Being a fan is hard. Being a baseball fan is extremely hard. You spend time and money while losing patience and sleep through the months of March through September, all in support of your team. And, wouldn’t you know, they repay you by watching the playoffs on their couches just like you!
Maybe you are a Pirates fan, now embarking on your 7th consecutive postseason without the presence of the black and yellow and sit in sadness, reminiscing on the days of prime Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, the hopeful years of Gregory Polanco (oof) to come.
Perhaps you are trying to understand where the magic of 2010, 2012, and 2014 have gone, Giants fans. Or, you could be like me, angry at the world for the hex or curse or godforsaken evil placed upon house White Sox… Fandom, man.
Whether you find yourself on a short hiatus from donning your team’s colors in the Fall months or you have lost all hope in your club entirely, there are plenty of fish in the sea! Well, 12 fish exactly, but who cares, because maybe there is nothing wrong with having an October fling. Just because your team couldn’t provide you with sufficient happiness doesn’t mean it isn’t out there! So, let’s do some match-making and figure out just who might be your 2022 postseason soulmate, because your current partner obviously is not.
If you are a fan of: ARZ, BAL, KCR, CHC, or PIT
You have hope! Your group of ballplayers consists of youthful upside mixed among some talented veterans, and things look to be on the upswing. All five of these squads have an average team age of 28.5 or younger and have seen growth and promise from some or many of their youngest contributors. If you find yourself as a fan of one of these five clubs, boy do I have a postseason cutie for you. It’s time for you to meet Cleveland. The Guardians have managed to continually be competitive, including winning this year’s AL Central stand-off, with an average team age of only 26! With franchise stalwarts Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber leading a crew of bright-eyed young guns, Cleveland is an easy team to like and root for this postseason. Baltimore, Chicago, and Arizona can look a little closer at Cleveland, with a sense of optimism, as a young core surrounded by some successful vets can lead to a playoff-bound 2023 season. Although this may not be a long term deal, you know with your club looking to take the leap soon and all, for some fun in the fall leaves, I think you and Cleveland might just hit it off.
If you are a fan of: CHW, MIN, LAA, BOS, TEX, SFG
This was a rough summer for you, and I am sorry. You came into the year with equal to or significantly higher expectations than you had the year before and it just didn’t work out. Some of your teams spent money, others spent players through trades, and some just had everything they thought they needed on opening day. Unfortunately, whatever bracket your club falls in, that process did not quite turn out. So, whether its frustration, disappointment, anguish or all of the above that you feel when the weather begins to cool and baseball is on your television, there is a team for you. Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s talk Mariners.
In a magical season capped off by a fairy-tale moment in Cal Raleigh’s goosebump-inducing walk-off homerun, the Mariners can be the type of team that lifts your spirits and makes you forget about the season that was. Tony LaRussa? Forget about him! Scott Servais likes to party and is way cooler. Still wondering what is going on with Chris Sale? Who cares! Seattle has 3 legit arms that throw darts and hand out swords. Lift your head off the pillow and forget about how Mike Trout’s last postseason plate appearance came in 2014, Angels fans, because the Mariners have hope and so can you! The M’s erased 21 years of disappointment, so don’t let a mere six months cloud your ability to enjoy October baseball.
If you are a fan of: DET, WSH, CIN, COL, MIA, OAK
You might feel a little stuck, which as a fan, is surely not a fun place to be. Is your team getting better? Do you have the young pieces in place to build around? Is the organization moving in the right direction? Is watching Javy Baez for five more seasons going to give you a heart attack with a side of euphoria? These are all questions you might be asking yourself heading into 2023, but you aren’t alone. For you, swipe right on the Mets and Padres. Both teams found themselves stuck in the mud following 2021 with uncertainty blanketing both fanbases. Sound familiar? The Mets and Padres have since both added and made strides to becoming threats within the National League, and they have been rewarded with playoff berths with excitement moving towards the end of the regular season.
This may be the hardest phase to be in as a fan, and I can’t promise you that it can get better. However, take solace in the fact that your team is not the first team, and definitely won’t be the last one, to be mired in mediocrity. So, while you ponder why this sport giveth and taketh away so quickly, Washington, at least cheer on your buddies Juan Soto and Josh Bell in San Diego.
If you are a fan of: CHC, MIL
It’s anybody but St Louis for you guys. In an expected down year for you Cubbie fans and what is shaping up to be an extreme let-down year in Milwaukee, nothing had to sting more than watching your mortal enemies get paraded around the country as America’s favorite ballplayers while they kicked your butt. Albert, Yadi, and Waino gave you hell for two decades, and in their swan songs, they made sure to break every record they could while winning the NL Central, just for old time’s sake. Ouch. So, let’s figure out what you are looking for on October 7th… how about someone to send those redbirds home for good. Cubs and Brewers fans, I introduce you to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yes, this might be a little bitter for everyone in Milwaukee since they are the reason you will likely not snatch the six-seed, but we are talking about years of pain! With a first round matchup, the Phillies can try to force an early exit for the Cards and at least end this nightmare. Maybe Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and David Robertson still have the Cubbie blue in their heart and can give you Cubs fans your own taste of October this year. Philly can play spoiler on this reunion-palooza and make both of your fanbases happy, so why don’t you get on board and ring that bell!
As a member of this ill-fated community, I can assure you I’d rather not be single this October either. But, when your team can’t meet your needs, sometimes you have to step outside the box and meet someone, or 26 someones, new. So, let’s set the filter to “postseason eligible” and find someone to love over the next month, and hopefully we can watch baseball with some hope once again.
