Seeing underdogs win is fun and I almost always root for them (what would you expect from a lifelong Pirates fan?). However, I would have mixed feelings if all the top teams that had established excellence over 162 games were eliminated. For example, yes it would be fun if the Royals knock out the Yankees, but the Yankees finished 8 games better than the Royals despite not getting the benefit of a 12-1 record against the White Sox. So, part of me feels like such an outcome would cheapen the rest of the postseason. I.e., part of me wants to watch the teams that were clearly superior over 162 games.
So, maybe go Yankees, Guardians, and Dodgers? I'm okay with the Mets since they had the best record in baseball since mid-June when they were 11 games under .500--that's a long stretch of excellence, even if they're not quite as deserving as the Brewers or Phillies.
Bucs new 1st baseman next year will be 38 yr old Jose Abreu. Houston is still paying him 19.5 million to not play for them. So he would only cost the league minimum. He will be playing winter ball this year.
What’s going on with Mets and Tigers should embolden fans of every team who is close to being a playoff team. Both teams were afterthoughts in July, but have parlayed momentum into an October run that may lead to a pennant and/or World Series win.
This is the healthiest competitive environment baseball has seen in some time. No super teams. All the money in the world certainly still helps, but only percentages on the margin. There's a dozen other teams in the NL who should roll into 2025 expecting to compete, sure, but at least the Pirates can be one of them if they want to be.
Top level starting pitching and hitting homers are two of the themes that seem to reign supreme every postseason. We have at least one of those (hint: need MOAR DINGERZZ)
Seeing underdogs win is fun and I almost always root for them (what would you expect from a lifelong Pirates fan?). However, I would have mixed feelings if all the top teams that had established excellence over 162 games were eliminated. For example, yes it would be fun if the Royals knock out the Yankees, but the Yankees finished 8 games better than the Royals despite not getting the benefit of a 12-1 record against the White Sox. So, part of me feels like such an outcome would cheapen the rest of the postseason. I.e., part of me wants to watch the teams that were clearly superior over 162 games.
So, maybe go Yankees, Guardians, and Dodgers? I'm okay with the Mets since they had the best record in baseball since mid-June when they were 11 games under .500--that's a long stretch of excellence, even if they're not quite as deserving as the Brewers or Phillies.
So can we count Milton taking out the Trop as at least a small silver lining?
Move that team to Charlotte or Montreal!
Or let’s build a new stadium in the same place where the old one didn’t draw!
Bucs new 1st baseman next year will be 38 yr old Jose Abreu. Houston is still paying him 19.5 million to not play for them. So he would only cost the league minimum. He will be playing winter ball this year.
What’s going on with Mets and Tigers should embolden fans of every team who is close to being a playoff team. Both teams were afterthoughts in July, but have parlayed momentum into an October run that may lead to a pennant and/or World Series win.
Maybe this will be the Pirates in 2025?
Bingo!
This is the healthiest competitive environment baseball has seen in some time. No super teams. All the money in the world certainly still helps, but only percentages on the margin. There's a dozen other teams in the NL who should roll into 2025 expecting to compete, sure, but at least the Pirates can be one of them if they want to be.
Top level starting pitching and hitting homers are two of the themes that seem to reign supreme every postseason. We have at least one of those (hint: need MOAR DINGERZZ)