I've never reposted an entire article before, but rather than re-write this one in my own words, I'm just going to paste it in (most of its) entirety.
Where Should Red Sox Fans' Rooting Interests Lie?
by Kristen Merrill, NESN.com
Red Sox fans face a tough decision this postseason now that our beloved
baseball team has been swept out of the playoffs: Who do we root for?
Sure, there's the temptation to take our ball and go home now that our
team is out of the race. ... But if we decide to follow this baseball postseason to its
conclusion, it's that much more exciting if we have a reason for
rooting. There are arguments for and against adopting the cause of all
four remaining teams. Some are stronger than others. But as the ALCS
and NLCS get under way, it helps to explore our options.
PhilliesBeing
the defending champs, the Phillies are certainly riding the wave. They
took out the surprisingly good Tampa Bay Rays in last year's World
Series, thereby -- by some twisted fan logic -- somehow vindicating the
Red Sox’ seven-game loss to the Rays in the ALCS.
But aside
from that, what ties do Red Sox fans have to the Phillies? The Red Sox
played the Phillies only three times this past season, taking two out
of three at Citizens Bank Park, but the teams will play each other six
times during the 2010 season. While it would seem that most people
around baseball like and respect
Ryan Howard and
Jimmy Rollins (especially in light of Rollins' hilarious commercial), the Phillies player Red Sox fans most identify with is pitcher
Pedro Martinez.
Pedro
is scheduled to pitch Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, and some of us still
have fond memories of the man. Partially, it's because we appreciate
great pitching and will forever be thankful for what he did for us. And
partially, it's because we know that his greatest years were in Boston,
and to witness that was something special. While Philadelphia fans can
enjoy him for now, we really feel like he's still ours.
Pros: Pedro
Cons: Pedro and … really nothing else.
DodgersRed Sox fans have a more complicated relationship with the Los Angeles Dodgers. There's the whole
Manny Ramirez
issue, for one, with some of us remaining bitter about the often
schizophrenic nature of the slugger's time in Boston. Some Red Sox fans
place the blame squarely on the Red Sox organization. Others cite
Ramirez's immaturity as the catalyst for the deterioration of the
relationship. A World Series in Los Angeles would perhaps invalidate
our somewhat irrational belief that Manny needed us just as much as we
needed him.
Additionally, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games
at the beginning of this season for violating MLB’s
performance-enhancing drug policy, and baseball purists have a
difficult time rooting for someone who has used PEDs.
On the other hand, the Dodgers are coached by former Yankee manager Joe Torre, who brought Yankees great Don Mattingly
to the West Coast as his hitting coach. During his tenure in New York,
Torre was perhaps the most respected member of the Yankees organization
by Red Sox fans, but we still think of him as a Yankee -- primarily.
Mattingly also told Sports Illustrated that "the country wants" a Dodgers-Yankees World Series,
which smacks of the typical New York arrogance and presumptuousness
that so many Red Sox fans dislike about the Yankees. Mattingly, in our
opinion, will always be a Yankee. More importantly, he's a Yankee
without a World Series ring. Red Sox fans would like to keep it that
way.
Pros: Former Red Sox favorite
Bill Mueller serves as special assistant to GM
Ned Colletti, and who doesn't like Bill Mueller?
Cons: Complicated relationships with former Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and former Yankees coaches Joe Torre and Don Mattingly.
AngelsFrequent
playoff foe, the Angels finally broke through this year and swept the
Red Sox out of the playoffs. Fifth time’s the charm. Despite some
bitter feelings, Red Sox fans can be forgiven for rooting for the
Angels by the logic that if the Angels ultimately prevail, the Red Sox
will have been beaten by the best team -- therefore lending honor to
the Red Sox' loss.
Perhaps more importantly, an Angels World
Series win would mean a Yankees loss in the ALCS, and the one thing Red
Sox fans like almost as much as a Red Sox win is a Yankees loss.
The Angels also have dedicated their 2009 season to pitcher
Nick Adenhart,
who died as a result of injuries suffered in a car crash in April of
this past year. It was a tragic loss for a team to endure, and winning
would be a fitting tribute to the pitcher.
Or course, some of us
will revel in the bitter feelings and root for an Angels loss, if for
no other reason than the fact that they are the team that
unapologetically foisted the horrendous Rally Monkey on an undeserving
public.
Pros: Beaten by the best, Nick Adenhart tribute, Yankees loss
Cons: Rally Monkey
YankeesBelieve
it or not, some Red Sox fans might actually cheer for a Yankees
victory. Whether it's because a Yankees triumph would swing the balance
of power back to the AL East, or because we have friends or family who
are Yankees fans and want to see them happy, it's likely to be a
halfhearted rooting interest. I very much doubt Yankees fans would do
the same, if the situation were reversed.
Of course, they're the Yankees. Cheering for their demise is always more fun.
Pros: AL East power
Cons: Insufferable
Yankee fans and the fact that we could no longer taunt them about their
World Series drought. Also the traitorous and dirty feeling of rooting
for the enemy.
So there it is, a team-by-team breakdown. Personal experience leads
me to believe that most Red Sox fans -- if they haven't already
abandoned Fenway for Foxborough -- will be halfheartedly cheering the
Angels to victory. In a postseason without a clear-cut front-runner, it
seems like the lesser of several evils.
Let's just hope the Rally Monkey didn't make the playoff roster.
About the Author
Kristen Merrill writes daily for NESN.com and is the author of the blog Basegirl.