The Texas Rangers have received the World Series! Do not let the beginning of free company make us neglect the superior factor that simply occurred. That franchise had by no means received a title, and now it has. The title is the end result of years of frustration, but additionally the end result of a multi-year plan, over a number of normal managers. The Rangers have been working towards this for some time. It was their time.
Now that the Rangers have given their followers a second of peace, it makes us marvel: Who’s subsequent? Which fan bases are most in want of their second?
To set the parameters for this train, we’re going to concentrate on groups which have gone a very long time (or at the least a very long time so far as the followers are involved) with out successful a title and have made the postseason not too long ago or are on the verge of doing so.
Here are my high 10 franchises that now want a title essentially the most.
1. Dodgers
Yes, sure, they received a World Series again in 2020, which, whereas it would appear like a thousand years in the past, was actually solely three. But yearly the Dodgers don’t add one other title — one in a full season, fairly than the shortened 2020 season, which shouldn’t reduce the worth of that championship however, within the eyes of some, completely does — makes their prolonged run of success really feel an increasing number of like a missed alternative. That’s very true after seeing them get bounced within the 2023 NLDS in a breezy, overwhelming three-game sweep by the hands of the D-backs. The Dodgers are the signature franchise in baseball proper now, the mannequin everybody else is patterning themselves after. But they nonetheless have as many titles within the final 35 years because the Royals do.
2. Phillies
This certain felt just like the yr for the Phillies, didn’t it? After improbably reaching the World Series final yr, they had been on firmer floor this yr, taking out the Braves within the NLDS (for the second yr in a row) and driving a cavalcade of homers and a roaring house crowd to a 3-2 lead within the NLCS over the D-backs. Then all of it went sideways on them, and the second straight World Series look that was imagined to be theirs had slipped by their fingers. This continues to be a stacked staff, and it nonetheless has Bryce Harper, however you’ll be able to’t assist however marvel if these are alternatives they received’t get again once more. Harper has been such a postseason spotlight machine it’s powerful to do not forget that he doesn’t actually have a World Series ring but. The Phillies are going to get him one, proper?
3. Yankees
With the D-backs reaching the World Series this yr for the primary time since 2001, there have now been 16 groups who’ve made it to the Fall Classic for the reason that Yankees final did in 2009. That is, truthful to say, too lengthy of a spot for Yankees followers. Any endurance they could have had has long term out. The pleasure of that younger, vibrant 2017 staff certain seems like a very long time in the past. It obtained as dangerous because it has been in additional than 30 years this yr, with the Yankees posting their worst successful proportion since 1992.
4. Mets
Well, this yr didn’t go the way it was imagined to. All the spending, all the massive swings, all of it collapsed in 2023, and did so fairly rapidly. There are some who will think about the 2023 Mets one of many bigger disappointments in baseball historical past. We wouldn’t go that far, although. Sure, Steve Cohen spent some huge cash on a not-great staff, however to his credit score, when it turned clear this wasn’t working, he pivoted rapidly and introduced in appreciable younger expertise. The Mets appear primed to spend once more sooner or later, and so they’ll do it with a firmer basis this time.
5. Guardians
They appeared to take a step backward this yr as a staff that completed in second within the AL Central however by no means felt notably near reaching the playoffs. They have a brand new supervisor in Stephen Vogt, somebody your entire baseball world loves, and there’s nonetheless loads of expertise right here, led in fact by perpetual MVP candidate José Ramírez. The heartbreak of coming so shut in 2016 continues to be palpable but additionally getting additional and additional into the previous. The Guardians have the longest World Series title drought in baseball, ranging all the best way again to 1948. Some would argue they need to be No. 1 on this listing.
6. Rays
Back in May, it certain felt like this was the yr, didn’t it? The Rays didn’t even find yourself successful their division, and their playoff exit was sudden. This franchise went its first 10 years with out making the playoffs in any respect, then it made it 4 of the following six years, then it went 5 extra years with out reaching the postseason. Right now could be the increase time: They’ve made the playoffs 5 straight years, reaching one World Series (2020). But they nonetheless haven’t received one.
7. Padres
Speaking of groups who’ve by no means received a World Series however had excessive hopes for 2023, we now have the Padres, a staff that, regardless of all of the expertise on this planet, simply by no means obtained it going this yr. They are actually dealing with some massive questions, from probably changing their free agent Cy Young hopeful Blake Snell as to whether or not they’re going to commerce Juan Soto. Meanwhile, they nonetheless have a few of the greatest names within the sport. This yr was a disappointment, however they’re nonetheless the largest factor stepping into San Diego sports, they nonetheless have a fanbase that’s determined for a title, and so they nonetheless have some hated rivals in Southern California who aren’t going wherever. The window continues to be open right here, proper? Right?
8. Brewers
One of baseball’s nice fan bases retains falling brief within the postseason yearly, regardless of a current run of 5 playoff appearances in 5 years that’s arguably one of the best stretch in franchise historical past. The Brewers are actually dealing with appreciable uncertainty after shedding their beloved supervisor and with Corbin Burnes, Willy Adames, and Brandon Woodruff all a yr from free company. This division will give them an opportunity to win yearly, however they’ll solely miss so many postseason alternatives earlier than they’re going to cease coming. The Reds are bettering, the Pirates are bettering, the Cubs are leveling up and the Cardinals are wanting to get again to their accustomed spot atop the division. Are circumstances beginning to go the Brewers by?
9. Mariners
The solely staff nonetheless but to achieve a World Series, Seattle took a step again this yr after ending its postseason drought in 2022. That step backward shouldn’t be too ominous, although. The Mariners have quite a lot of younger expertise, cash to spend and a franchise cornerstone in Julio Rodríguez. They want to begin getting again to the postseason repeatedly to present themselves extra photographs to achieve that first Fall Classic, but it surely certain seems to be like Julio is the man who will lead them there.
10. Braves
We might have gone — and possibly ought to have gone — with the Orioles right here, however for now, though the Braves simply received the Series two years in the past, we’ll choose them. Why? Because their 2021 title, as nice because it was, was with a staff that could be very completely different than the one they’ve now — the higher one they’ve now. The Nineteen Nineties Braves had the status of being an unimaginable regular-season staff that might by no means grasp the brass ring multiple time. This nice Braves staff — and it is an amazing Braves staff — must get one other World Series to keep away from the identical destiny.
Content Source: www.mlb.com