I'll go:Leskanic's_Thread said:I'm with the pro-Cubs people. I understand not liking Maddon. I know there are arguments that CHC fans aren't as desperate for a win as pre-2004 Red Sox fans were. But I also remember a lot of people saying things like, "Oh, Boston fans don't want to win, they won't know what to do with themselves, they LIKE being lovable losers, etc" back in the day. And the Cubs fan bashing sounds all too similar to me. 2004 was fucking magic, and every championship-drought fanbase deserves to experience something like that.
That said, my top rooting interest is purely anti-Yankees. And then anti-Cardinals -- mostly because they've had enough recently, and also to some degree because of their fanbase. As an L.A. resident, I dig the Dodgers...but I sort of like the idea of Mattingly never having a ring. (Jesus, I'm a negative asshole still scarred by years of NYY dominance.)
I guess my rankings would be:
1. Cubs (1908)
2. Astros (never won, and I know some good fans of the team)
3. Pirates (great to see them be relevant again, and a fun team)
4. Royals (been 30 years, plus so close last year)
5. Rangers (never won)
6. Blue Jays (20-ish years, plus they'll be fun as hell to watch)
7. Dodgers (would be much higher if Mattingly had been fired, which is so petty and dumb and I'm sorry)
8. Mets (love the idea of sad Yankee fans; hate the idea of '86 highlights throughout the Series)
9. Cardinals (enough)
10. MFY (ENOUGH)
1. Mets (my original pick though Harvey is making me reconsider)
2. Pirates (echos of lovable '79 team)
3. Jays (Great city, least obnoxious div rival)
4. Cubs (I get it)
5. Dodgers (all else being equal, great postseason pitching is fucking awesome)
6. Royals (sympathy if not excitement)
7. Astros (meh)
8. Rangers/Cardinals (pass)
not listed: Yankees