KC Royals star nails why Yankees-Dodgers World Series has exposed fans' hypocrisy

KC Royals slugger Vinnie Pasquantino has plenty of firsthand experience losing to the 2024 New York Yankees, making him uniquely qualified to speak on the topic after the Cleveland Guardians let America down on Saturday night.

When Juan Soto's home run nestled in the right-center stands at Progressive Field -- or, more specifically, just a few minutes later when Soto snagged the final out -- American "neutrals" let out a cry to the heavens, bemoaning the big-market Yankees advancing. When the Dodgers clinched their National League pennant 24 hours later, that yawp became a scream. It just wasn't fair! The Yankees making their first World Series in 15 years proved that the game is broken, after 14 years of the Yankees missing the World Series proved that the game was working just fine.

Luckily, Pasquantino -- who embodies everything right with the game, fighting back from an Anthony Rizzo-esque injury to buck the odds and return in time for the ALDS -- was there to speak out, pointing out the hypocrisy of this great baseball nation succinctly.

The Yankees and Dodgers, who hold the two best records in baseball, managed to advance to the Fall Classic, just weeks after we were all told that the playoff format needed to change and had rendered it impossible for the league's best and brightest to make it to the dance. So which is it?

KC Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino thinks fans should stop complaining about Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series

Make it make sense.

Oh, wait, we can make it make sense: people hate the Yankees and Dodgers, and are willing to flip their takes on a dime when those two teams are involved. Never mind. Carry on!

While the Brian Snitkers of the world will continue to rail against the current postseason format when it results in Wild Card entrants into the World Series, it's now officially confirmed that no one will be happy unless two small-market teams each win 100 games, dominate the regular season, and face off in the final round. If an underdog wins a Wild Card, followed by a title, that's an example of a different broken system. And if that underdog is eliminated by a team that cares enough about their fanbase to spend money, that's a catastrophe.

Let's just unspool the thread, just as Pasquantino noted: when your team wins, you like it. When they lose, you're upset. How it's always been. No need to change much of anything here.

Now, come on, Pasquatch. You're an Italian slugging first baseman. You know you want to come join us someday, anyway.