The MLB Postseason schedule is set and it's time to see how the dust will settle and which team will be left standing a month from now to hoist up the Commissioner's Trophy. Let the games begin.
The San Diego Padres made it... so you know I'll be rooting for them. The question is whether or not I actually think they can pull it off and make it to the World Series. But before I answer that... I poaching the Card Board Junkie's idea and want to rank the playoff teams in regards to who I will be rooting for this postseason.
However since you already know the Padres will be the #1 team, let's go in reverse order...
2024 MLB Playoff Fanfare Rankings
#12: New York Yankees
2024 Topps #99
It's pretty simple. They are my least favorite team in baseball and I can't think of a situation during these playoffs where I'll be rooting for them.
#11: Los Angeles Dodgers
2024 Topps #500
The Dodgers have been to the playoffs thirteen straight seasons. They've gone to the World Series three times in the past seven seasons... and won one. Although there are a few guys on the roster I enjoy watching and collecting, the only way I'll root for them is if they're playing against the Yankees in the World Series.
#9t: Philadelphia Phillies & Houston Astros
2024 Topps #200
2024 Topps #273
Both of these teams are loaded with big names and are up there in regards to payrolls. More importantly... both of these teams were in the World Series two years ago. Although I don't hate either franchise... I'd prefer to see them give other teams a chance.
#8: New York Mets
2024 Topps #650
I considered putting the Mets up there with the Phillies and Astros, because they have a lot of money invested into their roster. But ultimately I'd rather see them in the World Series than either of those teams.
#5t: Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, & Cleveland Guardians
2024 Topps #254
2024 Topps #114
2024 Topps #450
This is the "meh" tier of my rankings. Don't really hate or love any of these teams. I'll definitely root for any of them over the five other teams already listed. I just don't really have a strong opinion among them. For example... the Orioles will host the Royals and although I have a prediction in mind... I don't really care who actually wins.
#4: Atlanta Braves
2024 Topps #484
I watched a lot of Braves baseball on TBS back in the day... so I tend to root for them when they're not playing against the Padres or A's. I actually feel bad that they've been stung in the hardest way by injuries. If they take down the Padres, I'll be rooting for them against the mighty Dodgers.
#3: Detroit Tigers
2024 Topps #294
Back on August 10, the Tigers lost to the Giants, had a 55-63 record, and were seven games outside of the final Wild Card spot. The won 33 of their next 44 games. How awesome is that? I don't think many people saw that coming. That's why I'm super excited for them and their fans. Plus I'd love to see a rematch of the 1984 World Series... with obviously a different outcome.
#2: Milwaukee Brewers
2024 Topps #570
Out of the twelve playoff teams, only the Brewers and Padres have never won a World Series title. If the Padres don't represent the National League in the World Series... I hope the Brewers do.
#1: San Diego Padres
2024 Topps #23
After Juan Soto was shipped off to New York, I didn't expect much from my favorite National League team. After the first 100 games, their record was 50-50... which was pretty much what I expected. Then something clicked, they won 43 out of their final 62 games, and the season became much more interesting. Let's go Padres!
2024 MLB Playoff Predictions
With my fanfare established... let's get back to the original question. Do I think the Padres will win the World Series this year? Let's look at my playoff predictions to find out:
Wild Card Round Predictions
2024 Topps #378
Kansas City at Baltimore: I'm picking the Orioles
Detroit at Houston: I'm picking the Tigers
New York at Milwaukee: I'm picking the Mets (Hope I'm wrong)
Atlanta at San Diego: I'm picking the Padres
ALDS Predictions
2024 Topps #6
Detroit vs. Cleveland: I'm picking the Tigers
Baltimore vs. New York: I'm picking the Yankees (Hope I'm wrong)
NLDS Predictions
2024 Topps #428
New York vs. Philadelphia: I'm picking the Phillies
San Diego vs. Los Angeles: I'm picking the Dodgers (Hope I'm wrong)
ALCS Predictions
2024 Topps #301
Detroit vs New York: I'm picking the Yankees (Hope I'm wrong)
Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles: I'm picking the Dodgers (Hope I'm wrong)
World Series Prediction
2024 Topps #401
New York vs. Los Angeles: I'm picking the Dodgers
Like I said... I can't picture a scenario where I'd be rooting for the Yankees, so if these two teams met in the World Series... I'll be pulling for Ohtani and company.
2024 Topps #2
However... like the title of this post says... I hope I'm wrong. If it were up to me, the San Diego Padres would face off against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1984 World Series. Only this time, the Padres would prevail.
What about you?
Who are you rooting for?
Who do you think will hoist the Commissioner's Trophy this postseason?
Guess there's nothing else left to do except sit back... and let the players do their jobs.
Happy postseason and sayonara!
Gee, am I glad somebody else had the Tigers going to the ALCS besides me. And they are who I'm rooting for to win it all.
ReplyDeleteIf not them, I'd appreciate it if the Royals or Padres won. They're my next two.
Good luck to your Padres and my Tigers!
ReplyDeleteThis goes without saying....I am rooting for my Braves and yes fingers crossed all the way......again.
ReplyDeleteHow about a 1984 rematch?
ReplyDeleteGo Tigers!
I'm rooting for the Mets, of course, and they've given us quite a ride these last few days. Yesterday's game one was crazy. After today I'm optimistic we'll get by Milwaukee, and I can't really complain if they manage that whatever happens after. I think best-case scenario is us making it to the LCS.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to predict the Phillies take it all, but it's pretty open.
Orioles fan here ,so our back is to the wall.I think they are letting to many teams into the playoffs .
ReplyDeleteRooting for: Padres or Brewers for new Champion reasons.
ReplyDeleteRooting against: Dodgers and Yankees because blech.
Sorta pulling for: Guardians, Orioles, Tigers, and Mets because it's been a long time since any of them have won a series.
Sorta rooting against: Astros and Braves because they've won too recently and I can't stand that chant in Atlanta.
Don't really care one way or another: Royals and Phillies.
Rooting for the Phillies in the NL and the Orioles in the AL.
ReplyDeletePredicting Dodgers - Guardians.
I am picking the same two teams from the 1984 World Series but this time San Diego over Detroit. Detroit was my late Grandfathers favorite team.
ReplyDeleteYankees!
ReplyDeleteginko-5 - let's go tigers! hope they win today
ReplyDeletedennis - with the padres eliminated, it's all up to the tigers. let's go tigers!
johnnys trading spot - the braves will be back in the hunt next season. they have such a talented rosters
john sharp - i was really, really hoping for that rematch. i'm so bummed that the padres bats froze up the past two games. but i'm rooting for the tigers today
brett alan - congratulations on taking down the phillies! i'll quietly root for the mets, now that the padres have been eliminated.
sg488 - more teams = more money for the owners. don't see them cutting back teams anytime soon.
nick vossbrink - looks like the dodgers/yankees world series is a serious possibility. let's go mets! let's go tigers! (or guardians)
elliptical man - congratulations... your prediction is alive and a definite possibility. rooting for the tigers today, but if the guardians win, they'll have my support over the yankees
rr - i'm so bummed the padres lost last night. hope your late grandfather's team wins today though
matt - i hope you are wrong :D