Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia Phillies: With your Team out of the Playoffs, Who to Root for?

By Chuck Booth

Oct 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Fans wave Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) heads on a stick during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Fans wave Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) heads on a stick during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 9
Next
Philadelphia Phillies
Sep 26, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) addresses the assembled media before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

National League: Chicago Cubs

Who are they: The loveable losers… oh wait, those Cubs of old are gone. These Chicago Cubs are the juggernauts of the National League and went 103-58 to outclass the National League Central. You name it and the Cubs do it well. They have the National League ERA leader in Kyle Hendricks who finished the year with an ERA of 2.14. They also have the two most likely MVP candidates in Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

This team has been so good during the season that it’s scary to look at. They deserve to be the odds-on favorite to win the World Series and because of that, they will enter the postseason with a nice big target painted on their backs.

Why root for them: The Cubs have the longest championship drought in all of professional sports at 106 years. It’s about time for them to shed that curse and because of it, they will have their fair share of out of market fans.

Next: Ryan Howard and Donovan McNabb: Equivocal Legacies Of Two Philly Legends

The Cubs also have an extremely likable manager in Joe Maddon. His quirks help keep the clubhouse light and his teams love playing for him. With a team that’s as young as the Cubs, that’s pretty useful.

Can they break the curse?

Home/Philadelphia Phillies