Ryan Zimmerman was happy to see the Atlanta Braves, especially veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman, win the World Series over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, saying "the right team won."
"I'm happy for the Braves, happy for Freddie," Ryan Zimmerman told The Sports Junkies during his weekly 106.7 The Fan appearance, presented by MainStreet Bank.
"The Braves have a great organization," Zimmerman said. "They've run it the right way for a long time, they've had some really good players, but I think they were the better team, so I think the right team won."
For the second time in three seasons, Houston's dropped the deciding game of the World Series at Minute Maid Park, losing Game 6 to the Braves, 7-0, on Tuesday. In 2019, it was Zimmerman's Nationals who eliminated the Astros to win the World Series in Houston, taking Games 6 and 7 on the road.
Shortly after Washington's World Series victory, a bombshell report dropped in The Athletic breaking the news of the Astros' years-long pattern of cheating through the use of electronics to steal signs from opposing teams.
"That is interesting," Junkies host Jason Bishop remarked, "that two of the last three years, Houston lost World Series in their stadium, one in Game 6 and one in Game 7. That is interesting, though."
"Karma sticks with you, huh?" Zimmerman zinged.
Despite being NL East competitors, Zimmerman has long admired Freeman, saying on Wednesday that he was happy to see someone who "plays the game the right way" finally get rewarded with a championship in his 12th Major League season.
"He's a great guy. He's always happy. He loves to play the game of baseball," Zimmerman said. "It's hard to root against a guy who plays the game the right way, plays every day, whether he's healthy or not healthy. He's the same guy all the time. We don't have that many like him left in the game, I guess, is the best way to put it."
"I think he's well-respected all around the league," he said. "He's obviously an unbelievable player. But I think he's a good leader for that organization. He does things the right way. He stays out of trouble — he doesn't do anything like that. It's hard not to root for a guy like that. But I'm happy for him. He's been there for a long time and kind of been through some ups and downs with them as well. I like to see guys like that get rewarded by winning championships. It's cool for the game."