Bryan Altman, CBS Local Sports

So, your team just didn’t cut it this season. Six months, 162 games and countless hours wasted watching your baseball team flounder about and failing to make it to the playoffs, or even to the one-game playoff, which I know is technically considered to be the playoffs but we all know that’s not really the case.

Anyway, the fact that your team couldn’t hack it this year isn’t a good enough reason to sit on the sidelines all of October as the MLB postseason gets underway. To help you decide which team(s) to root for and which team(s) to root against this coming post season, we’re breaking down which teams you should root for based on how likable they are.

How will we judge that you ask? Introducing… The CBS Local Sports likability scale, judged from 1-10 and based solely on trivial overviews of the 10 teams’ history, current roster, manager, fans, ETC… basically all of the things you need to analyze before jumping haphazardly onto a bandwagon for the next month or so.

Keep in mind: these likability ratings don’t take into account any rivalries you might have because of your favorite team. For example, if you’re a Giants fan, obviously you’re not rooting for the Dodgers, so don’t worry about their rating. Just move on to the next team.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s a look at the 10 MLB teams vying for the Commissioner’s Trophy this Fall and why they do, or don’t, deserve your support.

Wild Card Games

Astros @ Yankees – Tuesday 10/6 8:00 p.m. ET

1. Houston Astros

Likability Rating: 6 out of 10

Why you should root for them: C’mon, this is a feel good story! The Astros lost 100 games just two years ago, nobody saw this coming. And along with their in-state rival Texas Rangers, they’re the only other team that has yet to win a World Series.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Why you should root against them: Well, you don’t have to root against them, they’re not as unlikable as some teams in the post season – I just wouldn’t recommend getting too invested in them. Beating the Yankees in the Bronx feels like a long shot for a team that stumbled down the stretch and has to face Masahiro Tanaka in a one-game playoff and doing anything significant afterwards is probably a long shot as well.

2. New York Yankees 

Likability Rating: 4 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because their aging roster might not get another crack at it. Carlos Beltran, Mark Texiera (not playing, but still), Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia (also not playing, hopefully on the road to recovery) are in the twilight of their careers and deserve to go out with a bang. Right?

Why you should root against them: Where to begin. Well, I guess you begin with the number 27, a reminder that they’ve won plenty and nobody outside of the Bronx wants to see them win this thing. Then add to that the A-Rod factor and you have every reason you need to drink the anti-Yankee ‘haterade.’

Cubs @ Pirates – Wednesday 10/7, 8 p.m. ET

3. Chicago Cubs 

Likability Rating: 10 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Uh, because basically nobody alive today has EVER seen the Cubs win a World Series. 1908 – 107 years ago was the last time the Cubs won it all and it’s time to break the curse! Plus, their young stars like Jake Arrieta, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Starlin Castro are a blast to watch – not to mention the fact that Joe Maddon is easily the most affable manager in the game today. This is by far the easiest team to root for if you don’t have other rooting interest this post season. Also, it’s been foretold, so hop on board.

Why you should root against them: You don’t like fairy tale endings, have an irrational hatred of deep-dish pizzas and all things Chicago and want every centenarian born a Cubs fan to die without one last moment of happiness thanks to their beloved Cubbies. That or you’re the type of person that enjoys a good curse and doesn’t want to see one broken.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

Likability Rating: 7 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because they haven’t been quite as inept as the Cubs, but have been pretty darn close over the last 35 years or so. Either way, if they beat Jake Arrieta in a one-game playoff, who might just beat out Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw for the NL Cy Young, they deserve all of our support.

Why you should root against them: Mainly because they might beat the Cubs and ruin their chances.

National League Division Series

Mets vs. Dodgers

5. New York Mets 

Likability Rating: 7 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Full disclosure on this one: I’m a Mets fan. So if you want to see me happy, then root for the Mets. Otherwise, the Mets have had a miraculous season that nobody thought possible back in April. Their staff of young pitchers is a blast to watch and Yoenis Cespedes has been one of the best/most exciting hitters in baseball all season.

Why you should root against them: I’d imagine anyone who’s not a Mets or Yankees fan (Yankees because they assume they’re going to get him in a few short years and he’s a self-proclaimed fan of the team), might find Harvey insufferable. Cespedes and Daniel Murphy also give me the ‘I’d really, really hate you if you weren’t on my team’ vibe and might be worth rooting against this post season.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers

Likability Rating: 6 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because shadily the Dodgers haven’t won a championship in over 25 years and because Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in the game and deserves to throw that post season monkey off his back.


Why you should root against them: The Dodgers’ acquisition of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley has turned them into the West coast Phillies, so if you hate either the Dodgers OR the Phillies they’re an easy team to hate. This rings especially true for Mets fans, who just have to know deep down inside that Chase Utley is going to win at least one playoff game against the Mets single-handedly.

Cardinals vs. Cubs/Pirates

7. St. Louis Cardinals

Likability Rating: 4 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because they lost their ace (Adam Wainwright) in May and just kept truckin’ on their way to a 100-win season.

Why you should root against them: Because they’ve won plenty over the last few years and they hacked the poor Houston Astros’ database earlier this year, which everyone seems to have forgotten during their magical run to the top of the NL Central. People don’t forget St. Louis, I’d love to say cheaters never prosper but we all know that’s not true.

American League Division Series

Rangers vs. Blue Jays

8. Texas Rangers

Likability Rating: 7 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because they were eight games back of first place on Aug. 1! Because Cole Hamels hasn’t lost in 10 straight starts after people wondered why the heck the Rangers traded for him in the first place. And because David Freese did this in 2011 and the Rangers deserve justice.

Why you should root against them: Because they’re a stones throw away from the Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, and you probably hate the Cowboys, so you should probably root against the Rangers. That’s all I’ve got.

9. Toronto Blue Jays

Likability Rating: 6 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Do you like runs? Do you like home runs? Then the Blue Jays are undoubtedly the team for you. The Blue Jays lead the majors this season in every major hitting category and scored 100 more runs than any other team in MLB this year. You want fireworks? Tune in to a Blue Jays game this season and you won’t be disappointed.

(Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

Why you should root against them: As likable as the team may be, and as exciting as their hitting may be as well, they’re still a Canadian team. Don’t feel bad for having that mindset. Pretty much all of Canada can agree on one thing when it comes time for Stanley Cup playoff hockey and that’s if their team can’t win it all, let’s hope it’s a Canadian team.

Royals vs. Yankees/Astros

10. Kansas City Royals

Likability Rating: 8 out of 10

Why you should root for them: Because you had an absolute blast doing it last year and want to relive those days. The Royals are pretty much intact from last year plus or minus a few guys (minus Billy Butler and James Shields, plus Johnny Cueto and Kendrys Morales) and are actually projected to have a fighter’s chance at winning this thing this year, which is important because if you’re looking to bandwagon here, you want to maximize your chances of winning and of being really excited when you do so.

Why you should root against them: They were last year’s story. They’re still an incredible story of a small market team doing great things but it’s definitely not as cool as last year’s Cinderella tale. The aura is slightly gone and there are new teams with more exciting storylines than the 2015 Royals. People forget pretty quickly, and that seems to be the case here.

So there you have it, your 2015 MLB post season rooting guide. Choose quickly as the games begin soon, but also choose wisely and you might be able to enjoy playoff baseball after all.




Leave a Reply