Ryan Zimmerman gave Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon credit.
The Nationals first baseman was asked this week about Maddon’s decision to pitch around Bryce Harper last season. The Cubs walked Harper an MLB-record 13 times, four intentional, during a four-game series in May 2016.
Harper reached base and the Cubs would get to Zimmerman, who was just 4-for-32 last year against Chicago. Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark, at the time, called it “scared baseball.”
“I think Joe’s a pretty smart manager,” Zimmerman said.