones were my favorites. I remember watching Chipper on TBS as a kid. Was a big Braves fan....then. Haha.
Q: Baseball Nation - Is there one person in your career as a baseball player (fellow player/manager/coach) who had a significant impact on the way you approach the game? Why?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - I’ve been fortunate to have a number of unbelievable coaches throughout my baseball career, at all levels, who have helped me grow as a person and a player. One of the most instrumental would probably be Frank Robinson, my first manager in the big leagues. Gave me some pretty endless, honest, advice about how to handle yourself, professionally, and was there for me when I was really young and learning the game at the highest level.
Q: Baseball Nation - What has been your favorite moment as a player thus far?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - Probably the All-Star Game in St. Louis. Was an honor to be elected, and I can’t wait to get back. I was also able to fly my entire family out which was special as well.
Q: Baseball Nation - How long do you feel it will take before the Nationals contend for the N.L. East division?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - I think we’re very close. Our ownership has been aggressive acquiring talent on the free agent market as well as in the draft over the past few years. I think if we get a number of our young arms healthy, and continue to look to grow bats internally and make smart, acquisitions; next year I expect to be right in the mix late in the season.
Q: Baseball Nation - How hard has it been for you to sit by and watch your teammates play everyday?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - You know, it’s tough. I’m so used to being out there competing alongside my teammates, and friends, and it’s hard to have to watch from the dugout for an extended period of time. On the other hand, it’s a really long season, so it’s important to stay focused in on getting healthy and not rushing to get back.
Moving on to the ziMS Foundation, I have a few questions that will hopefully result in members here reaching out to help:
Q: Baseball Nation - For those who don't know, what led to your founding the ziMS Foundation?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was just a kid and really forced my brother and I to assume responsibilities in the home at an earlier age than most of my friends. Her condition has been a major influence in my life and my development as a person, and as soon as I had a means to make a different on an even larger scale, I did.
Q: Baseball Nation - What major event does the ziMS Foundation have coming up?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - We have a few events coming up which support the foundation and our mission. Our 2nd Annual “A Night at the Park” which is in June, is a fundraiser at Nationals Park and includes a number of things from live music to auctions. We have an annual golf tournament in my home town of Virginia Beach in November, as well as a Gala in Charlottesville, Va (where I went to college), which all raise money for finding an ultimate cure for MS.
Q: Baseball Nation - How many people are affected by Multiple Sclerosis?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - MS affects roughly 400,000 Americans with close to 200 diagnosed every week. Worldwide, MS affects roughly 2.5 million individuals.
Q: Baseball Nation - What can people do to contribute to the work of the ziMS Foundation?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - There are a number of ways to contribute to our work. Check out www.zimsfoundation.org (http://www.zimsfoundation.org) to learn more about our events and more about this unpredictable disease.
Thank you again sir. Good luck this season and we hope to see you back with the team before too long.
http://baseballnation.net/interviews/zimmerman.png
Ryan Zimmerman (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zimmery01.shtml) is a professional Baseball player in the Washington Nationals organization.
Thank you for agreeing to this interview for the members of Baseball Nation.
I'd like to start off with a few baseball related questions:
Q: Baseball Nation - Who were your favorite players growing up?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - Cal Ripken Jr. and Chipper Jones were my favorites. I remember watching Chipper on TBS as a kid. Was a big Braves fan....then. Haha.
Q: Baseball Nation - Is there one person in your career as a baseball player (fellow player/manager/coach) who had a significant impact on the way you approach the game? Why?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - I’ve been fortunate to have a number of unbelievable coaches throughout my baseball career, at all levels, who have helped me grow as a person and a player. One of the most instrumental would probably be Frank Robinson, my first manager in the big leagues. Gave me some pretty endless, honest, advice about how to handle yourself, professionally, and was there for me when I was really young and learning the game at the highest level.
Q: Baseball Nation - What has been your favorite moment as a player thus far?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - Probably the All-Star Game in St. Louis. Was an honor to be elected, and I can’t wait to get back. I was also able to fly my entire family out which was special as well.
Q: Baseball Nation - How long do you feel it will take before the Nationals contend for the N.L. East division?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - I think we’re very close. Our ownership has been aggressive acquiring talent on the free agent market as well as in the draft over the past few years. I think if we get a number of our young arms healthy, and continue to look to grow bats internally and make smart, acquisitions; next year I expect to be right in the mix late in the season.
Q: Baseball Nation - How hard has it been for you to sit by and watch your teammates play everyday?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - You know, it’s tough. I’m so used to being out there competing alongside my teammates, and friends, and it’s hard to have to watch from the dugout for an extended period of time. On the other hand, it’s a really long season, so it’s important to stay focused in on getting healthy and not rushing to get back.
Moving on to the ziMS Foundation, I have a few questions that will hopefully result in members here reaching out to help:
Q: Baseball Nation - For those who don't know, what led to your founding the ziMS Foundation?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was just a kid and really forced my brother and I to assume responsibilities in the home at an earlier age than most of my friends. Her condition has been a major influence in my life and my development as a person, and as soon as I had a means to make a different on an even larger scale, I did.
Q: Baseball Nation - What major event does the ziMS Foundation have coming up?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - We have a few events coming up which support the foundation and our mission. Our 2nd Annual “A Night at the Park” which is in June, is a fundraiser at Nationals Park and includes a number of things from live music to auctions. We have an annual golf tournament in my home town of Virginia Beach in November, as well as a Gala in Charlottesville, Va (where I went to college), which all raise money for finding an ultimate cure for MS.
Q: Baseball Nation - How many people are affected by Multiple Sclerosis?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - MS affects roughly 400,000 Americans with close to 200 diagnosed every week. Worldwide, MS affects roughly 2.5 million individuals.
Q: Baseball Nation - What can people do to contribute to the work of the ziMS Foundation?
A: Ryan Zimmerman - There are a number of ways to contribute to our work. Check out www.zimsfoundation.org (http://www.zimsfoundation.org) to learn more about our events and more about this unpredictable disease.
Thank you again sir. Good luck this season and we hope to see you back with the team before too long.