Nationals Admit to Feeling Pressure to be the Next D.C. Team to Disappoint Everyone SportsPickle Follow May 14, 2015 · 2 min read

(AP)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals eliminated from the playoffs and John Wall and the Wizards on the brink, Washington Nationals players and coaches know the spotlight of inevitable failure will soon shine solely on them.

“That comes with the territory of playing in this town,” said Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. “You’re expected to fail and there’s a lot of pressure to do it. It can be hard for someone as talented as me, but there’s a whole lot of season left and I’m confident we can let everyone down.”

The Nationals opened the season as World Series favorites thanks to a talented starting rotation and a power-packed lineup. The team got off to an awful 7–13 start, but have since won 12 of 15 to pull into second place in the division.

“Things aren’t go our way right now, but we just have to keep our heads down and know the losses will come again soon,” said starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg. “It’s going to be extra tough this year because our division is so bad, but even if we happen to win the N.L. East, we’ll surely fall apart in the playoffs. I don’t want our fans to give up not having hope.”

The city’s NFL team also showed support for the Capitals and Wizards on Wednesday night, tweeting out the slogan: “One City, One Disappointing Failure” with pictures of prominent players on all four D.C. teams looking depressed. The message was retweeted immediately by Washington quarterback Robert Griffin.