I got to admit to being an American League guy (so I know that probably puts this post behind the 8-ball to start with) and a Red Sox fan. I got to say though, that I am not half the fan I used to be, ever since the Sox became a true "big market" team, and were able to just go out into free agency and get whomever they want to come and play for them. I felt like we had become Yankees lite, and now we actually are getting our fair share of the free agents that used to always go to New York.
There's really no joy in winning when you know it's based more on the owner's pocketbook than it is on good drafting, excellent coaching, internal player development, player's busting their butts, etc.
I actually cheered for the Astros last year against my own team. Part of that was hurricane sympathy to be sure, but a good part of it was that they were more like the Red Sox teams I grew up with--lower payroll, but boosted by great chemistry and a great fan base. Two-three years ago, it was the Kansas City Royals.
Still, even I was a little surprised with the Sox hot streak out of the gate given the problems we've had with Price, given Porcello's horrendous season last year, and given that the J.D. Martinez contract dance took so long, and that he may not have really felt all that wanted here in the end. Plus Pedroia, Thornberg, and others were on the shelf. The past week and a half seems to have brought them down to earth again, but I don't know if they've ever won this many games in April before...
Yes, I'm not that far from you when it comes to rooting for underdogs and lower market teams. It less about the teams to me now than it is about the sport, which I love. It was great to see the Royals and Astros win in recent years, proving that on any given day or in any given year, most teams has a chance (provided they have tanked for a few years, drafted and developed players brilliantly, and threaded that needle with a championship just before the stars get to expensive to re-sign).
"...it is about the sport..."
Upvoted!