ALDS Rooting Interest - Astros vs. Indians

[Centerfield]

Who do you choose?

The thing is, if I knew the MFY's were out, I'd root for Cleveland. I'd love to see that fan base get a championship.

But if the MFY's advance, I'd definitely want Houston to be there waiting for them.

THIS IS WHY OAKLAND SHOULD HAVE JUST WON AND MADE IT A STRESS-FREE OCTOBER.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree about the Oakland part.

I have no idea whether Houston is better than Cleveland or Cleveland is better than Houston, but it would be nice to see the Indians win a World Series. So I voted for Cleveland.

But yes, the primary objective is to eliminate the Yankees as soon as possible.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Every time I see that stupid red-faced mascot - and they love to trot him out more in the playoffs - I want Cleveland to get their asses kicked. I'm rooting for Houston and the continued curse of Wahoo.

[Centerfield]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Every time I see that stupid red-faced mascot - and they love to trot him out more in the playoffs - I want Cleveland to get their asses kicked. I'm rooting for Houston and the continued curse of Wahoo.

This is a fair point.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: A Boy Named Seo wrote: Every time I see that stupid red-faced mascot - and they love to trot him out more in the playoffs - I want Cleveland to get their asses kicked. I'm rooting for Houston and the continued curse of Wahoo. This is a fair point.

of course, Astros traded for Roberto Osuna who was serving a 75 game suspension for domestic violence, made troubling remarks about it, and then kicked out a fan holding up a sign with a domestic violence hotline number.

[Lefty Specialist]

Dumping Yankees overrides all other concerns. Astros.

Of course, I'm hoping the Bosox take care of bizness first.

[smg58]

Indians, although I will root for whoever wins in the ALCS.

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: The thing is, if I knew the MFY's were out, I'd root for Cleveland ... But if the MFY's advance, I'd definitely want Houston to be there waiting for them.

This. Especially since I don't trust Boston to take care of things. I've never had less confidence in a 108 win team and I think it's more than just a case of expecting the worst:
-- Sale isn't right; Price melts whenever he sees pinstripes; weak at catcher and middle relief, etc. They've got great stars in Beantown but the Yanx out-depth them in several areas.
Bottom line: Very little KAHNfidence so I definitely want Houston sitting around waiting if/when they advance.

[Guest sharpie]

Rooting for an Astros-Brewers series so the former NL now AL team will face the former AL now NL team.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ooh. I like sharpie's Weird Series* idea.

*For olds

[Frayed Knot]

That Astros - Brewers matchup would also be the gypsy World Series as the Brewers played in the AL West from 1969 - 1971 (in '69 as the Seattle Pilots), and then as the only central time zone team in the
AL East from 1972-1993 (Washington's move to Arlington, Texas prompted that switch), then to the AL Central from 1994-1997 following the realignment of leagues into three divisions, and since 1998 out
of the NL Central
Houston, meanwhile, has migrated from the NL West (1969-1993) to the NL Central (1994-2012) and now to the AL West (2013 - ), not to mention having existed in just the plain old NL from 1962-1968




Either NL team winning it all this year would up the number of different champions over the last 20 seasons in MLB to 13 as the Dodgers last win was 1988 and the Brewers last won ... never.
Obviously an AL win keeps that ticker at 12 as both the Astros and Red Sox have won recently and while the Marlins 1997 WS title 'falls out' of the 20-year window with the conclusion of this
year's post-season, their 2003 WS win keeps them on the list so no reduction there.
21 different franchises have played in a WS during that same 20 year window*, a number which will go up by one if the Brewers prevail this week.

Remaining unchanged this year is the number of franchises, three, who have failed to at least reach an LCS since 1999. Oddly all are from the NL:
- Cincy, whose last NLCS appearance was getting swept in four straight by the eventual WS winning Braves in 1995
- Pittsburgh, whose most recent NLCS memory is that of Sid Bream sliding into home with the winning run for the 1992 Braves
- and finally Montreal/Washington whose last -- actually ONLY -- LCS experience was losing to a Rick Monday Game 5/9th inning HR in 1981. In the bottom of that 9th Jerry White grounded
out with Gary Carter and Larry Parrish on base to end the game (2-1 Dodgers).
As the Nats they've famously lost four times -- 3-2 (2012) 3-1 (2014) 3-2 (2016) and 3-2 (2017) -- in the round just prior to the NLCS (moment of silence please ... OK, that's enough)


The NFL, btw, has also had 12 different champions over that same 20 year span, but fewer finalists (20 vs 21/22 in MLB) and currently has nine different franchises on the outside
looking in at the conference championship round over the most recent two decades: Buffalo, Miami, Cincy (tough sports town), Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Dallas, DC, and Detroit

But the salary cap promotes parity!!! -- Yeah, no it doesn't.





* not MIN, BAL, TOR, SEA, OAK on the AL side, nor CIN, WAS/MON, PIT, or MIL from the NL

Edited October 10, 2018 by Guest

[Guest cooby]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Every time I see that stupid red-faced mascot - and they love to trot him out more in the playoffs - I want Cleveland to get their asses kicked. I'm rooting for Houston and the continued curse of Wahoo.

Why?

[Guest cooby]

Centerfield wrote: A Boy Named Seo wrote: Every time I see that stupid red-faced mascot - and they love to trot him out more in the playoffs - I want Cleveland to get their asses kicked. I'm rooting for Houston and the continued curse of Wahoo. This is a fair point.

How?

[Frayed Knot]

When?

[MFS62]

Third base?
Later