So you have the same song stuck in your head while you read this as I have in my head while writing it, let me just say this, “Black and yellow… Black and yellow… Black and yellow…” At least I didn’t say, “I whip my hair back and forth,” because that’s much worse. Or anything by Ke$ha. You know what the dollar sign stands for in the middle of her name? The money you have to pay me to listen to her. When I looked at Ryan Zimmerman back in September, I said, “Seems like Zimmerman’s career is following the two steps forward, one step back Electric Slide approach. In fairness, it was due to some thigh tightness in April and missing the last two weeks that caused Zimmerman to fall just short of projections. I have to say, for a top guy, he kinda bored me for stretches. Particularly, the 2 homer, .245 month of June and a zero homer month of September.” And that’s me recapping the recap! That didn’t sound like a huge endorsement, but he was also 25-years-old for the majority of 2010 and he was still a top five 3rd baseman. A position that is hella shallow in 2011. So what do I think Ryan Zimmerman can do in 2011 and what makes him a fantasy baseball keeper?
Jayson Werth took a hit when he went for the greenbacks down in Washington, but it doesn’t mean it will hurt Zimmerman. I’m not thrilled Zimmerman has a hard time staying healthy for an entire season. Who are you, Tulo? Kinsler? Minus a piddling 2008, Zimmerman has been consistent. Good for 25 homers and a solid average. He has some sneaky speed, but he seems like he’s abandoned that element of his game. Probably at the request of the Nats. If he can somehow have a full season of ABs, he could be the most valuable 3rd baseman in the game. Bill James is only giving Zimmerman a line of 94/27/95/.291/4. Usually BJ’s on the optimistic side, but I’m doing BJ one better. I’m one-upping him! I’m giving Zimmerman a line of 90/32/100/.285/5 and think we’re about to get that big season from him. Finally. Or maybe it’s just “Black and yellow… Black and yellow… Black and yellow…” has made me daffy.
