Rooting for the bad guys

Just embrace the (probable) Yankees-Dodgers World Series matchup

This year’s baseball postseason has been nearly without flaw. Plenty of excitement and drama from the beginning, upsets, underdogs, and players stepping up in big moments. Personally, I have enjoyed the Tigers’ incredible run from late August to the doorstep of the ALCS the most.

But there’s one possible playoff blemish in the works. If, like me, you love rooting for underdogs, the most likely World Series matchup is not going to make you happy. The Dodgers are currently a win away from the Fall Classic, and the Yankees need just two more. Los Angeles has looked mostly dominant against the Mets in the NLCS and aside from the Guardians’ late-inning dramatics on Thursday night, they don’t look strong enough to oust the Yankees. I might end up being wildly wrong here, but I think the Mets and Guardians’ are both going home unhappy soon.

So gird yourself for the (likely) inevitable Yankees-Dodgers World Series. But before you dismay, there are some reasons to appreciate that pairing.

1. It’s actually a very old rivalry — The Yankees and Dodgers have faced each other in the World Series 11 times, going back to 1941. At that time, they were both in New York City, but they’ve faced each other plenty since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

2. Despite that, they haven’t played each other in the World Series in a long time. The last New York vs. LA/Yankees vs. Dodgers showdown was in 1981, when the Dodgers won it. The series was a harbinger for the Yankees, who didn’t win a single championship in the 1980s, the only decade that’s happened for them since before Babe Ruth was on the team.

3. This matchup would showcase two of the most exciting players in baseball. Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge. You want to see that. Even though Ohtani isn’t pitching right now, he’s enough of an offensive talent to make him one of the stars of the show. Ohtani is the most dynamic player in baseball and arguably the most dynamic player the sport has ever had. Whatever feelings you have about the Dodgers, you want this guy in the World Series. As for Aaron Judge, he’s like what you’d design as a make-a-player in a video game. He’s hit over 50 home runs in a season three times, including this year.

4. The supporting cast is fantastic, too. Only in Ohtani’s world would someone like Mookie Betts be in the backdrop. He is a former batting champion who could play anywhere defensively if he wanted. There’s also Freddie Freeman, who’s basically playing on one leg and still hitting fourth in the Dodgers’ lineup. The Yankees have Juan Soto, who might command one of the biggest free agent contracts in baseball history this winter. Yankees fans make a mock $600 million check to entice him, but that number might not be too far off.

5. Baseball needs to hog the spotlight whenever it can. This time of year you’re competing with a lot of other things for sports fans’ attention, so if getting the two biggest markets and two of the most notorious teams in the game’s history to face off against each other is what it takes to garner more national attention, run with it.

Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to see the Orioles, Tigers, Padres, or even Brewers have a shot. Maybe they will soon, but for now, I’ll cop to rooting for the big dogs to go after each other in the World Series.

Things I’ve Done Lately:

1. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the White Sox needing to fix things from the top. Apt, as it turns out, since it looks like Jerry Reinsdorf might really sell the team.

2. On Cody Bellinger and whether he opts to stay with the Cubs. I think it’s in his best interest, but he might gauge the market and take what might be his last chance to get a big payday.

What I’m Digging Right Now:

1. It’s still way too early for Christmas music, but William Prince just released some that I’ll be listening to when the time does come (after Thanksgiving, as a personal rule).

2. I ran my second Chicago Marathon this past weekend, and I can’t say enough how much fun that day is. I’ve never seen the city brought together for one thing the way it is on that day. Even if you aren’t up for running it, go spectate one year.

3. Anthony Rizzo’s prank calls. It turns out he likes to prank the bullpen during games, and I’m all for some levity in the tension of a playoff game.