Contributing factors:

• Dodgers absent in playoffs
• Giants stealing the NL West Division Title from Padres
• Giants take best of 5 from the Braves in 4
• Phillies sweep Reds
• Giants/Phillies NLCS showdown
• Howard strikes out looking and the GIANTS become the NL Champs

Dodger fans found themselves in their own personal hell this post season. Rooting for any team playing against either Giants or Phillies. “Giants won’t make it past the division series. They haven’t made playoffs since the turn of the century,” we kept telling ourselves. Then they made it to the NLCS. So, who do we root for? Some fans rooted for Giants. “They’re from the west!” Uhh, no. They’re the GIANTS! Blasphemy, I tell you! As much as I hate the Phillies for killing us in the NLCS the past two years, I was rooting for them to murder the Giants because I couldn’t even begin to imagine the ridicule we would have to endure whenever the Giants were in town. Making playoffs was bad enough. Making it to the NLCS AND doing what the Dodgers couldn’t do twice, we should just wear bags over our heads.

Have you bought yours yet? Because the Giants have won the NL pennant! Wait, did our long-time rivals just do what the Boys in Blue failed at? Did they play the game so well that they earn the title of National League Champs? Yes and I think I’m going to crawl under a rock and die!

Let me clarify. I am not saying that these teams do not deserve to be where they are. They do! They played the better ball all year and they are where they are because of it, but the boiling hate that fills me up even thinking about it is real.

This year’s Fall Classic will stage two unlikely organizations battling for the title of World Champions. The Rangers will be making their first appearance in their 40-year history. The Giants will be attempting to win their first title since moving to the West. Who will you be rooting for? If you say the Giants, please don’t call yourself a Dodger fan. True Blue fans will be rooting for the Rangers to take it all! Regardless of the outcome (crosses fingers for Giants to get swept), I will be expecting some good baseball! Because I am a Dodger fan first and a baseball fan second.

Interesting to note: Bengie Molina will be the key to Rangers winning the title. Being that he was a Giant for half of the season, he not only knows how the rotation pitches, but also knows the offense and their batting tendencies. He will most likely be getting a WS ring whether the Rangers win or lose (they’re going to win!)

Hoping for a great fall classic. As always, Viva Los Dodgers!