A Rooting Guide For the Casual Baseball Fan
Presenting the easiest way to pick a team primed for a playoff run—because it’s not too late to support your new “favorite” squad.
One of the reasons MLB added a second wildcard in 2012 was to increase the number of contending teams — and therefore fan interest. After almost two-thirds of the season, nearly half the league is within three games of a playoff spot. So it worked! They’ve nailed the competitive part. As for the fan interest…we’re here to help you with that. With the trade deadline nearly two weeks away, you haven’t really missed much. So if you’re just dropping in on the season now and have no clue, here’s a completely sabermetric-free breakdown of reasons to root for the teams still in the race.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles
Do you like home runs? Chicks in the ’90s sure do. If you’re a warm-blooded American, you probably do, too. The O’s lead the league in long balls and are the only team with two guys in the top 10 for home runs, including league leader Mark Trumbo. If you’re looking for a team to mash its way to homer-heavy 8–5 playoff victories, this is the team for you. Plus, it’d make Jimmy McNulty really happy, and hasn’t he earned that?
Boston Red Sox
Since breaking their century long curse in 2004, Boston has gone from easy-to-root-for underdog to a more beardtastic version of their hated Yankees. Fortunately, baseball fans have a 250-pound Dominican reason to root for the Sox this year. Despite enjoying a career year, 40-year-old David Ortiz plans to retire after the season, leaving a Big Papi-sized hole in our collective hearts. Rooting for one of the best clutch hitters in history to have a chance to do his thing in the playoffs one last time seems like the least we can do.
Toronto Blue Jays
Have you ever found yourself rooting for the villain in movies? Toronto may be the team for you. This team pisses people off. A lot. They also happen to have one of the most potent offenses in baseball history, but that’s almost secondary to their embrace of the dark side. If you’ve ever had a thing for a troublemaker, the Toronto Sith Lords — I mean Blue Jays — might be your 2016 team of choice.
AL Central
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland just might be home to one of the the game’s best kept secrets: super utility man Jose Ramirez. The 23-year-old has played four positions while being a force in the middle of the lineup, and seems to enjoy himself immensely while doing it. Intentionally or unintentionally, Ramirez is the most entertaining player nobody’s ever heard of. It’s nice that he and the Tribe are giving the city something to root for between the Cavs championship and the start of football season.
AL West
Texas Rangers
Future HOF third baseman Adrian Beltre has a real issue with anyone touching his head. Teammate Elvis Andrus is very aware of this. Andrus isn’t above disrupting a meeting on the mound to torment his friend. He won’t even let poor Beltre celebrate a home run without gleefully pissing him off. Seriously, look at the pure joy on Elvis’ face. The Rangers are legit contenders, but potentially seeing a player punch a teammate on national television for touching his head is something we can all root for.
Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are the poster franchise for quick turnarounds, having been the league’s worst team a mere three seasons ago. But that becomes secondary once you feast your eyes and ears on this video of Jose Altuve channeling his inner Brian Littrell, belting out classic Backstreet Boys with his teammates on harmony. Hearts were captured. Memes were made. The world is a better place.
NL East
Washington Nationals
Should you be rooting for the Nats? That’s a clown question, bro. The Bryce Harper-led Nationals have been mounting a campaign we can all get behind: Make Baseball Fun Again. Actively revolting against baseball’s stodgy old guard, Harper has gone out of his way to inject some joy into America’s pastime, admirably offending cantankerous old has-beens in the process. If you’re in touch with the rebellious teen inside us all, you may enjoy pulling for Washington.
New York Mets
One of the most tortured franchises of the last ten years, the Mets rode one of the best young rotations ever assembled to an unlikely World Series appearance last year. Their roster of comic book-inspired nicknames is fitting for a franchise that was almost named The Avengers but so too is the fact that most of them are currently on the DL. With Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom throwing fire almost as hot as their hair, the Mets have a solid chance to let their followers feel superior to Yankee fans, and who can’t get behind that?
Miami Marlins
Miami is home to the game’s oddest odd couple, Giancarlo Stanton and fellow outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Stanton is a 26-year-old who can hit a baseball out of a stadium. The 42-year-old Ichiro Suzuki goes at hitting a bit differently. Giancarlo was raised in the era of political correctness, going out of his way to avoid being inflammatory. Ichiro speaks his mind. The Marlins have a real chance of exceeding expectations and sneaking in to the playoffs, but a true victory would be for them to give us the Stanton/Suzuki reality show America desperately needs.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
You’ve probably heard about the Cubbies’ 107-year championship drought and their league-best roster that has a real chance of ending it. To cope with this pressure, manager Joe Maddon has instituted a strict “If you look hot, you wear it” policy. This has inspired some patriotic looks, a team slumber party and even some beautiful princesses. Imagine what they’ll wear if they break the franchise’s century-long curse.
St Louis Cardinals
Frankly, the Cards have never been/will never be sexy. They are baseball’s answer to the Spurs, a factory of quietly sustained excellence. This year, their best hitters are Aledmys Diaz and Stephen Piscotty, card-carrying members of the Players You’ve Never Heard Of Club. If you’re someone who wants greatness in anonymity, hop aboard the Cardinals bandwagon.
NL West
San Francisco Giants
Full disclosure: I am a Giants fan. Join us, won’t you? Can I interest you in Brandon Belt, our All-Star first basemen who embraces the nickname Baby Giraffe? How about our All-Star right fielder who inspires opposing fans to make Bill Brasky-esque signs? Or maybe you’re interested in rooting for the decade’s dominant franchise, having won 3 rings since 2010. There are plenty of reasons to join our cult — I mean fanbase — and bask in the glow of success.
Los Angeles Dodgers
You saw where I said I’m a Giants fan, right? With that in mind, allow me to assure you that the Dodgers are the baseball equivalent of Halloween 3 masks, an evil franchise full of bugs and snakes waiting to terrorize you. But I suppose if you’re looking for a reason to root for them, Clayton Kershaw’s all-time greatness is a good one. Kershaw already has a legit case for G.O.A.T. pitcher but thanks to a back injury that might require surgery the opportunity to exorcise the postseason demons that have haunted him throughout his career might be lost for the season. You’ve been warned of the Dodger’s evils — root for them at your own risk.
