Fansided

Washington Nationals team calendar accidentally prints with Fenway Park

By Andrew Fine

Nov 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker smiles at a press conference introducing Baker as the new Nationals manager at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker smiles at a press conference introducing Baker as the new Nationals manager at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals released their 2016 team calendar, which features an image of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox

The Washington Nationals are hoping to put their disastrous 2015 season behind them as they move onto 2016. Unfortunately, the team is already off to a really bad start.

The Nationals released their 2016 team calendar, but made one costly error: they featured the wrong stadium on the cover.

The Washington Post‘s Susan Vavrick tweeted a picture of the calendar on Sunday.

The stadium looks nothing like Nationals Park. The biggest giveaway is the famous Green Monster, which is mostly covered by the American Flag.

The error could have been much worse. Thankfully the maker of the calendar included a game that featured the Nationals.

This gaffe comes after the Nationals’ tumultuous conclusion of the 2015 season. The team finished 2nd in the division with a 83-79 record, but missed the playoffs. Washington slipped in the standings, while the New York Mets ascended. In July, August, and September, the Nationals went a combined 37-44 as the Mets went 49-31.

The Nationals tried to make a run for the playoffs by trading for former Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon in exchange for young right-handed prospect Nick Pivetta. The trade backfired for the Nationals in an unexpected way.

Papelbon had a 3.04 ERA with Washington, but it was not the pitching that was his greatest problem.  It was his attitude and conduct.

Papelbon and slugger Bryce Harper were involved in a physical conflict during a September game against the Phillies. After Harper popped out, he and Papelbon got into a shouting match in the dugout, which led to Papelbon grabbing the hitter’s neck. As a result, the closer was suspended for four games in addition to a three game suspended Major League Baseball handed him after throwing at Baltimore Orioles hitter Manny Machado.

In wake of the Nationals’ collapse, the team severed ties with manager Matt Williams as well as the other coaches on his staff.

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