Now that the wild-card games are in the rearview, we've got a field of eight teams that cannot be bounced without losing a minimum of three games. So it's now essentially tourney time, MLB-style. As such, we can take a long view and figure out which World Series matchups might be the most tasty. Bear in mind, this is all relative because every single World Series matchup is tasty. It's just that some of the best possible cut of prime rib while others are merely a good sirloin. No complaints on either, it's just that there's a difference between the best and the very good.
How did we decide? Well, the four Eye on Baseball guys -- Dayn Perry, Mike Axisa, R.J. Anderson and myself -- voted from our basements. It's a subjective vote, obviously, based upon things like the rarity of a team visiting the World Series, how good the teams were during the regular season, external factors that might create fun stories and the possibility of a long and well-played series.
And, obviously, fans seeing their own favorite team in the World Series easily have any matchup with their favorite team ranked at the top. We're looking here at mass appeal for all baseball fans. Think of what fans with no horse in the race (meaning if you are a Cardinals fan who hates the Cubs, you don't count in judging the Cubs' series here) would most enjoy.
16. 
Giants vs. 
Blue Jays
If it did come to this, I would expect a well-played series. Other than that and everything positive that we'll mention below (great Giants starting pitchers vs. great Jays' power and the Giants' even-year thing), I've got nothing more.
15. Giants vs. 
Rangers
It's a rematch of the 2010 World Series, but that one wasn't really a memorable bout or anything -- other than for Giants fans, of course. We'd have the Giants even-year thing against the Rangers looking for their first-ever title after losing twice in the recent past. And, really, I'd never complain about late October games in AT&T Park.
14. 
Nationals vs. Blue Jays
Great Jays power against the Nationals solid rotation, but let's not discount the Nationals' power. They had six players hit at least 20 homers this year (though one, Wilson Ramos, is out for the season). This could be a good series for home runs and that's always fun.
Who would Orioles fans root for, by the way?
13. 
Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
Lots of blue, an overwhelming chance of no rainouts and lots of power against the Clayton Kershaw (and Rich Hill!) led Dodgers rotation. There's also the fact that Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin came up with the Dodgers and played in the postseason for them.
We've probably reached the point in this post to reiterate that every one of these series would be exciting, because it might look like we're less than excited about this and that isn't at all the case.
12. Nationals vs. 
Indians
Both of these teams have seen some pretty significant injuries this season and still battled through them.
One thing that sticks out to me about the Nationals which I'm not saving to mention below is this is manager Dusty Baker's eighth trip to the playoffs with his fourth different team and he still hasn't won the World Series.
Indians manager Terry Francona, meanwhile, won it all in his first trip to the postseason and two of his first three tries.
11. Nationals vs. Rangers
The winner would take a first-ever World Series championship and there's also a D.C. bond here. The Rangers franchise was the Washington Senators from 1961-71.
Each staff has a pair of aces at the top in Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels vs. Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark.
What about the Ian Desmond connection? Desmond spent the first seven years of his career with the Nationals before joining the Rangers in free agency this past offseason.
10. Giants vs. Indians
I like the manager matchup here, as Francona and Giants skipper Bruce Bochy will be in the Hall of Fame someday. Between them as managers there are five World Series rings, six pennants and 13 playoff berths.
We would also be treated to some classic pitcher's duels between Corey Kluber and either Madison Bumgarner or Johnny Cueto.
One last question: Has there been a championship clash between Cleveland and the Bay Area recently? Hmmm ...
9. Dodgers vs. Rangers
Much like we'll discuss in number eight, there's a variance in franchise success. One aspect of it here tilts toward the Rangers, though. Since the Dodgers won the World Series in 1988, they've been to the playoffs nine times and not made the World Series once. The Rangers, on the other hand, went in both 2010 and 2011.
Adrian Beltre came up with the Dodgers while Adrian Gonzalez was once part of a very lopsided trade, when the Rangers sent him away after just 59 career games.
Also a huge plus: This is most likely the best weather series among outdoor venues.
8. Dodgers vs. Indians
Two long-time franchises in Major League Baseball with a difference in success. The Dodgers have six World series titles and 22 NL pennants. The Indians only have five pennants and two championships.
The two teams squared off once in the World Series, back in 1920, when the Dodgers were still the Brookyln Robins (Indians won the series five games to two).
A fun side aspect? When now-Indians manager Francona was managing the 2004 Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918, there was a particular stolen base that paved the way for the best comeback in the history of playoff baseball. The pinch runner who pulled it off is now the Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts.
7. 
Cubs vs. Blue Jays
In the way of history, there probably isn't much to go on here. Joe Maddon left the AL East before the Jays became a playoff team.
In terms of on-field drama, we've got an irresistible force vs. immovable object type situation. The Blue Jays have home run threats up and down the lineup while the Cubs had the best ERA in baseball and are pretty good at keeping the ball in the yard -- particularly when it'll be cold in late October in Wrigley Field.
6. Cubs vs. Rangers
Sure, the Cubs haven't won it all since 1908, but the Rangers have never won it. Neither have the Astros, so it's a state of Texas drought and you can bet that it would mean a great deal to locals -- Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth area -- to grab one before Houston.
This also comes to mind: You know how for most of the season a theme has been how much fun the Cubs have? Few players in baseball have more fun than the Rangers' left side of the infield in Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus.
And I know he can't play, but Prince Fielder having a shot at getting a ring what will be considered his final season would be pretty cool.
5. Nationals vs. 
Red Sox
Note the monstrous Red Sox offense that we'll mention many times in a row -- and Big Papi farewell factor -- and apply it to matching up against Max Scherzer, Tanner Roark and maybe even Stephen Strasburg. That's pretty good, but there's more.
This would also be Bryce Harper's first appearance in the Fall Classic. In fact, it would be the first time a team from Washington D.C. appeared in the World Series since 1933. D.C. hasn't won a World Series since 1924. It's not a continuous drought, as the Senators stopped play in 1971 and the Nationals picked up in 2005, but it's a drought nonetheless.
4. Giants vs. Red Sox
What I said above about the sick Red Sox offense vs. the Nats? Now it's against Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto several times.
Not only that, but let's zero in on one particular matchup. Bumgarner has one of the best postseason resumes in history among pitchers, but David Ortiz -- a fellow lefty -- is a career .295/.409/.553 postseason hitter with 21 doubles, 17 homers and 60 RBI in 357 plate appearances. Both are great and both are known for stepping up in the clutch. Beautiful.
It should be noted that every single Giants series comes attached with a "can they win for the fourth straight even year" footnote, as we alluded to earlier.
3. Dodgers vs. Red Sox
Two storied franchises who haven't met in the World Series since the Dodgers were actually the Brooklyn Robins (1916, in which the Red Sox won four games to one). That's something.
Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park are two pretty iconic venues and we'd get both coasts involved. That's all fun.
How about the chances of seeing the Red Sox's killer offense against Clayton Kershaw (at least) twice in a series? Yes please.
2. Cubs vs. Indians
Even if the top pick was easy, that doesn't mean this wasn't a close call. Cubs-Indians would be amazing. The Indians have since been to the World Series, but they haven't won it all since 1948. From that lens, this would be a classic "something has to give" championship, even if the Cubs' drought is 40 years longer.
There's also some Cubs president Theo Epstein involvement, as Francona was with him in Boston for the 2004 and 2007 World Series titles.
Could we have a pair of Cy Young winners squaring off? Possibly. Each team has a dynamic second-year shortstop in Addison Russell and Francisco Lindor, too.
How about Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman once being part of the short-lived Yankees back-end trio dubbed "No Runs D.M.C." along with Dellin Betances? They'd now be on opposite World Series teams.
1. Cubs vs. Red Sox
This might be a decent money-maker for MLB, no?
There's no need to delve back into the Cubs' history -- or lack thereof when it comes to World Series success in the last century -- but to face off against the Red Sox? It's Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. It's two of the longest-standing baseball cities. It's Big Papi's final go-round. It's 2013 Red Sox Jon Lester, John Lackey and David Ross playing heavy roles with the Cubs.
How about the Cubs having the best pitching staff in baseball by a mile according to most measures while the Red Sox have baseball's best offense?
Oh, yeah, and there's this dude named Theo ...
This isn't even mentioning that the Red Sox were once saddled for decades with a faux-curse like the Cubs are currently trying to shed.
Easy pick.
Again, we need to keep in mind that every World Series is great and has the potential to be a classic. I'm pretty sure in 2014 that a Giants-Royals clash would have been ranked very low and it ended up being an incredible series.
Now, complain with impunity.
