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CHICAGO - Terry Zimmerman, a native of Illinois, is 33 years old, and this season will be the first in which he has had a home ground (in his home state no less), and had a contract of which to speak. It is also the first time he has been described as a potential player of the year. In just a month and a half, Zimm has hit 13 homers, has 80 hits and hitting .357, with an OPS of .975. With runners in scoring position, he's hitting .565 with an OPS of 1.370! All this while handling the defensive duties expected of an everyday shortstop. For his efforts, Zimmerman was player of the month for April.
Zimm hasn't done things the easy way - his first hit didn't come off some scrub, but instead Bullet Rogan. 'It's just great to be playing full-time, you know. I'm getting on a bit, so its nice to help these good young kids out', Terence offers, with a smile. 'It's just nice to get settled, you know - making a new home every night across the Midwest ain't my idea of fun' Settlement isn't something he should get used to: Zimm will become a free agent next year (as will all players over 32), and he could be on the move again.
But of course, Zimm may not even be the American Giants MVP. That honour goes to the incomparable Hilton Smith. Hilton is 10-2 this year, with a stunning 1.44 ERA in almost 120 innings so far. But most amazingly of all, in 14 starts, Smith has struck out 125, walking only 9. 'You just go out and make your pitches - ain't no difference to what you do back home. Ya just play ball.' Smith has won his last seven games, including a 14 K gem and 3 back to back 3-hit shutouts: 'you just go out and throw - ain't nothing different when I get hit or when I don't'. Modesty aside, Smith is on his way to a truly legendary season, and with Zimm to back him up, the Windy City hopes that a championship may just blow their way come August.
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