So who's the second best team?

[C-Unit]

We know who the best team (on paper) in the league is. But who's the second best (on paper for 2026)?

I feel like that question puts it into perspective just how much better the Dodgers are than everyone else.

Do you want to go with Toronto? Mets? Yankees? Phillies? Boston? Is it Seattle? I might say Seattle.

The other thing it suggests is that while we state that the rich only get richer, it's really only one team pulling away from the rest. Some of the teams I listed are in the conversation but also have major questions. That means if the Cardinals play their cards right then it should be attainable to be in that mix in another 2-3 years.

[rage-STL]

That World Series was incredible. There were multiple instances where the Bluejays were fractions of an inch away from winning game 7, but it didn’t come to fruition. Baseball is a funny game.

[C-Unit]

That World Series was incredible. There were multiple instances where the Bluejays were fractions of an inch away from winning game 7, but it didn’t come to fruition. Baseball is a funny game.

Toronto certainly created plenty of opportunities for themselves. And they outscored LA in the series didn't they.

I think the Pages catch was the highlight. Unbelievably clutch. It's the opposite of Nelson Cruz missing his ball, both hard hit balls with probably a low catch probability.

Or compare it to the Endy Chavez play we all remember. The Chavez play was clutch but in Pages' case if that ball gets down the Blue Jays win right there.

[RamFan08NY]

True, we know who #1 is, and the teams you listed as potential #2 all make sense. Every year though there is a team that sort of comes out of nowhere. Arizona from a few years ago, Milwaukee to some extent last year. I think Baltimore may be a team to watch. They're going to have a dangerous offense.

I feel that the hated Cubs will be good this year, and baseball would be more exciting if the Pirates were relevant and they filled up that beautiful stadium of theirs every game. They do have the pitching staff to do that. The Padres also have the talent, but they have had the talent the past few years and have disappointed the expectations.

[C-Unit]

True, we know who #1 is, and the teams you listed as potential #2 all make sense. Every year though there is a team that sort of comes out of nowhere. Arizona from a few years ago, Milwaukee to some extent last year. I think Baltimore may be a team to watch. They're going to have a dangerous offense.

I feel that the hated Cubs will be good this year, and baseball would be more exciting if the Pirates were relevant and they filled up that beautiful stadium of theirs every game. They do have the pitching staff to do that. The Padres also have the talent, but they have had the talent the past few years and have disappointed the expectations.

Baltimore and Pittsburgh indeed teams to watch. I'd like to put KC in that mix, could see them overshouting Detroit for the division maybe more if they'd add another bat.

[Carp4Cy]

We know who the best team (on paper) in the league is. But who's the second best (on paper for 2026)?

I feel like that question puts it into perspective just how much better the Dodgers are than everyone else.

Do you want to go with Toronto? Mets? Yankees? Phillies? Boston? Is it Seattle? I might say Seattle.

The other thing it suggests is that while we state that the rich only get richer, it's really only one team pulling away from the rest. Some of the teams I listed are in the conversation but also have major questions. That means if the Cardinals play their cards right then it should be attainable to be in that mix in another 2-3 years.

Seattle is at least 2nd in football. Maybe the best. I don’t think they are there in baseball. There are one that has never won a World Series. And they never won in basketball either, although their former team is now the thunder who are the very best.

Kind of an interesting trifecta.

But for baseball, I think Yankees. They resigned Belanger and there’s still Judge. Boston probably improves with their moves. For the NL I’d say the Mets are due to break thru.

I hate Philadelphia so I cannot entertain them winning. Same with the Cubs. Atlantis should probably be stripping down and rebuilding like us, but they might find a faster way to get back on top. Florida and Washington will not.

Several teams in the central might duke it out to get to the playoffs, but I don’t think any will advance like last year

[CCard]

We know who the best team (on paper) in the league is. But who's the second best (on paper for 2026)?

I feel like that question puts it into perspective just how much better the Dodgers are than everyone else.

Do you want to go with Toronto? Mets? Yankees? Phillies? Boston? Is it Seattle? I might say Seattle.

The other thing it suggests is that while we state that the rich only get richer, it's really only one team pulling away from the rest. Some of the teams I listed are in the conversation but also have major questions. That means if the Cardinals play their cards right then it should be attainable to be in that mix in another 2-3 years.

Probably Seattle or Toronto. Depending on what the other teams do with their rosters. There's no reason to wait 2-3 years. That's a fallacy. If they went out and signed some talent they could challenge for the playoffs, although it's going to be a lot harder because they traded away their best pitcher and best hitter. So I would say the worst player on the team is the ownership.