Let’s face it – most baseball fans will not get the privilege of watching their team play in the Postseason. Of 30 teams, only 10 teams make it and for two of those teams, it will be one game and done. While it is more fun to watch with a vested team in the middle of it, it is still quite enjoyable (and less stressful) to watch the postseason completely unbiased and neutral. If you’re a neutral fan, here is a helpful guide on who to root for in October and this ranking is totally arbitrary and subjective, however it should be taken as fact.
10. Yankees
Clearly, this would not be the view of Fox or of Major League Baseball. The Yankees certainly bring eyeballs to the television screen and are possibly the most polarizing team in professional sports. But let’s face it – unless you are a Yankees fan, you don’t want them winning. There isn’t a pocket of casual Yankees haters out there; if you hate the Yankees, you hate the Yankees. 27 championships is a lot of winning and no one will be shedding a tear if 28 doesn’t come in 2015. With a one-game playoff against the Astros to be played on Tuesday, it could be a short trip for the Bombers. Here’s hoping.
9. Cardinals
The Redbirds are starting to get into the same stratosphere as the Yankees, where they win so much that fans are turned off by them. Sure, they do it “the right way” and sign the right players and get rid of the right players at the right time and so on and so forth. The Cardinals fans’ smugness and belief that they are the best fans in baseball and on top of that, the nicest fans in baseball is somewhat nauseating. Let’s be honest though, the only reason we hate the Cardinals fans is because we wish we were Cardinals fans. Damn them!
8. Dodgers
Yeah yeah, Joe Buck and the crew at Fox would give their left arm if they could guarantee a Yankees-Dodgers World Series, but most people would rather watch Jonathan Papelbon get his butt beat by Bryce Harper (alright poor example because obviously everyone would want to watch that). How about…most people would rather watch 162 straight Phillies games, eh, maybe a little overboard on that one. Let’s be honest, the Dodgers have the talent to go all the way and with the money they’ve thrown around out there, they deserve it.
Let’s also be honest and say no team deserves it less than the Dodgers! All that money and glamour in Hollywood shouldn’t mean your baseball team has October success. To be fair, they have not disappointed the haters come October in the last decade, but this is not the year to start. Also, fans that show up in the 3rd inning and leave in the 7th don’t deserve a championship either. Just because it needs to be said, if Vin Scully was his own baseball team, he would be ranked number one in this list.
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 27: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets sprays champagne as they celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 to clinch the National League East Championship at Great American Ball Park on September 26, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
7. Mets
Maybe it’s the irrational fan base (who will, when the Mets are eliminated, be crying the blues when they had no business being in the playoffs to begin with) or maybe it’s the echos of the 1986 club, or maybe because life is more fun when the Mets are bad, either way, the Mets going down quickly in the playoffs would be glorious. It’s not that anyone hates any of the Mets’ players, they just happen to play for the Mets. Oh wait…I do hate Keith Hernandez.
6. Rangers
Alright, the easy ones are out the way. Now lets get down to being more rational in our breaking down of these teams. The Rangers are a good story and a shocker of a division winner considering how their season began and where it was at one point. Cole Hamels has been a huge pickup for Texas and while he’s had his bumps, down the stretch he’s been clutch. With his playoff experience and their strong finish, the Rangers might have the mojo to make a deep run into October. A team that’s never won the World Series would be neat, but let’s not forget, they had their chance in 2010 and 2011 and blew it both times. There are better options there my dear neutral fan.
5. Pirates
Children of the sixties who grew up with the Pirates teams of the 1970s would likely have the Bucs lower in the rankings than fifth. They were an annoying team with a lot of personalities and a lot of wins (two WS titles in ’71 and ’79). But following their teams of the early nineties, the Pirates became the laughingstock of professional sports until they finally shed the monkey in 2013. This is a fun group of guys who play hard and who definitely have an entire city in their corner. They do have a Wild Card game in their way, but they could be a sleeper this October to make a run.
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 4: Hank Conger #16 of the Houston Astros celebrates with his team after clinching an American League wild card spot after a MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 4, 2015 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Darin Wallentine/Getty Images)
4. Astros
Nothing wrong with this team. They did relinquish the division down the stretch, but this team is so young and talented that regardless of the outcome of this October, they’ll be back. The only other team in the playoffs other than the Rangers who have never won a World Series, the Astros aren’t known for their raucous fans, but October success will certainly get Minute Maid Park rocking. It’s not the fans are distracted by the success of their football team or anything. The Astros certainly are an example of a team that did it the right way (no, I will NOT say The Cardinal Way). So maybe your team is so bad and will be for years to come and you need another team to pull for, the Astros might be a good option.
3. Blue Jays
Phillies fans of the 1993 notwithstanding, the Postseason might be the most electric in recent memory if the Blue Jays make a late run. The Rogers Centre is one of the loudest parks in the majors and that was showcased in August, what do you think it will be like in October? With an explosive offense which can hit homers in bunches and a pitching staff led by good guy David Price,there really isn’t a reason not to like the Blue Jays. Plus those uniforms…pretty.
2. Royals
So close last year! But they came back better than ever this season and there is no resounding reason to think they can’t do at least what they did in ’14. Missouri-ites would love to see a Cardinals – Royals World Series, but that’s too risky. If the only way the Royals are in the World Series is the Cardinals are in it…sorry Royals, go home.
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 26: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with fans after clinching their wildcard playoff position at Wrigley Field on September 26, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
1. Cubs
Obviously. I mean, duh! Who actually hates the Cubs? Sure Cardinals fans might tease them and look down on them and maybe White Sox fans bleat like a goat when they pass a Cubs fan in the street, but c’mon, the Cubs are so likable! Where were you in 1908? Well, you weren’t anywhere. Neither was your father. Neither was your grandfather. That’s the last time the Cubbies won it all and since then the Yankees have won 27 championships! Not only are the Cubs lovable, they have a legitimate roster who could make noise in October, as long as they get past the Pirates in the Wild Card game on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
I guarantee you if you asked Fox executives who they would want more than any matchup, they would say Yankees-Cubs. Another risky one, but hey, worst case scenario: Yankees win another one, snore! Cubs win? You haven’t seen a party like that in your life! Let’s just hope Bartman stays away this year…Oh yeah, we knew this day was coming a long time ago:
