The 2024 MLB World Series starts tomorrow, and the big questions are, who you root-root-rooting for and who you think will win it all. Their fans are likely the only ones without a rooting dilemma. They know exactly who to root for and who is gonna take the series, their team of course. But for us without a dog in the fight, who do we wanna see hoist the championship trophy.
My dilemma, and I'm sure many other baseball fans find themselves in this pickle. Do you continue to root against your division rival, or do you swallow your team pride, root for your rival and painfully watch them possibly celebrate a World Series Championship. It's a huge dilemma, and a choice not to be made lightly.
Some baseball fans without a dog in the fight might find themselves in a geographical dilemma. What does a fan born and raised on the east coast but now living on the west coast do when his team is not in the series. Or what about National League vs American League. Do you stay loyal to any coast or league, or do you just choose to root against the team you hate most. Mind you, there can't be any two teams in baseball who are more unlikeable than the Dodgers and Yankees. Well, maybe the Red Sox but it’s easy to hate on anything Boston.
Power ranking and talent wise, I would give advantage to the Dodgers. Both teams have gotten here with exceptionally dominant play. But I believe the Dodgers postseason opponents (Padres, Mets) were much more competitive challengers than what the Yankees faced (Royals, Guardians). Also, something about the Yankees looks clunky and vulnerable at times, whereas the Dodgers when healthy look . . . unfazed and destined to be the last team standing.
And then there's the Big-In-Japan, Godzilla with a bat import, Shotime. How will Yankees pitchers approach Shohei Ohtani in the box. With the game on the line, they better walk him if they know what's good for them. And that goes for Mookie, Muncey, Edman, and the Hernandez's. Yankees should count their blessings Shotime isn't pitching this series.
Finally, there's the home field factor and the recent passing of Dodgers legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. I'm sure the team battle cry has morphed into "This One's For Fernando" there at Dodger Stadium. What baseball fan who remembers FernandoMania wouldn't be rooting for his team to win one for the "El Toro." The Mexican born pitcher was truly a player who inspired fans and teammates alike. There will be a moment of silence for the fallen bull pitcher.
Rest Well "El Toro!"
And you can say you heard it from me one time, and one time only in my life as a Giants fan:
Give'em Hell Dodgers!
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