What team do you hope we avoid in the ALDS?

[Sports Guy]

If you could avoid one team in the ALDS, what team is it?

Edited September 25, 2023 by Sports Guy

[Moose Milligan]

I fear no punk.

[Sanfran327]

Has to be the Astros. They've been there and know how to win deep into the post season. Seattle is good, but just as young and dumb as we are. Plus they're famous for choking. I wouldn't love to play the Rangers, but of the 3 teams out of the west, I'd choose to play them if I could. Wouldn't love playing Tampa, even as injured as they are. They can still pitch like crazy. Would love to bash the hell out of Toronto in the playoffs. 

[clapdiddy]

I don't really fear any team...but I picked Toronto.   We owned them during the season...those things seem to find a way to even out.

[Gunnar]

3 minutes ago, clapdiddy said:

I don't really fear any team...but I picked Toronto.   We owned them during the season...those things seem to find a way to even out.

Same.  Plus if we are going to lose, I don't want it to be to the Jays.

[Chuck Toedan]

I'll go with the M's just because I don't want to deal with a potential west coast TV schedule for the ALDS.

[btdart20]

2 minutes ago, clapdiddy said:

I don't really fear any team...but I picked Toronto.   We owned them during the season...those things seem to find a way to even out.

Vladdy is heating up too.

 

My gut reaction is the defending title holder.  But how sweet would it be for Elias to bump his former team?  Texes is second IMO.

[spleen1015]

I can't really pick one. They're all decent teams. I'll go with the Rays since they're like us, about 10 games better than everyone else.

[wildcard]

They should all fear the O's.

[Billy F-Face3]

The Texas offense and the Seattle pitching staff seem like a threat to me. 

I really don't have an answer because whoever we face will be a worthy challenge.

[Mooreisbetter27]

I voted Texas but I’d prob change to the Jays. Texas is getting hot again and they’re scary to pitch to when they’re playing well. But I think I could stomach more losing to them than I could losing to the Blue Jays. 

[Aristotelian]

Seems like the Jays have the right combination of pitching and offense to match up well and they're 7-3 in their Last 10. It would also suck to lose to them. Then again it would be extremely fun to make it to the WS by beating them. At this point I don't really care who we play.

[AdamK]

I'm not sure and it feels like a question I shouldn't spend much time considering. Not because there isn't value to the conversation, or opinions aren't valid -- they are -- but more so because in my fandom body of work I have had a tendency to agonize over it a bit too much.

Chalk it up to either not being very evolved in this way or not having enough post-season experience as a fan. Sometimes I contemplate how watching a team closely along their journey to winning it all provides new perspective the next time. We obviously don't have that here to fall back on.

 

Getting there is what is most important. Every team has a shot once the playoffs start. The Os are going to have to play whoever is on their path and hopefully the outcome won't depend on the matchup. I realize though this may be a coping mechanism. Either that, or I have been subtly radicalized by my Budhist In-laws.

 

 

 

[dystopia]

1 hour ago, clapdiddy said:

I don't really fear any team...but I picked Toronto.   We owned them during the season...those things seem to find a way to even out.

This is a great point actually. We were 1-5 against the Tigers in 2014 before the playoffs. Would be interesting to see data on this. 

[justD]

Torn between the Blue Jays and Rangers but chose the Rangers.  Difference for me is having Josh Jung back. 

Rays are just too banged up, both pitching and hitting, to last through this last week and then have anything left for the postseason.  Mariners are too inconsistent.  Astros got something going wrong, not sure what the heck but there's something wrong there.