A casual fan’s guide to the baseball bandwagon
So you’re a casual baseball fan trying to decide who to cheer for now that the post-season is here and the Blue Jays are not. Well, based on a number of “rootability” factors — scored on a 0-3 scale — we’re here to help you decide which bandwagon you should hop on to. Note the team that scored highest also has the best fan dance. Coincidence? Likely not.
N.Y. YANKEES
AL East winner Record: 95-67 Last won World Series: 2009 CanCon: C Russell Martin, 2/3 Ex Jays: Backup 3B Jayson Nix, 1/3 Best players: Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, 2/3 Storyline: Aging dynasty clings to greatness, 2/3 Underdog status: Big budget powerhouse opposite of underdogs, 0/3. Total rootability score: Irrelevant. Unless you’re already a fan you can’t root for the Yankees, 7/15
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
AL West winner Record: 94-68 Last won World Series: 1989 CanCon: C George Kottaras, 2/3 Ex Jays: Ps Jeremy Accardo, Jesse Chavez, 1/3 Best players: Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes, Grant Balfour, 3/3 Storyline: Rookie rotation tops Texas, everybody does the Bernie! 3/3 Underdog status: 14 games under .500 a year ago, 3/3
Total rootability score: 12/15
DETROIT TIGERS
AL Central winner Record: 88-74 Last won World Series: 1984 CanCon: It’s almost Windsor? 0/3 Ex Jays: P Octavio Dotel, 1/3 Best players: Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander, 3/3 Storyline: Riding Cabrera’s Triple Crown, Tigers heating up again, 2/3 Underdog status: Big-time free agents, likely MVP, no chance, 1/3 Total rootability score: 7/15
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
AL second wild card Record: 93-69 Last won World Series: 1983 CanCon: Nada, 0/3 Ex Jays: None, 0/3 Best players: Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Pedro Strop, 2/3 Storyline: Orioles go from worst to first on bombs and bullpen, 3/3 Underdog status: Flipped their winloss record, defied doubters, 3/3 Total rootability score: 8/15
TEXAS RANGERS
AL first wild card Record: 93-69 Last won World Series: Never CanCon: P Ryan Dempster, 3/3 Ex Jays: C Mike Napoli, sort of, 0/3 Best players: Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Yu Darvish, 2/3 Storyline: Back-to-back AL champs hoping third time’s the charm, 2/3 Underdog status: They score sympathy points for losing the big one two years in a row, especially because they’ve never won, 2/3 Total rootability score: 9/15
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
NL East winner Record: 98-64 Last won World Series: Never CanCon: Former Montreal Expos, 1/3 Ex Jays: Edwin Jackson, sort of, 0.5/3 Best players: Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, 3/3 Storyline: Can they win without Strasburg? Clown question, bro, 2/3 Underdog status: Yes, they won 98 games, but they’re a young team who has never been there before, 3/3 Total rootability score: 9.5/15
CINCINNATI REDS
NL Central winner Record: 97-65 Last won World Series: 1990 CanCon: 1B Joey Votto, 3/3 Ex Jays: Scott Rolen, 2/3 Best players: Votto, Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman, 3/3 Storyline: Steady Reds look to win it for ailing skipper Dusty Baker, 1/3 Underdog status: Arguably most talented roster in playoffs, 1/3 Total rootability score: 10/15
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
NL West winner Record: 94-68 Last won World Series: 2010 CanCon: None, 0/3 Ex Jays: 2B/SS Marco Scutaro, 1/3 Best players: Matt Cain, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, 3/3 Storyline: No Melky, no matter. What about The Freak? 2/3 Underdog status: The 2010 World Series win hurts them here, 1/3 Total rootability score: 7/15
ATLANTA BRAVES
NL first wild card Record: 94-68 Last won World Series: 1995 CanCon: Negative score for upsidedown Canadian flag from 1992, -1/3 Ex Jays: P Miguel Batista, OF Eric Hinske, OF Reed Johnson, 1B Lyle Overbay, 3/3 Best players: Kris Medlen, Craig Kimbrel, Chipper Jones, 2/3 Storyline: Trying to erase memory of 2011, Chipper’s last gasp, 3/3 Underdog status: 94 wins, but still a wild card, 2/3 Total rootability score: 9/15
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
NL second wild card Record: 88-74 Last won World Series: 2011 CanCon: None, 0/3 Ex Jays: P Chris Carpenter, P Marc Rzepcynski, 2/3 Best players: Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, David Freese, 2/3 Storyline: Hoping for a wildcard World Series repeat, 2/3 Underdog status: Share wealth, 0/3 Total rootability score: 6/15