Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper believes that Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins can wait their turn to steal the hearts of D.C. sports fans.
While the Nationals (67-65) haven't enjoyed quite the season they expected after ending the Philadelphia Phillies reign over the National League East last season by winning the division crown, the 20-year-old sensation is imploring fans to stick with the Nationals even after the Redskins open up at home Sept. 9 against the Eagles because he believes the Nats "are still in it."
"To be able to get [the fans] here and having them support us a little bit more in this last month would be huge," Harper told Comcast SportsNet in an interview that aired Wednesday evening, according to The Washington Post. "Coming to a game without any fans isn't fun. Last night we didn't have that many and we need that for this last month."
The Washington Post reports that Washington averages about 34,000 fans per game but Tuesday night's game against the Marlins, which the Nats won 2-1, was attended by only 24,616. The Nationals are currently 13 games behind the soaring Atlanta Braves (80-52) in the NL East and are seven games out of the second wildcard spot, currently held by the Cincinnati Reds (75-59). In order to capture the wildcard, Washington would have to leap over both the Arizona Diamondbacks (68-64), which they trail by a game, and the Reds.
Harper, who like every athlete is hopeful that his season won't end until after a World Series win in late-October, would like the D.C. faithful to wait until that point to start rekindling its love affair with RGIII and the Redskins.
"I think it's tired. I really do," Harper said of the Nats' dwindling attendance according to The Washington Post. "I think just because football season's coming up. We're still in it. Having the support is really going to help us in this last month, and I think fans know that. Guys feed off the crowd and feed off the fans. They've got a whole winter to watch RGIII. I think we're all looking forward to that, but we could possibly get into the playoffs and go farther from there."
Though Harper is only in hs second year, he's become somewhat of a face of the franchise, and it was recently reported that his agent Scott Boras is trying to etch out a new 12-year deal for the second-year player. Harper was on hand to meet and greet the U.S. men's hockey team at Nationals Park Tuesday night. A video of the meet and greet can be seen below:
The Nats had some of the best crowds in baseball last year, when the team went 98-64 and won the NL East for the first time since moving from Montreal. The team eventually lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series in five games, but the memory of raucous crowds wasn't soon forgotten by Harper.
"We had one of the best crowds in all of baseball last year," Harper said, according to The Washington Post. "I think they've been good this year, except for lately. But I think in the postseason we had all the people here for the playoff games and stuff, and we really fed off of that."
Harper, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, is hitting .277 this season with 18 homers and 47 RBIs in his second professional season
Harper is confident the Nationals can play good enough baseball to clinch a spot in the postseason, but will anyone be at Nationals Park to see it happen?
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