The LA Dollars

Donny Baseball’s Dodgers paid for a dream team that is still getting to know one another. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals are one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2013 National League Championship Series.  Friday was a late night at Busch Stadium which featured Carlos Beltran being the star he needs to be.

Examining these two teams differences is as easy as next month’s pies.  LA paid for their players and STL developed them.

17 of the St. Louis Cardinals are homegrown from within the organization.  20 of the Hollywood Dodgers are either free agents or were acquired in trades.

Baseball fans last week were cheering for the underdog Pirates and rallying against the omnipresent Cardinals.  But this week brings the evil empire of the Dodgers with their dollars and high hopes to the NLCS for the first time since 2009. America faces the split decision of supporting a team in red or a club in blue.

The Brooklyn born ball club is eager to win since their aging stars and contracts give their success a limited window.  Whereas the locally bred Missouri squad is confident that they will be around in October for years to come.  These two clubs are polar opposites, but judging from last nights 13 inning thriller, they match up well.

However, the most noticeable differences are not on the field, they are in the seats.

Cardinals fans are diverse because of KMOX’s roots.  Cheering for hustle plays and refraining from booing are what make the red cladded fans classy.  Sellouts are normal and fans often stay until the final pitch.

Dodgers fans are half transplants who often go to games to have their picture taken.  Even in an epic season like 2013, LA still left nearly 20% of their stadium empty over the course of the season.

Magic Johnson and his millionaire buddies have followed George Steinbrenner’s model of paying for rings.  The problem is that the Yankees did not always reign victorious.  10 years ago they lost to the Florida Marlins who developed their own talent with young arms like Josh Beckett and studs like Miguel Cabrera.

This 2013 St. Louis Cardinals team is ready to show that cash cannot buy wins, especially in October.  A look in the dugouts perfectly illustrates the contrasts.  The Dodgers are divided since many players are new, while the Redbirds players all know what flavor of sunflower seeds to toss their teammates.

Walking off wet in STL. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports