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Off-Topic: Who are you rooting for in the NL?

With the Twins comfortably in the playoffs and almost guaranteed to have ALDS home-field advantage, there's a bit more room to get invested in the other races still being decided throughout baseball. At least, when we're not being treated to the sight of the Royals suddenly thinking they're the Rangers and Randy Flores thinking he's a paid baseball player.

Up until recently, I honestly couldn't have cared less about anything transpiring in the National League. With so much focus on the Twins and their chase of Tampa and NY for the best record and the Dodgers slogging through a disappointing season, nothing grabbed me. Now, however, I am officially pulling for the Reds for a number of reasons. First, I can't root for the Giants (because of my inherited Dodger love). Second, they have a lot of cool players including Joey Votto, Aroldis Chapman, and our beloved Orlando Cabrera. Third, they haven't been to the playoffs since 1995, and the World Series since 1990. Fourth, they're a classic team with great history (Ernie Lombardi, Frank Robinson, and Sparky's Big Red Machine come to mind). Fifth, for all the heat he takes, I still like Dusty Baker and would be happy to see him have a great postseason. Sixth, they probably have a better shot at the pennant than the Padres, who would also be a cool winner.

And finally, I think I'm a little sick of the Phillies. I know there is probably not too much of a passionate basis for this, as opposed to being incredibly tired of the Yankees and Red Sox all the time. Not to mention, they're one of my overall preferred teams, they've earned their position with timely playing and smart acquisitions, and I love a lot of the players (Utley, Howard, Werth, etc.). But after last-year's World Series match-up, I'm really hungry for something entirely new, and of course there's always the disgusting social retards that comprise a chunk of the Philly faithful (I know, I know, the rotten apple spoiling the bunch argument...).

Maybe this is just out of antsiness about whether or not the Twins will finally get WS trophy number three this year. As long as they do, it really doesn't matter in the end.

But until then:

Go Reds!