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Amazin' Avenue: Ryan Zimmerman is off to a really slow start, at .240/.321/.342 and has missed time with injuries. What have you seen from him so far and do you think the injuries are sapping him or is something else going on?
Federal Baseball: I'm convinced Zimmerman's back and playing at less than 100%. The power's not there. There are more weak grounders than we've come to expect on pitches he's pulling to short when he would've lined them to right in year's past. He missed significant time with inflammation of the AC joint in his shoulder and hasn't been the same since he returned [and wasn't the same before the injury was diagnosed]. The reason I think his performance at the plate is related to the shoulder/power is that he's been fine defensively. [Go ahead make jokes about his "form" on overhand throws.] Everything seems 100% on the defensive end but there's just no pop at the plate so far and for the first time I can remember you're starting to hear frustration with Zim from Nats fans. My personally opinion is that both Zimmerman and Michael Morse may have come back sooner than they should've. Think some time building up strength before they rushed back might have been a better idea.
• I did a quick series preview Q&A with Steve Schreiber from the SB Nation's Mets site Amazin' Avenue. Read the full Q&A HERE.