The return of Mr. Walkoff and what the means for the Nats

He did it again:

HEADS UP @doubleuefwhy HE MIGHT HAVE DONE THE THING

— Luigi de Guzman (@ouij) August 23, 2018

OH MY GOD @doubleuefwhy MISTER WALKOFF DID IT HE DID IT

— Luigi de Guzman (@ouij) August 23, 2018

A two-out double by rookie Juan Soto set up the 11th walk-off home run of Ryan Zimmerman‘s career. Bouncing off the railing on top of the wall, the Phillies wisely played it as if it were a double when the umps didn’t make the call. Replay confirmed that it was indeed a walk-off in the typical anticlimatic replay way.

Seranthony Dominguez was the pitcher of record.

Zimmerman, the Washington’s first MLB draft choice of the 21st century now has 11 career walk-off home runs. Jim Thome is the all-time leader with 13 walk-offs (Baseball Reference), while Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Stan Musial and Zimmerman’s first Nats manager, Frank Robinson have 12.

Jacob Rasch (@serious_jammage) has compiled all of them for posterity.

Beautiful.

Swim night ends with Ryan Zimmerman going for a swim!!! #WalkoffHR @Nationals

— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) August 23, 2018

Since his first season, Zimmerman has hit walk-offs in 2006, 2007, 2008 (opening Nationals Park, when I christened him Mr. Walk-Off), 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and now 2018.

The Nats 4 playoff appearances to date: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017

:thinking emoji:

This morning, DC is 64-63, 7½ games back in the division and 6 out of the play-in game. Is there a curse of Mr. Walk-Off? Or more optimistically, does Zimm merely save his walk-offs for lost seasons – saving the magic for times when we need them most?

35 games to make up 7½ – it’s been done before, but don’t count on it and just enjoy the ride.