CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians will face the New York Yankees in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Monday, with the winner advancing to face the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.
But while it's clear who Northeast Ohio is rooting for in the game, at least one prominent baseball writer is suggesting that the league office is likely -- and should be -- rooting for the Yankees.
In a column published following New York's Game 4 victory in Cleveland on Sunday, Jon Heyman of The New York Post wrote that baseball would benefit from a marquee team such as the Yankees advancing to the ALCS. Heyman noted that other high-profile teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have already been eliminated and suggested that a matchup between the Yankees and Astros would be more attractive to casual fans than a series between Cleveland and Houston.
"If they can beat Cleveland on Monday night, the Yankees have a date with hated Houston," Heyman wrote. "Of the teams that despise the Astros, the Yankees are probably first on that list, making for a great storyline. An Astros-Guardians series wouldn’t bring nearly the same buzz.
"The upstart Guardians are a nice story, sure, especially for hardcore fans. But to draw in the casual fan, the historic franchise is a near necessity. Folks either love the Yankees, or love to hate them. Indifference is no option."
Unsurprisingly, Heyman's column didn't go over well with Guardians fans, especially as he appeared dismissive of Cleveland's unlikely run.
"This isn’t always said aloud. But as far as the country is concerned, it’s enough already," he continued. "The Guardians, while deserving of our admiration for getting this far after trading off a trio of stars (including Mr. Smiles himself, Francisco Lindor), can remain mostly anonymous for another year."
First pitch between the Guardians and Yankees on Monday is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.