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2 teams to root for and 2 teams to root against in the playoffs as a Cardinals fan
The Cardinals didn't make the playoffs in 2023. 12 other teams did. Who should you root for, and who should you root against?
The St. Louis Cardinals are not in the 2023 playoffs. This is clearly a disappointment and is heartbreaking for a fanbase that cares so deeply. For a team that was supposed to win the division and go deep into the postseason, a playoff absence stings all the more.
This does not mean that you should not watch the playoffs. Baseball playoffs are full of energy, excitement, and some of the best baseball you'll see all year. Had the World Baseball Classic not been as fantastic as it was, the 2023 playoffs would have been a primetime ticket to score. Players put it all out on the field in the postseason. Every pitcher, pinch hitter, and reserve is ready to go at all times. The series is fast, and one small mistake by a pitcher or a defensive mishap in the field can change the momentum quickly.
There are plenty of teams in the playoffs who would be endearing to follow and root for. Conversely, there are also teams that we would all love to see lose. There could be former Cardinals who played hard during their tenure in St. Louis; there could also be teams with a marred history who we shouldn't root for. Regardless, there are plenty of reasons for Cardinals fans to root for certain teams and root against others. Hopefully, you're able to find a new favorite contender to support this postseason.
Let's take a look at 3 postseason teams Cardinals fans should root for and 3 postseason teams Cardinals fans should root against.
Root for the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the regular season in 2nd place in a relatively competitive National League West. They had a record of 84-78, and they eeked into the postseason with the 6th Wild Card spot.
Corbin Carroll has been the star of the National League this year. The rookie has exploded onto the scene in 2023, currently being mentioned among players such as Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Matt Olson as an MVP candidate. It was clear that Carroll would be a stud rookie, but his quick ascendance into stardom has been awesome to watch. Zac Gallen, on the other hand, has been the ace of the D-Backs for the last two years. A former Cardinal prospect, Gallen will definitely see Cy Young votes this year.
The Diamondbacks swept the Brewers in the Wild Card Series. Can they go on a run the rest of the way?
Root against the Houston Astros
This should go for every postseason. The Astros have been dominant for 7 years now. After a horrid few seasons in the 2010s, the Astros hit a reset and started developing quite the chain of prospects in Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa. They also built up a formidable starting rotation that carried them through the playoffs for many years.
Muddled in those years of success would be the Astros cheating scandal of 2017 and 2018. This alone is reason enough to root against the Astros for years to come. While many of the players from those years are long gone, some remaind, and the sting stands for fans across the country. The Astros are also former division rivals, so fans of the 2000s Cardinals have plenty of reasons to root against the Houston Astros.
Another reason to root against the Astros would be their former general manager, Jeff Lunhow. A former Cardinals scouting director head, Lunhow was the spearhead for the Astros throughout the 2010s. He has been known to have a toxic work environment, and despite the evidence being unclear, he has also been mentioned as a leader of the cheating scandal.
The Astros will face the winner of the Twins in the division series.
Root against the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been too good for too long. It's annoying to see the same team dominate the same League the Cardinals are in for so long. The Braves are also set up very well for the future, as they have locked up many of their young players for the foreseeable future. The Braves are actually a good organization, and they have had similar success as the Cardinals in the last 30 years. It just stinks to see them be so good in a year in which the Cardinals were so bad.
The Braves ran through the National League East this year and finished the season with a 104-58 record, best in all of the majors. They had a first-round bye, and they will face the Phillies in the Division Series.
In the regular season, the Cardinals have a 52.4% winning percentage against the Braves. However, recent history has been a different story. Since 1993, the Cardinals and Braves have faced each other 171 times. The Braves hold a record of 95-76 since then. Seeing them depart the postseason early will be a little satisfying for Cardinals fans.
Root for the Texas Rangers
They did give us a World Championship back in 2011 after all. Aside from this fact, the Rangers have been a very exciting team this year. Very few people predicted the Ranegrs to have a record above .500, let alone make the playoffs. The Rangers also have quite a few former Cardinal players and coaches.
The Rangers made it out of the American League West by the skin of their teeth. Despite leading the division for over 130 days this year, they ended up losing that crown and getting the 2nd Wild Card spot. They finished with a 90-72 record and placed Second in their division behind the Houston Astros. This is their first postseason appearance since 2016.
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The Rangers boast several former Cardinal players. Adolis Garcia is roaming the outfield, Jordan Montgomery is their new ace now that Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom are hurt, and Chris Stratton is in their bullpen. Additionally, Mike Maddux is their pitching coach. The Rangers front office and ownership have spent oodles of dollars these past two offseasons to build up their roster. This spending is great for the players, and hopefully, the Cardinals get on the spending train soon.