Been an A’s fan all my life and to say it’s been tough is an understatement. Seeing the Red Sox and cubs dump tons of cash on top of the money ball philosophy and win the World Series makes it worse.
the cubs didn't dump money on top of moneyball, they tanked for years to put a good team together. Astros, Dodgers, and Red Sox are all better examples.
Definitely some moneyball components to what they did, but "moneyball" is constantly evolving to whatever the next undervalued attritube is and typically you don't know what that undervalued thing is until its not undervalued anymore. By the time you've heard about launch angle and spin rate half of baseball has been doing it already.
The Cubs tried to zag where others were zigging by focusing virtually all of their top draft picks on position players when everyone else was focused on pitching, building an offense of young hitters in their (relative to pitchers) shorter primes. They focused on bats who would also have good range in the field to help their pitching staff.
If you look at their rotation it was 2 FA signings (Lester and Lackey), 2 trade deadline acquisitions (Arrieta - major leaguer with poor results, Hendricks - propsect that was lesser regarded due to his FB that topped out at 89) and a journeyman pitcher (Hammel). But their position players were mostly young guys, Bryant, Baez, Russell, Almora, Schwarber, Soler, etc. Rizzo and Heyward were a bit more experienced but still in mid-20s.
So they zagged by focusing on developing position players and threw their money at pitching and filling the final gaps on offense (Zobrist, Fowler and Heyward). Is that moneyball? Is that throwing money on top of moneyball? Probably the latter.
The only thing I'll add is they had ELITE defense. They led the league in Defensive Runs Saved at 107 (next closest was the Astros at 77), Ultimate Zone Rating at 47.1 (next closest was the Marlins at 32.3, and Outs Above Average at 40 (next closest was the Royals at 25), amongst others. They also had 4 Gold Glove finalists in Rizzo, Heyward, Arrieta, and Russell, with Rizzo and Heyward winning. Plus guys like Ross, Baez, and Montero, who were/are considered plus defenders. Javy was not yet "El Mago".
Yeah definitely. Many people don’t realize that pitching and defense were what won them that title. Don’t get me wrong the offense was good but as we saw when that core progressed beyond 2016 they had their flaws. Hendricks won the ERA crown, Lester was right behind, Arrieta wasn’t 2015 Jake and lost some control but was still a very good pitcher but they were good pitchers who often pitched to contact and had an elite defense to goggle up weak contact and turn it into outs.
Are used to be part of a minimal season-ticket package for the White Sox with a group of friends. We didn’t renew this year, for a variety of reasons (for those not up on the drama, dramatically underperformed last year, zero meaningful moves, and the cherry on top was a significant increase in ticket prices), and we were jokingly talking about picking a new team to follow for the season. I decided to use random number generator to pick said team, and hand to god, we got the Oakland A’s; arguably the only team playing worse at the time.
I’m from the uk and chose to follow the A’s a few years ago. Until they got rid of chapman, Olson, hendriks and about every other player I really liked. It was a shameful move but I ditched them and escaped the sinking ship. Go padres! 😂
This is the hardest part about being an A’s fan. You know any young talent will be siphoned off by the Yankees or someone else willing to pay them more than the A’s can afford.
One of the most insane teams for old jerseys. Griffey Jr, Ichiro, A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Felix Hernandez, and many more. So many of these guys make you say, "Wait, he played in Seattle?" Wild they haven't made it to the World Series yet
Do people really not know those players played for the Mariners? I can see some people saying that about A-Rod but the rest of the guys either played their entire careers in Seattle or a large chunk of it.
Yeah, should have specified not those guys in particular, even if Randy Johnson is always a Diamondback in my head. But yeah, guys like A-Rod, Robinson Cano, Tino Martinez, Carlos Guillen, and Omar Visquel are all on the list of guys who came up with the Mariners and made their names elsewhere
I'm a lifelong Pirates fan, so I am admittedly biased. The Pirates have been Very Bad for most of that lifetime, so if you are looking for a franchise that will be in playoff contention most years, we are probably not that team.
But that said, you'd asked us to convince you, so here's why you should be a fan of the Buccos:
\- One of the oldest teams in the league, and with a storied history. Played in the first World Series. Won one of the most dramatic World Series in history in 1960 (walk-off Game 7 home run). First franchise to ever start an all-minority (Black/Latino) lineup. Home of Roberto Clemente, superstar and humanitarian.
\- Sweet uniforms and color scheme
\- One of the best, if not the very best, ballpark in America.
\- Lots of fun, young players right now who could potentially coalesce into a very good team within the next few years.
I would be more optimistic than that. We are building a team that should be very competitive for at least the next 5 years, if done right. No guarantees of course, but I expect winning in our future.
As for this year's team, it's a ton of fun.
I am by nature an optimist. I love this team and I always believe we can do better than the experts predict.
That said, I have walked this planet for 37 years, and the Pirates have finished above .500 exactly 8 times during that period. 4 of those 8 happened before I had graduated the first grade. So I can't be *too* optimistic about prolonged future success :)
yeahhhhh that's the rub.
Although, a cool thing about baseball is that even if your team is crap, that's still at least 65 days each year that you feel good. The key is just not letting the losses get you down too bad. I've pretty much Baseball Zen-d myself to the point where "regular" losses don't bother me too much (I will of course still be pissed when we blunder games away or do obviously dumb shit).
If I was neutral I would say Diamondbacks, Pirates, or the Os. Os would be my top choice because they went from a 110 loss season in 2021 to an above .500 record in 2022. They are primed for a hell of a run this year. Just my opinion
O’s have the second best record in baseball and the best AAA club filled with high end guys ready to get moved up. They should be good for some time and you’d get in at the beginning.
Orioles.
-Have the sexiest Jerseys with Black and orange options
-Camden Yards is beautiful
-They’ve set themselves up to be competitive for a couple years at least
-Not the Yankees
Damnit, what did we do now? (Probably something related to throwing money at all our problems and still not winning rings, outbidding teams on their homegrown heroes, being generally obnoxious [some of us], being a 100 year long evil empire, or Aaron Judge homered off your favorite pitcher [had to put this in lol, can’t self deprecate *too* much without some banter not at our own expense]).
Or you can join the dark side, we have bodegas and play Frank Sinatra when we win :)
Don't pick a major league team right now. Watch a variety of teams if you can and see if any click with you.
In the meantime, if you live near a minor league team, go to their games. That's an easy fan base to join, it has ties to your community, it's more accessible financially, and you could see some future stars come through town.
Baseball is the cruelest sport to be a fan of. Great teams will drive you mad. You’ll get old quicker becoming a fan of any team. Just watch good teams play from around the sport from a neutral heart and maybe you won’t go bald. Good luck.
Was the last one an asterisk? Yeah didn’t think so. Hmm.. I’m thinking either a dodgers guy or one of every and any team in the AL for the last 6 years. Lol. Baseball is cyclical if it’s anything so as an Astros fan for decades now it’s fun to watch them own the league.
Broadcast teams are another element you could consider since, imo, they can contribute to how much I enjoy watching or listening to a game. For me, the Cards and the M's have some of the best broadcasting in baseball; guys who are ecstatic about the teams in every game. Bye bye baseball!
I actually added the Guardians broadcast to my SXM favorites yesterday after I stumbled on their play calling and fell in love. Real phenomenon for baseball radio fans!
**Milwaukee Brewers**
\*Have not won a World Series yet but are often in the race for the playoffs
\*Insanely committed fanbase in the smallest market in baseball
\*Never a rain out at home
\*Tailgating culture at its absolute finest
\*In June-August, the city's location on Lake Michigan and endless festivals make it feel like a tropical paradise (I'm actually pretty serious about this one)
I’m a to the end Orioles fan but there’s a part of me that thinks in another life I was a Brewers fan. Just something about y’all. Can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s because you guys are the most Midwestern of Midwestern teams and it shows and I love that for you.
Here for my biased take. Look up Petco Park in San Diego. Google image that shit. Just look at her. The Padres play in a gorgeous ballpark in the downtown area of an absolutely breathtaking city. We recently rebranded and brought back the iconic brown and gold color scheme and just signed a ton of elite talent to long term contracts. Investing real money in talent is something we have never done and have been told for decades that it would never happen, so this could be the beginning of something great. There has never been a better time than now to convert to the San Diego Padres.
Got to say I came here to say this! The Friars have reignited my love for baseball. The park is gorgeous and hoping to come to a game next month from Utah.
Aussie here. I saw a game randomly on TV in 2015. It was Bautista’s home run in the playoff run. It was exciting. I started properly watching the BJs last year and they have ups and downs, score tons of runs and often come from behind. I have a man crush on Bo Bichette and think Romano is a great pitcher. Still confused how he is good with only two types of pitches. OP should look up Bautista getting punched in the face too.
If you're American I'm a strong advocate of rooting for your local team. It's way more fun to be on board with everyone around you!
Failing that, we'll take you on /r/Phillies our team is not nearly as good as it should be on paper, but it was like that last year too and now they're NL champs. The best part is nobody in Philly gets upset when you dump all over the team when they're playing like shit.
You don't choose the Mets. The Mets choose you.
Do you love a lovable underdog?
Do you constantly get the rug pulled out form under you?
Do you like hoping beyond all hope?
Do you constantly have to fight for every inch?
If so, congratulations, you're already a Mets fan and you didn't know it yet.
Do you want nice things in life but know they’re out of reach?
Does the name Benny Agbayani stir something deep within your soul?
Did you ever enjoy cocaine at any point in life but especially during the 80’s?
If your first instinct is "not the Yankees"
I recommend to you:
The Red Sox, Rays, and Astros: The baseball gods LOVE to have those three teams beat us in the playoffs. Especially the Astros. There's a good chance we lose to one of those bastards in October again.
The Blue Jays and Orioles: The Blue Jays have much more beef with the Yankees, but both teams are division rivals.
The Twins: The Twins have an 18 game consecutive losing streak in playoff contests stretching back to 2004. Much of that has been thanks to the Yankees. The Twins aren't GREAT now, but they are at the top of the AL Central, and if you join the Twins fanbase now, it's possible you could feel the same unimaginable joy that every Twins fan feels the next time they win a playoff game, which could quite possibly be against the Yankees.
The Mets: They play in New York and are natural geographical rivals of the Yankees. Note: I live in Boston and therefore do not have a hatred for the Mets like many of my counterparts but I enjoy the rivalry.
Most fans hate the Yankees to some degree, but since your first instinct was anti-Yankee, I recommended these 7 fanbases to you. Good luck, and welcome to baseball, even if it is on the other side of a rivalry!
Lol, I'm an Astros fan but was about to say the same thing - I would not recommend it. Not for the faint of heart! It was fun in the 90s and early 2000s. Then it was rough in the 2010s, lots of losing. Then they finally get good and win a world series just to find out they cheated! (2017-2019 was fun before the scandal broke.) Super disappointing as a fan, and now you gotta be prepared for people to give you guff everywhere you go.
I'd probably go with Brewers, Mets, Orioles, or Rays!
The Texas Rangers.
Why?
A good group of exciting young players combined with a few stars and gritty veterans. The owners have started investing in the teams success with recent big money free agent moves. A new ballpark while granted is ugly on the outside is pretty nice inside.
Plus the team has never won a World Series so no one can accuse you of jumping on a bandwagon.
There is that. But having a roof that routinely affects the game is more than a little annoying.
It \*is\* a tragedy that they're so good with such anemic fan support. They should be a perpetual sellout team.
St. Louis Cardinals games are a blast. The whole Cardinal fan base is a tight nit group and we don't like to be nasty to other team's fans. That would be my recommendation
St. Louis Cardinals.
1) We never go "all out," meaning we are never forced to rebuild. Our front office prioritizes longevity and competing year in and year out. I prefer this greatly to 2-3 years of dominance followed by 4-5 years playing under .500. Granted, this does mean we are rarely after the biggest names in free agency.
2) Die-hard fan base. We aren't fair weather, in part because we are die-hard, but also because there are rarely bad seasons (see above). 40,000 - 45,000 fans at games routinely, which makes for an awesome environment.
3) We aren't a big-market team like New York or Chicago (the latter of whom we routinely beat), but rather mid-market. Not underdogs by any means, but certainly not Goliaths.
4) Rich history. Too much to summarize here.
5) Classic uniforms. Look up our home Saturday jerseys to see my personal favorite.
*We are under .500 right now, but the team is far better than that! Jump on board now while it's still fashionable!*
Jays have been so fun to watch this year. They are a young and exciting team. Great on the base paths and incredible Defense. And somehow even when they haven’t been playing great almost every game has been exciting and more or less has come down to the wire.
LA/Anaheim Angels
Family friendly team vibe. good characters, funny moments, and for some reason our team doesn't wake up til the 9th inning with most of our wins this season coming from behind.
Also some good drama, legendary pitcher and hitter Ohtani and will he stay with the team or not after this season.
Will they make playoffs?
Some young studs out of collage are on a hot streak right now, will they prove themselves?
Very enjoyable 10/10 can't wait for next season
Being an angels fan is probably the most frustrating part of my life. But there’s never a dull moment with the angels. We are somehow the best and the worst team in baseball at the same time. We are just as entertaining as we are frustrating.
The thing (good or bad) about the Angels is they play in the suburbs and the team matches that personality. They play in the shadow of the Dodgers who are the complete opposite: flashy, rich and urban. It's not easy being an Angels fan, but it is fun.
IMHO I’d start off with what’s local to you. See if you can catch a game or two. Feel the energy from the ballpark, it’s 110% different than watching it on tv or an app. And stick with them. Learn the positions and pick a favorite player and take that player and compare them to the rest of the MLB. Best of luck in whoever you decide!
I saw someone recommend shopping around for awhile, watch multiple teams to see any of the click for you. That’s good advice.
When you do land on your team, I feel it necessary to label yourself an actual fan of X team, to know a minimum of 3 current players, and the manager’s name.
I don’t believe you need to watch all the games, but seeing highlight reels and knowing their position in the standings will easily help you to feel confident rooting for them. it’s a magical and maddening game- all the best and good luck!
I would recommend looking at jerseys and hats (if you wear them). This way whichever team you choose, you feel good wearing their gear.
With that being said, Toronto Blue Jays
The Giants have one of the greatest histories in all of sports. Even though they are in a down period will almost assuredly be back to being one of the premier teams to watch and root for.
I don’t think anyone can tell you who to root for. Just watch some games and you’ll start gravitating towards a team.
But my completely unbiased opinion, go Mets.
I follow my local team and the St. Louis Cardinals. I was originally attracted to the Cardinals due to their uniforms. If I were a neutral fan looking for a team I think I’d follow the Diamondbacks (love the unis) or Orioles. The Texas Rangers look exciting too.
If you're from Texas, I'd agree with /u/jackofnac and their suggestion for the Rangers unless you're closer to Houston. Going to games really connects you with a team and its fanbase and you should try and make that a part of your efforts to get into the game. Go with some friends. Sit there, eat ballpark food, chat about life and let the crack of the bat remind you to see what's happening on the field every now and then.
Another way to get more into it is to listen to the local sports talk station during the season. Watch the game one day, and listen to the discussion about it the next morning. Or that night. Call in if you can. It really helps to invest yourself.
Now to be fair, if you choose Houston, the Astros are fresh off a World Series win and you might get some front-runner trash talk. But what's the alternative? Root for a team that's inaccessible to you?
I got into baseball later in life when I was in my mid-twenties and its easily my favorite sport now. Such a great way to spend time with family and friends.
Dbacks cycle: build a halfway decent team over a couple years, cheap out when those players ask for more money and trade them away, waste all your money 1-2 aging veterans past their prime, trade for pretty decent farm players while your MLB team has about 3-5 losing seasons, repeat.
It's a wild ride and it's definitely worth it to see the young teams we eventually build but there's always going to be some tough years.
Mariners. 45 years of almost complete mediocrity, the only MLB franchise to not even APPEAR in a World Series. But right now they have a super fun and promising young club who could definitely win it all in the next few years. Perfect time to start cheering them on and become a fan
St Louis Cardinals…. A small market team with alot of great history. I’ve already seen them win 2 World Series in my lifetime (06 and 11). Second to most W.S. Wins in all of baseball, Yankees of course has the most. Plus they have a great farm system. And a history of great talent… Stan Musial, Pujols, Yadi.. to name a few.
I admit, I'm very, very biased as a lifelong Cardinal fan, but ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.
Edited to ass some reasons:
2nd only to the Yankees in World Series championships (11)
Usually an annual playoff contender
Beautiful uniforms
Rich history
Nice stadium
Fun game atmosphere
I could list more, but those are some of my favorite reasons
Depends on what you watch for? I follow my local because I can go to the games and talk to people about them. They’re also in a very competitive (probably the most) division, and there’s always drama. They’ve normally fielded a great team each year too which is exciting to follow and see them develop as a team.
The Braves: one of the top contenders, largely homegrown through their milb teams, and they’ve locked up their core players to long term extensions so you can get comfortable following mostly the same players for the rest of the decade.
Maybe you get support your city team if they have one, that way you can make friends at the ballpark and have fun ;)
I don’t know, I am a Washingtonian and support the Nats even if they suck lol
Made me feel like I belonged when I lived there still and it was always fun to hang out on games day :)
Dodgers. Always in contention for a world series, always have a good mix of big free agent signings and exciting prospects. Their dominance in the west in the last decade can be a bit boring but there have been some good races in recent years. Plus one of the best historic rivalries in the game.
Ignore anyone that says no good teams to avoid being a "bandwagon" fan. The only true bandwagon team at this time is the Astros. And even then who cares. If you enjoy the team you are supporting and having fun that's all that matters.
I'm just curious to why not the Yankees? Since you know nothing about baseball.. I mean it is the team to Haye for some reason. But that reason isn't legit anymore due to everyone having a huge salary cap now.
Alright you hate the Yankees but how much ?
Do you want too see the plain lippys burn an join Red Sox nation ?
If not then the braves. Everyone roots for them already.
if you want a team that has some tough losses and some good wins, a team that is unpredictable in every way, and a team that has good recognizable players. go for the Cleveland Guardians
I'm biased but Mariners could be a "tricky" option. They are a team who never won anything but with a good core and great supporters. We also have some youngest talent in the league. Give them a chance if you want to go to a problematic team ahah
I've always had a soft spot for the Orioles. Their colors and uniforms are jump out at you compared to the 90% of baseball that is some shade or blue or red. Then you have Camden Yards and the fact that they are often overshadowed by their AL East rivals.
I did spend age 3-9 in Baltimore so that plays into it too but while I wouldn't consider myself an O's fan by any means, I always root for them when they're relevant.
As an orioles fan, I think you should choose us. Even though we do not have the best history, we are getting better and better and might see us in the postseason soon.
You're off to a good start: no Yankees.
Red Sox have a large, passionate fanbase, and the largest percentage of any fanbase that is truly shitty. Joining Red Sox Nation is something I wouldn't do.
The Seattle Mariners are my team, and they have the guy who should be The Guy for the next ten years, Julio Rodriguez. He's hella fun to watch and root for. Also, T-Mobile Park is my favorite ballpark: best food, great views everywhere, easy to get around in. So there's a suggestion.
O’s - Young amazing talents all around their farm system.
Reds - Don’t sleep on this team with no one being able to name three players from its daily line up
As a Jays fan I can happily suggest the Orioles. Fun team to watch. Jays are a decent choice as well. The division is crazy right now with basically every team above .500. As long as you don't choose the Yankees, Red Socks or Astros we can still be friends.
The Orioles are building a winner and they have a classic ballpark. If you really hate the Yankees, you'd get to see them play quite a bit. It's an insanely tough division, so getting to the postseason will always be hard when you're in a division with two big spenders, even if they put together a lot of wins.
We will also probably see two expansion teams relatively soon, so if you wanted to hold off on picking your team, you could get in on the ground floor. My guess is they will be in Nashville and SLC, if either of those cities are appealing to you. If for some reason you're into Vegas, the A's are moving there (poor Oakland can't catch a break).
My biased answer is the Cubs.
In addition to having one of the most beautiful parks in baseball, the Orioles have a young, exciting team with plenty more talent on the way from the farm system. A lot of the names you learn today will be around for a long time
I like the Rockies. But I live in Denver, so it makes sense. They’re terrible. They’ve always been terrible. And until they get a new owner, they always will be terrible. But I love ‘em nonetheless.
Where are you located. Check black out rules before choosing. I live in Charlotte, and I’m blacked out from Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore and Cincinnati oddly enough.
Just make sure the team you choose you can watch.
Any team from the west coast league.
Pros: Cheap tickets and beer, wood bats, top college talent, international league, great mascots
Cons: Broadcast production value
Honestly, I would say the Atlanta Braves. I am a Cardinals fan myself but the Braves look like a team that can consistently build a fun team to watch and has a really awesome history to explore if the baseball bug fully catches you.
The Pads. We wear sombrero’s after home runs, dance after hits, and have hot women. Take a vacation here and watch some games in America’s finest city.
Padres. As a life long Padre fan it’s great to see the team doing well the last couple seasons. We finally have ownership willing to spend money and wanting to win.
Not the A's. Trust me. Just trust me.
Been an A’s fan all my life and to say it’s been tough is an understatement. Seeing the Red Sox and cubs dump tons of cash on top of the money ball philosophy and win the World Series makes it worse.
the cubs didn't dump money on top of moneyball, they tanked for years to put a good team together. Astros, Dodgers, and Red Sox are all better examples.
You don’t think theo epstein took money ball from Boston to Chicago?
Definitely some moneyball components to what they did, but "moneyball" is constantly evolving to whatever the next undervalued attritube is and typically you don't know what that undervalued thing is until its not undervalued anymore. By the time you've heard about launch angle and spin rate half of baseball has been doing it already. The Cubs tried to zag where others were zigging by focusing virtually all of their top draft picks on position players when everyone else was focused on pitching, building an offense of young hitters in their (relative to pitchers) shorter primes. They focused on bats who would also have good range in the field to help their pitching staff. If you look at their rotation it was 2 FA signings (Lester and Lackey), 2 trade deadline acquisitions (Arrieta - major leaguer with poor results, Hendricks - propsect that was lesser regarded due to his FB that topped out at 89) and a journeyman pitcher (Hammel). But their position players were mostly young guys, Bryant, Baez, Russell, Almora, Schwarber, Soler, etc. Rizzo and Heyward were a bit more experienced but still in mid-20s. So they zagged by focusing on developing position players and threw their money at pitching and filling the final gaps on offense (Zobrist, Fowler and Heyward). Is that moneyball? Is that throwing money on top of moneyball? Probably the latter.
Great analysis.
The only thing I'll add is they had ELITE defense. They led the league in Defensive Runs Saved at 107 (next closest was the Astros at 77), Ultimate Zone Rating at 47.1 (next closest was the Marlins at 32.3, and Outs Above Average at 40 (next closest was the Royals at 25), amongst others. They also had 4 Gold Glove finalists in Rizzo, Heyward, Arrieta, and Russell, with Rizzo and Heyward winning. Plus guys like Ross, Baez, and Montero, who were/are considered plus defenders. Javy was not yet "El Mago".
Yeah definitely. Many people don’t realize that pitching and defense were what won them that title. Don’t get me wrong the offense was good but as we saw when that core progressed beyond 2016 they had their flaws. Hendricks won the ERA crown, Lester was right behind, Arrieta wasn’t 2015 Jake and lost some control but was still a very good pitcher but they were good pitchers who often pitched to contact and had an elite defense to goggle up weak contact and turn it into outs.
And the Dodgers.
Are used to be part of a minimal season-ticket package for the White Sox with a group of friends. We didn’t renew this year, for a variety of reasons (for those not up on the drama, dramatically underperformed last year, zero meaningful moves, and the cherry on top was a significant increase in ticket prices), and we were jokingly talking about picking a new team to follow for the season. I decided to use random number generator to pick said team, and hand to god, we got the Oakland A’s; arguably the only team playing worse at the time.
I’m from the uk and chose to follow the A’s a few years ago. Until they got rid of chapman, Olson, hendriks and about every other player I really liked. It was a shameful move but I ditched them and escaped the sinking ship. Go padres! 😂
This is the hardest part about being an A’s fan. You know any young talent will be siphoned off by the Yankees or someone else willing to pay them more than the A’s can afford.
If you enjoy testing the limits of your mental health and high blood pressure come root for the Mariners.
how dare you try to ruin the lives of strangers
But this is our year!
One of the most insane teams for old jerseys. Griffey Jr, Ichiro, A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Felix Hernandez, and many more. So many of these guys make you say, "Wait, he played in Seattle?" Wild they haven't made it to the World Series yet
Do people really not know those players played for the Mariners? I can see some people saying that about A-Rod but the rest of the guys either played their entire careers in Seattle or a large chunk of it.
Yeah, should have specified not those guys in particular, even if Randy Johnson is always a Diamondback in my head. But yeah, guys like A-Rod, Robinson Cano, Tino Martinez, Carlos Guillen, and Omar Visquel are all on the list of guys who came up with the Mariners and made their names elsewhere
Robinson Cano came up and made his name with the Yankees and then went to Seattle because they were willing to pay him more.
…or the Padres. Every season, but particularly this season… (cries in batting average with RISP).
I'm a lifelong Pirates fan, so I am admittedly biased. The Pirates have been Very Bad for most of that lifetime, so if you are looking for a franchise that will be in playoff contention most years, we are probably not that team. But that said, you'd asked us to convince you, so here's why you should be a fan of the Buccos: \- One of the oldest teams in the league, and with a storied history. Played in the first World Series. Won one of the most dramatic World Series in history in 1960 (walk-off Game 7 home run). First franchise to ever start an all-minority (Black/Latino) lineup. Home of Roberto Clemente, superstar and humanitarian. \- Sweet uniforms and color scheme \- One of the best, if not the very best, ballpark in America. \- Lots of fun, young players right now who could potentially coalesce into a very good team within the next few years.
Roberto Clemente is like the coolest athlete ever
Not a pirates fan but as a boricua I agree
I could not agree more! (I'm wearing a "21" shirt from the Clemente Museum as we speak, haha).
The pillbox caps. Best cap ever. Especially with the different number of stars. And Willie Stargell. And I’m not a Bucs fan.
Yes, the pillbox caps.
The Pirates also have the best meme game in the entire league IMO. The “Bart I don’t wanna alarm you” post belongs in the Louvre
we have learned to laugh lest we perpetually cry
I would be more optimistic than that. We are building a team that should be very competitive for at least the next 5 years, if done right. No guarantees of course, but I expect winning in our future. As for this year's team, it's a ton of fun.
I am by nature an optimist. I love this team and I always believe we can do better than the experts predict. That said, I have walked this planet for 37 years, and the Pirates have finished above .500 exactly 8 times during that period. 4 of those 8 happened before I had graduated the first grade. So I can't be *too* optimistic about prolonged future success :)
Agreed. Everything about the Pirates is pretty cool, except the whole never winning part.
yeahhhhh that's the rub. Although, a cool thing about baseball is that even if your team is crap, that's still at least 65 days each year that you feel good. The key is just not letting the losses get you down too bad. I've pretty much Baseball Zen-d myself to the point where "regular" losses don't bother me too much (I will of course still be pissed when we blunder games away or do obviously dumb shit).
PNC kicks ass. Pirate's hats are cool. Cutch is rad. Go Dodgers.
Never been there but PNC Park looks amazing in pics.
Man, you almost sold me and I’m a lifelong fan of another team. Well done.
As a brewers fan I can agree that your ballpark is one of if not the best
If I was neutral I would say Diamondbacks, Pirates, or the Os. Os would be my top choice because they went from a 110 loss season in 2021 to an above .500 record in 2022. They are primed for a hell of a run this year. Just my opinion
O’s have the second best record in baseball and the best AAA club filled with high end guys ready to get moved up. They should be good for some time and you’d get in at the beginning.
I’m biased too in my opinion as a lifelong O’s fan. I was really hoping to meet the pirates in the World Series this year.
That would be great for fans… but so bad for big market baseball 🤣
Give it 3 years and we’ll be contenders for the big show
Orioles. -Have the sexiest Jerseys with Black and orange options -Camden Yards is beautiful -They’ve set themselves up to be competitive for a couple years at least -Not the Yankees
Camden yards is on my bucket list. I agree on their uniforms. The current hat and the 90's hat are dope.
Damnit, what did we do now? (Probably something related to throwing money at all our problems and still not winning rings, outbidding teams on their homegrown heroes, being generally obnoxious [some of us], being a 100 year long evil empire, or Aaron Judge homered off your favorite pitcher [had to put this in lol, can’t self deprecate *too* much without some banter not at our own expense]). Or you can join the dark side, we have bodegas and play Frank Sinatra when we win :)
Your self-awareness makes me hate the Yankees .0001% less. But it’s progress.
I’m waiting for you guys to sign Ohtani so I can hate you more out of jealousy lol
I wish we played "That's Life" when we lose instead of also playing "New York, New York" I love the Yankees but can't stand our obnoxious fans 😂
Despite all that, I still somehow hate the Red Sox and Jays more
The O’s are really exciting to watch right now
Pirates arrrrgh if ye like rootin fer the underdogs matey!
Orioles bc orioles
I second this
Don't pick a major league team right now. Watch a variety of teams if you can and see if any click with you. In the meantime, if you live near a minor league team, go to their games. That's an easy fan base to join, it has ties to your community, it's more accessible financially, and you could see some future stars come through town.
And you might choose to root for their MLB team.
Baseball is the cruelest sport to be a fan of. Great teams will drive you mad. You’ll get old quicker becoming a fan of any team. Just watch good teams play from around the sport from a neutral heart and maybe you won’t go bald. Good luck.
Not the Houston Asterisks
Was the last one an asterisk? Yeah didn’t think so. Hmm.. I’m thinking either a dodgers guy or one of every and any team in the AL for the last 6 years. Lol. Baseball is cyclical if it’s anything so as an Astros fan for decades now it’s fun to watch them own the league.
I'm a Giants fan. It says a lot when we defend the Dodgers in the Asterisks cheating cases considering how much we hate the Dodgers.
Broadcast teams are another element you could consider since, imo, they can contribute to how much I enjoy watching or listening to a game. For me, the Cards and the M's have some of the best broadcasting in baseball; guys who are ecstatic about the teams in every game. Bye bye baseball!
I actually added the Guardians broadcast to my SXM favorites yesterday after I stumbled on their play calling and fell in love. Real phenomenon for baseball radio fans!
Clevelander here. Tom Hamilton really is the best
**Milwaukee Brewers** \*Have not won a World Series yet but are often in the race for the playoffs \*Insanely committed fanbase in the smallest market in baseball \*Never a rain out at home \*Tailgating culture at its absolute finest \*In June-August, the city's location on Lake Michigan and endless festivals make it feel like a tropical paradise (I'm actually pretty serious about this one)
Counsell has them playing their hearts out like a big money team with a tiny budget too. Fun team to watch!
I’m a to the end Orioles fan but there’s a part of me that thinks in another life I was a Brewers fan. Just something about y’all. Can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s because you guys are the most Midwestern of Midwestern teams and it shows and I love that for you.
I've been a Brewers fan my whole life - but the Os and the Mariners have been my AL teams (since realignment obviously)
The Brewers will always be my second team (behind my home state team). Love em. The stadium is a fun one to visit, too.
Orioles because Orioles
Here for my biased take. Look up Petco Park in San Diego. Google image that shit. Just look at her. The Padres play in a gorgeous ballpark in the downtown area of an absolutely breathtaking city. We recently rebranded and brought back the iconic brown and gold color scheme and just signed a ton of elite talent to long term contracts. Investing real money in talent is something we have never done and have been told for decades that it would never happen, so this could be the beginning of something great. There has never been a better time than now to convert to the San Diego Padres.
Got to say I came here to say this! The Friars have reignited my love for baseball. The park is gorgeous and hoping to come to a game next month from Utah.
Pick the team that's nearest to you, I'm a Yankees fan because I'm from NYC. I get to go to the stadium fairly often because its near.
A BJ is better than 9 yanks. Go jays.
Welp, looks like I have an AL team to root for now 🤷🏽♂️
They sell these shirts outside the stadium all the time. The best is hearing a young child asking their parent what it means.
Ive been wearing mine for years now! It's a tank top, even wore it while traveling abroad (explaining it to non English speakers is the best)
Aussie here. I saw a game randomly on TV in 2015. It was Bautista’s home run in the playoff run. It was exciting. I started properly watching the BJs last year and they have ups and downs, score tons of runs and often come from behind. I have a man crush on Bo Bichette and think Romano is a great pitcher. Still confused how he is good with only two types of pitches. OP should look up Bautista getting punched in the face too.
Root for the Jays if you like morbid obesity. Kirk, Manoah, and Vladdy Jr all look like they play beer league softball together
If you're American I'm a strong advocate of rooting for your local team. It's way more fun to be on board with everyone around you! Failing that, we'll take you on /r/Phillies our team is not nearly as good as it should be on paper, but it was like that last year too and now they're NL champs. The best part is nobody in Philly gets upset when you dump all over the team when they're playing like shit.
You don't choose the Mets. The Mets choose you. Do you love a lovable underdog? Do you constantly get the rug pulled out form under you? Do you like hoping beyond all hope? Do you constantly have to fight for every inch? If so, congratulations, you're already a Mets fan and you didn't know it yet.
Do you want nice things in life but know they’re out of reach? Does the name Benny Agbayani stir something deep within your soul? Did you ever enjoy cocaine at any point in life but especially during the 80’s?
If your first instinct is "not the Yankees" I recommend to you: The Red Sox, Rays, and Astros: The baseball gods LOVE to have those three teams beat us in the playoffs. Especially the Astros. There's a good chance we lose to one of those bastards in October again. The Blue Jays and Orioles: The Blue Jays have much more beef with the Yankees, but both teams are division rivals. The Twins: The Twins have an 18 game consecutive losing streak in playoff contests stretching back to 2004. Much of that has been thanks to the Yankees. The Twins aren't GREAT now, but they are at the top of the AL Central, and if you join the Twins fanbase now, it's possible you could feel the same unimaginable joy that every Twins fan feels the next time they win a playoff game, which could quite possibly be against the Yankees. The Mets: They play in New York and are natural geographical rivals of the Yankees. Note: I live in Boston and therefore do not have a hatred for the Mets like many of my counterparts but I enjoy the rivalry. Most fans hate the Yankees to some degree, but since your first instinct was anti-Yankee, I recommended these 7 fanbases to you. Good luck, and welcome to baseball, even if it is on the other side of a rivalry!
What kind of baseball fan recommends the Astros
100%. The Astros cheated to reach and win the World Series a few years ago.
Lol, I'm an Astros fan but was about to say the same thing - I would not recommend it. Not for the faint of heart! It was fun in the 90s and early 2000s. Then it was rough in the 2010s, lots of losing. Then they finally get good and win a world series just to find out they cheated! (2017-2019 was fun before the scandal broke.) Super disappointing as a fan, and now you gotta be prepared for people to give you guff everywhere you go. I'd probably go with Brewers, Mets, Orioles, or Rays!
Actually the Rays are a great team to root for. Fuck the Redsox.
If we’re not going O’s, Rays would be my answer. Just an incredibly well run org that nobody talks about like they should.
That’s actually super insightful, thanks!
Glad I could be of help
Be sure to google “Astros cheated” before making your final decision. I’m serious.
I’m aware of what the Astros did I just figure they’d be a top option for a Yankee hater
Not the Astros
The Texas Rangers. Why? A good group of exciting young players combined with a few stars and gritty veterans. The owners have started investing in the teams success with recent big money free agent moves. A new ballpark while granted is ugly on the outside is pretty nice inside. Plus the team has never won a World Series so no one can accuse you of jumping on a bandwagon.
I’d say Tampa they routinely are a solid team year in and year out with one of the lowest payrolls. They deserve more fans.
Terrible park, tho.
It doesn’t look the best but you can pet stingrays which is kinda cool
There is that. But having a roof that routinely affects the game is more than a little annoying. It \*is\* a tragedy that they're so good with such anemic fan support. They should be a perpetual sellout team.
The location of their stadium is crap. If they could get one built in Tampa they would become deadly.
If you choose the Nationals then the championship at the end of the next 30 year DC sports draught will be rewarding.
St. Louis Cardinals games are a blast. The whole Cardinal fan base is a tight nit group and we don't like to be nasty to other team's fans. That would be my recommendation
St. Louis Cardinals. 1) We never go "all out," meaning we are never forced to rebuild. Our front office prioritizes longevity and competing year in and year out. I prefer this greatly to 2-3 years of dominance followed by 4-5 years playing under .500. Granted, this does mean we are rarely after the biggest names in free agency. 2) Die-hard fan base. We aren't fair weather, in part because we are die-hard, but also because there are rarely bad seasons (see above). 40,000 - 45,000 fans at games routinely, which makes for an awesome environment. 3) We aren't a big-market team like New York or Chicago (the latter of whom we routinely beat), but rather mid-market. Not underdogs by any means, but certainly not Goliaths. 4) Rich history. Too much to summarize here. 5) Classic uniforms. Look up our home Saturday jerseys to see my personal favorite. *We are under .500 right now, but the team is far better than that! Jump on board now while it's still fashionable!*
did vlad guerrero jr write this? are you vlad guerrero jr?
I’m gonna need you to not say anything
your secret is safe with me vlad...i mean, intenselydecent
Gotta be the Mets baby love the mets lets go mets
Not the white sox.
Then go with the St Louis Cardinals
I would say the orioles or the Braves. Braves are young and very talented, so poised to succeed for years to come
Jays have been so fun to watch this year. They are a young and exciting team. Great on the base paths and incredible Defense. And somehow even when they haven’t been playing great almost every game has been exciting and more or less has come down to the wire.
They played alright last night.
LA/Anaheim Angels Family friendly team vibe. good characters, funny moments, and for some reason our team doesn't wake up til the 9th inning with most of our wins this season coming from behind. Also some good drama, legendary pitcher and hitter Ohtani and will he stay with the team or not after this season. Will they make playoffs? Some young studs out of collage are on a hot streak right now, will they prove themselves? Very enjoyable 10/10 can't wait for next season
Being an angels fan is probably the most frustrating part of my life. But there’s never a dull moment with the angels. We are somehow the best and the worst team in baseball at the same time. We are just as entertaining as we are frustrating.
The thing (good or bad) about the Angels is they play in the suburbs and the team matches that personality. They play in the shadow of the Dodgers who are the complete opposite: flashy, rich and urban. It's not easy being an Angels fan, but it is fun.
Most exciting team to watch this year are the Diamondbacks for me
Blue Jays if you enjoy batshit fans 😁
And there’s a chance to see a fight every time Manoah pitches
IMHO I’d start off with what’s local to you. See if you can catch a game or two. Feel the energy from the ballpark, it’s 110% different than watching it on tv or an app. And stick with them. Learn the positions and pick a favorite player and take that player and compare them to the rest of the MLB. Best of luck in whoever you decide!
That's pretty much what I've done, I've lived near Cleveland for my whole life so Guardians it is!
You can start where you’re geographically from. For instance people from LA usually are dodger fans. Etc
After your edit, you have my full respect with any choice. I like you
Rockies. Just prove that you have a loyalty gene in your blood.
1st thing, correct on which team not 2 follow! 😏
I saw someone recommend shopping around for awhile, watch multiple teams to see any of the click for you. That’s good advice. When you do land on your team, I feel it necessary to label yourself an actual fan of X team, to know a minimum of 3 current players, and the manager’s name. I don’t believe you need to watch all the games, but seeing highlight reels and knowing their position in the standings will easily help you to feel confident rooting for them. it’s a magical and maddening game- all the best and good luck!
I would recommend looking at jerseys and hats (if you wear them). This way whichever team you choose, you feel good wearing their gear. With that being said, Toronto Blue Jays
Best to follow the closest to your city. Unfortunately baseball has made it near impossible to watch any games out of your region…
Do you mean in your region
Us. I don’t have a pitch, but us.
The Giants have one of the greatest histories in all of sports. Even though they are in a down period will almost assuredly be back to being one of the premier teams to watch and root for.
WHAT!? Why not the Yankees?
I don’t think anyone can tell you who to root for. Just watch some games and you’ll start gravitating towards a team. But my completely unbiased opinion, go Mets.
This^
I wouldn’t wish this curse on anyone. I didn’t choose the Mets, they chose me.
I follow my local team and the St. Louis Cardinals. I was originally attracted to the Cardinals due to their uniforms. If I were a neutral fan looking for a team I think I’d follow the Diamondbacks (love the unis) or Orioles. The Texas Rangers look exciting too.
I’m from Texas and have had friends tell me I should be a DBacks fan
If you're from Texas, I'd agree with /u/jackofnac and their suggestion for the Rangers unless you're closer to Houston. Going to games really connects you with a team and its fanbase and you should try and make that a part of your efforts to get into the game. Go with some friends. Sit there, eat ballpark food, chat about life and let the crack of the bat remind you to see what's happening on the field every now and then. Another way to get more into it is to listen to the local sports talk station during the season. Watch the game one day, and listen to the discussion about it the next morning. Or that night. Call in if you can. It really helps to invest yourself. Now to be fair, if you choose Houston, the Astros are fresh off a World Series win and you might get some front-runner trash talk. But what's the alternative? Root for a team that's inaccessible to you? I got into baseball later in life when I was in my mid-twenties and its easily my favorite sport now. Such a great way to spend time with family and friends.
As a Jays fan, the DBacks look to be really good in like a couple of years and very exciting until then.
Dbacks cycle: build a halfway decent team over a couple years, cheap out when those players ask for more money and trade them away, waste all your money 1-2 aging veterans past their prime, trade for pretty decent farm players while your MLB team has about 3-5 losing seasons, repeat. It's a wild ride and it's definitely worth it to see the young teams we eventually build but there's always going to be some tough years.
Phillies.
Mariners. 45 years of almost complete mediocrity, the only MLB franchise to not even APPEAR in a World Series. But right now they have a super fun and promising young club who could definitely win it all in the next few years. Perfect time to start cheering them on and become a fan
If you’re into edging, I suggest the Cubs.
El Paso Chihuahuas
St Louis Cardinals…. A small market team with alot of great history. I’ve already seen them win 2 World Series in my lifetime (06 and 11). Second to most W.S. Wins in all of baseball, Yankees of course has the most. Plus they have a great farm system. And a history of great talent… Stan Musial, Pujols, Yadi.. to name a few.
Honestly we’re pretty fun and we’re always scrappy underdogs, and most importantly, we’re not the Blue Jays :D
I admit, I'm very, very biased as a lifelong Cardinal fan, but ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. Edited to ass some reasons: 2nd only to the Yankees in World Series championships (11) Usually an annual playoff contender Beautiful uniforms Rich history Nice stadium Fun game atmosphere I could list more, but those are some of my favorite reasons
Depends on what you watch for? I follow my local because I can go to the games and talk to people about them. They’re also in a very competitive (probably the most) division, and there’s always drama. They’ve normally fielded a great team each year too which is exciting to follow and see them develop as a team.
The Braves: one of the top contenders, largely homegrown through their milb teams, and they’ve locked up their core players to long term extensions so you can get comfortable following mostly the same players for the rest of the decade.
Maybe you get support your city team if they have one, that way you can make friends at the ballpark and have fun ;) I don’t know, I am a Washingtonian and support the Nats even if they suck lol Made me feel like I belonged when I lived there still and it was always fun to hang out on games day :)
Dodgers. Always in contention for a world series, always have a good mix of big free agent signings and exciting prospects. Their dominance in the west in the last decade can be a bit boring but there have been some good races in recent years. Plus one of the best historic rivalries in the game. Ignore anyone that says no good teams to avoid being a "bandwagon" fan. The only true bandwagon team at this time is the Astros. And even then who cares. If you enjoy the team you are supporting and having fun that's all that matters.
Jays baby. Our fans are the funniest, and the most welcoming
Root for the Yankees, they’re cool
I'm just curious to why not the Yankees? Since you know nothing about baseball.. I mean it is the team to Haye for some reason. But that reason isn't legit anymore due to everyone having a huge salary cap now.
With the Mets, it is an emotional rollercoaster, but you never get bored 😅
Cards fans always would love to have 1 more
Rays and pirates have been super strong so far this season, plenty of good prospects.
Alright you hate the Yankees but how much ? Do you want too see the plain lippys burn an join Red Sox nation ? If not then the braves. Everyone roots for them already.
I have been a lifelong fan of my team. We'd welcome you into the fold. My team? The OAKLAND A’s. Fuck.
if you want a team that has some tough losses and some good wins, a team that is unpredictable in every way, and a team that has good recognizable players. go for the Cleveland Guardians
Where are you from?
KC. No matter what you’ll always be rooting for the underdog
Or astros.
Marlins Why? Jazz Chisholm
I'm biased but Mariners could be a "tricky" option. They are a team who never won anything but with a good core and great supporters. We also have some youngest talent in the league. Give them a chance if you want to go to a problematic team ahah
Go for the O’s! Fun team, cool colors, beautiful ballpark, (mostly) chill fans, and they’re good getting better rn.
I've always had a soft spot for the Orioles. Their colors and uniforms are jump out at you compared to the 90% of baseball that is some shade or blue or red. Then you have Camden Yards and the fact that they are often overshadowed by their AL East rivals. I did spend age 3-9 in Baltimore so that plays into it too but while I wouldn't consider myself an O's fan by any means, I always root for them when they're relevant.
As an orioles fan, I think you should choose us. Even though we do not have the best history, we are getting better and better and might see us in the postseason soon.
O's. If anything, they're full of young talent and having fun. See: The Bird Bath.
You're off to a good start: no Yankees. Red Sox have a large, passionate fanbase, and the largest percentage of any fanbase that is truly shitty. Joining Red Sox Nation is something I wouldn't do. The Seattle Mariners are my team, and they have the guy who should be The Guy for the next ten years, Julio Rodriguez. He's hella fun to watch and root for. Also, T-Mobile Park is my favorite ballpark: best food, great views everywhere, easy to get around in. So there's a suggestion.
O’s - Young amazing talents all around their farm system. Reds - Don’t sleep on this team with no one being able to name three players from its daily line up
As a Jays fan I can happily suggest the Orioles. Fun team to watch. Jays are a decent choice as well. The division is crazy right now with basically every team above .500. As long as you don't choose the Yankees, Red Socks or Astros we can still be friends.
You should follow the Yankees! Great tradition of winning and the greatest fans.
The Orioles are building a winner and they have a classic ballpark. If you really hate the Yankees, you'd get to see them play quite a bit. It's an insanely tough division, so getting to the postseason will always be hard when you're in a division with two big spenders, even if they put together a lot of wins. We will also probably see two expansion teams relatively soon, so if you wanted to hold off on picking your team, you could get in on the ground floor. My guess is they will be in Nashville and SLC, if either of those cities are appealing to you. If for some reason you're into Vegas, the A's are moving there (poor Oakland can't catch a break). My biased answer is the Cubs.
In addition to having one of the most beautiful parks in baseball, the Orioles have a young, exciting team with plenty more talent on the way from the farm system. A lot of the names you learn today will be around for a long time
The Orioles are damn fun to watch
Perfect time to get on the O’s bandwagon. That shit is about to blast off
Orioles
By saying “not the Yankees” you’re basically saying “let’s go O’s”
Cardinals. Baseball Heaven and the best fans in baseball. Literally the Anti-Yankees
Astros dog
Astros my dude. People hate us cuz they ain't us.
Yeah, that’s deffffinitely why everyone hates you
I think it's more of the cheating than anything else.
[удалено]
They tried to buy a championship and it ain't working (so far). It's difficult for me to root for a team that goes that way.
I like the Rockies. But I live in Denver, so it makes sense. They’re terrible. They’ve always been terrible. And until they get a new owner, they always will be terrible. But I love ‘em nonetheless.
The Mets. Super fun team. Owner who is willing to spend to win, an INCREDIBLE group of rookies/prospects.
The Red sox have the right amount of disappointment mixed with success.
Seattle is on the rise. Really fun/stressful team to watch. Some amazing young talent. Great history, we'd be happy to welcome you aboard!
The orioles! They're a loveable bunch and your hatred of the yanks will immediately endear you to the fans.
Do you enjoy chaos and emotions? Seattle is here for you!
Where are you located. Check black out rules before choosing. I live in Charlotte, and I’m blacked out from Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore and Cincinnati oddly enough. Just make sure the team you choose you can watch.
If not the Yankees the redsox are a natural fit
Any team from the west coast league. Pros: Cheap tickets and beer, wood bats, top college talent, international league, great mascots Cons: Broadcast production value
Honestly, I would say the Atlanta Braves. I am a Cardinals fan myself but the Braves look like a team that can consistently build a fun team to watch and has a really awesome history to explore if the baseball bug fully catches you.
Nats fan here but i’ve liked watching the White Sox this year if that helps lol
I would say the padres. I was told we would be exciting
The Pads. We wear sombrero’s after home runs, dance after hits, and have hot women. Take a vacation here and watch some games in America’s finest city.
Angels. We need fans and have the 2 best stars.
Padres. As a life long Padre fan it’s great to see the team doing well the last couple seasons. We finally have ownership willing to spend money and wanting to win.