This season I am really excited to share my thoughts on MLB Playoffs. I am excited because there are SO many teams I enjoy watching. In the fall I usually focus more on college football than baseball. I have been switching back and forth so often. I am actually keeping up with the games.
I do have my favorite team which is the Atlanta Braves. I have loved them since middle school and watching games on TBS. But I do have a lot of teams in the playoffs that have a special place in my life. So sometimes it makes picking a team in the MLB Playoffs difficult.
WILD CARD GAMES
I am actually torn on how I feel about the new best of 3 in the MLB Playoffs. There are parts that I love being a best of 3 like it’s not just one and done. It will be interesting to see how it affects teams moving forward. We already had Max Scherzer say how much he was used last year affected his performance in Game 1. I’m interested to see how deep some teams will go with their pitchers during the MLB Playoffs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland Guardians
They are playing (6) Tampa Bay Rays. This is one of the games I don’t have any connections with either team.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have a pitcher that I saw in West Virginia when he was a Pirate, so that’s really the only reason I would cheer the Rays. I have family near Tampa who go to a lot of Rays games so I have more favor towards them but overall I don’t really care about this game.
Toronto Blue Jays
I love watching the Blue Jays play because of the names on the roster. They have a lot of HOF’s sons on the team and I want to see how so many “big names” play together. I’m not sure why but I have been obsessed with personalities on how they mesh together. Also, my “Canadian” team would be the Blue Jays. It has nothing to do with baseball, but I love that there is a hotel that overlooks their stadium. Bucket list item for sure.
Seattle Mariners
I am stoked that this team in the MLB Playoffs because they absolutely deserve it. We were a Mariners affiliate for 3 years so I have seen so many of these guys go through the Mariners system. The Marines I saw Cal Raleigh hit his first professional home run. (He actually hit 2 homeruns that night from both sides of the plate) I joke that I liked Cal before anyone else. The Mariners will also have a special place in my heart. I hope that all the fans that come out for the postseason come back for the home opener.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies
I don’t like the Phillies. I am a Braves fan and just going to leave that there. This is probably towards the bottom of teams I want to watch.
St. Louis Cardinals
Full Transparency – This is our current affiliate. I am not known for choosing my words wisely but I will try really hard. I don’t like the Cards, and I have seen I was in high school. When we agreed to come to our new team, I said I would play nice. This is probably as nice as I can be. There are 2 reasons I am cheering for them – they play the Braves next and my husband might get a ring if they win.
New York Mets
I’m so over them this season. To be fair it really doesn’t take much for me to be over them. The only reason I want to go to a Mets game is because they have a sensory nook. I haven’t talked about it much but I get extremely overwhelmed in big crowds and sounds. Other than the Mets are irrelevant in my life.
San Diego Padres
I want them to win only because of my hatred of the Mets. I want to go see the stadium but that’s about it. I told my husband I have matured this season because Manny Machado doesn’t annoy me anymore. It’s also weird that he has become a voice of reason for the team. Never say that coming.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York Yankees
I love the Yankees. I am a sucker for pinstripe, history and tradition. I love that they stick with things no matter what. The transformation of some players once they become a Yankee is night and day. The Yankees were on Sunday Night Baseball and they showed a variety of players who have had to shave or cut their hair.
Houston Astros
This is another team we have been affiliated for a while. Gary holds more to the Astros than I do. I really don’t care either way about the Astros. I am over hearing about the 2017 cheating scandal but I do think they handled it wrong.
One thing I am always curious about it is when we lived in OKC, the team just became a Astros affiliate. People in OKC where pissed because they use to be a Rangers affiliate, and the Rangers won the World Series the previous season. I am intrigued to know how many people would be excited to see the Astros there. (OKC is now a Dodgers affiliate.)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta Braves
This is my TEAM! I am so excited that we are in the postseason again. I love this team. I am so excited to see how far they go this year. it was so fun to see them play this year in Milwaukee. We had great seats behind home.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Before I was a Braves fan, I was a dodgers fan. I LOVED Tommy Lasorda. When we were still in California, I am so thankful we got to go to a Dodgers game. We never sat in our assigned seat during the game because we were too busy walking around the whole time. If we lived in near Dodger stadium I would get the cheapest tickets just to get in the gate. My favorite spot is outfield. They have so many cool places to sit with friends but there are TV and sound. You feel like you are right there.
MY RANKING
Here is my rankings of the 12 teams in order that I like them NOT how good I think they are. I am not ready to make a post like this. I am going to stick to my opinions based off the players and my personal feelings.
Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets
MY PREDICTIONS
Tampa Bay over Cleveland
Seattle over Toronto
St. Louis over Philadelphia
San Diego over New York Mets
ALDS
New York Yankees over Tampa Bay
Seattle over Astros (I feel like this is either going to go 7 or be a blow out) I think this game is a coin toss
NLDS
Atlanta over St. Louis
LA over San Diego (I think this is going to go 7)
ALCS
New York Yankees over Seattle (If it’s NYY vs Astros – I would pick the Astros)
NLCS
I want to say Atlanta over LA, but real prediction LA over Atlanta.
WORLD SERIES
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Houston Astros – Dodgers in 5
Whether it’s the Dodgers/Braves, I think there are going to be so many story lines to play out.
