A Cubs fan’s guide to the World Series

The World Sequence is right here and the published networks are getting precisely what they dream about every year — a battle between the 2 largest media markets within the nation. It’s positive to attract lots of viewers. I’ll actually be tuned in even if I’m already groaning over the sycophantic conduct from the media fawning over New York and Los Angeles.

And to be clear, it has nearly nothing to do with the gamers who shall be showcasing their expertise in the course of the subsequent week and alter. This World Sequence incorporates a matchup between the doubtless Nationwide League MVP and sole member of the 50-50 membership, Shohei Ohtani, and the doubtless American League MVP, Aaron Choose, who hit 58 dwelling runs whereas posting a exceptional .458 OBP. Choose shall be backed up by 26-year-old phenom and shortly to be free agent Juan Soto, who has gotten on base at a .421 clip whereas hitting 201 dwelling runs in his first seven seasons — two of which have been partial. In the meantime, the highest of the Dodgers lineup is a digital assassin’s row of hitters with Ohtani main off adopted by back-to-back former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The MVP of the NLCS, Tommy Edman, lurks within the eight gap.

The pitching is a bit rockier for the Dodgers, though Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler plus the bullpen obtained it finished for them towards a tricky Mets crew within the Championship Sequence. The Yankees boast legit starters with two of the highest ten highest paid pitchers in baseball, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón as their aces.

The issue just isn’t the expertise on the sector. It’s that each participant I simply named aside from Aaron Choose and Walker Buehler began their profession because the hopes and desires of another fanbase’s future. The best hitter for another crew who determined they only couldn’t be bothered to half with the tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} they most actually have as a result of profitable enterprise of proudly owning a baseball crew within the identify of retaining generational expertise. Okay, perhaps the previous Cardinals on this listing are a smidge under that expertise line, however you get the gist — to most people who dwell and die with a 162-game season for one of many 28 different groups in baseball the Yankees and Dodgers are simply the annoyingly rich groups who chortle within the face of the luxurious tax. The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee put it properly earlier this week in his “Hater’s Information to the World Sequence”:

Each of those franchises stare at themselves within the mirror when nobody’s trying. Additionally they do it when everybody’s trying. Monuments and plaques, a deserved sense of historical past that also manages to be overblown on the similar time. No mascots. Jerseys which have barely modified in a century.

They insist upon themselves. They assume they’re higher than you and your crew. And, positive, by attending to the World Sequence, that’s technically true, however they don’t should insist upon themselves so danged arduous on a regular basis. It’s a lot funnier when entitled, history-drunk groups maintain getting so shut and shedding 12 months after 12 months.

The one method this World Sequence could possibly be extra annoying is that if the St. Louis Cardinals have been in it as a substitute of the Dodgers. I don’t need both crew to win. The explanation there shall be so many extra folks doubtlessly watching this World Sequence than different potential matchups is as a result of the Dodgers and Yankees have lots of honest climate followers who don’t care sufficient about baseball to look at it for baseball’s sake. I’m not even positive a few of these individuals are baseball followers. They could simply be influencers who intuit {that a} World Sequence the place standing room solely tickets are going for $1,300 is a spot they should be seen.

There are particular person gamers I’ll be cheering for throughout these video games past the superstars listed above. There may be actual pleasure in seeing Anthony Rizzo play in one other World Sequence — nearly as a lot pleasure because the related heartbreak that he’s not a Cub for all times. I genuinely like former Cubs Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. and I would like good issues for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jasson Domínguez, who’re each excellent younger gamers and dynamic to look at.

On the Dodgers facet there are not any former Cubs to cheer for, however intriguing expertise and enjoyable guys nonetheless, together with two who share a final identify. Teoscar Hernández took a one-year deal to indicate the world that his offensive output throughout a 12 months in Seattle was an outlier and boy did he ship. The 32-year-old slashed .272/.339/.501 with 33 dwelling runs for the Dodgers and can absolutely receives a commission by somebody (perhaps the Dodgers or Yankees, they’re actually into that) this offseason. Enrique Hernández is 33 years previous and has struggled in every of the final three seasons — however the man is electrical in October. He’s slashed .278/.356/.533 in 239 postseason plate appearances. And no, these numbers aren’t padded by earlier years in his profession. Within the 2024 postseason Hernández is batting .303/378/.485 with a wRC+ of 145 in 37 plate appearances.

The media and protection round this World Sequence goes to be nauseating, however the baseball needs to be distinctive. Attempt to give attention to the unbelievable hitting and slick fielding relatively than the copious quantities of bandwagon followers who couldn’t decide Vin Scully or John Sterling out of a lineup. You possibly can see the Yankees World Sequence roster and the Dodgers World Sequence roster at MLB.com. I’ll chorus from cheering for the meteor, largely as a result of it could deprive all of us of what’s positive to be a sturdy nook within the Corridor of Fame sometime. Sport 1 begins on Fox tonight at 7:08 p.m. CT. A sport thread will publish at 6 p.m. CT.