Written by Bob Nightengale at USA Today.com
The expectations were ungodly, almost reckless.
One was called the greatest pitching prospect in baseball history.
The other was baseball’s chosen one, and at the age of 16, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
If it wasn’t enough, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper happened to be paired together with the Washington Nationals, a team widely predicted to win the World Series each of the past three seasons.
Well, take a good look at them now.
Harper, the reigning National League MVP, is the best player in baseball.
Strasburg is the best pitcher in the National League not named Jake Arrieta or Clayton Kershaw.
And the Nationals, under manager Dusty Baker, are sitting in first place with their finest start in franchise history, 17-7, after completing their first-ever sweep Sunday of the Cardinals in St. Louis. It’s the best start by a team in our nation’s capital since 1932.
Expectations?
Bring them on, baby.
“What the media puts out there is crazy,’’ Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth said, “because it can shape reality. It’s not an easy thing to have all of those expectations, everybody talking about you. But you have a guy like Dusty here, everyone is so relaxed, and we’re a reflection of our manager.
“You look at Harp and Stras. I think they’re doing all right.’’
Let’s see, after winning the NL MVP award last year, Harper – despite an 0 for 11 performance vs. the Cardinals – is tied for the major-league lead with 24 RBI, second in slugging percentage and on-base percentage, and is tied for third with nine home runs.
Strasburg is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA, and is tied for the league lead with 40 strikeouts, averaging 10 per nine innings.
“As much attention that Bryce had on him at such a young age,’’ Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said, “I think Strasburg had more pressure on him after the draft than Harper. I mean, he was called the greatest pitching prospect ever. The greatest ever! That’s tough to live up to.
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