To the Cardinals: Dear Big Brother….

October is a time of year Cardinals fans know well. Ever since the mid-90's, St. Louis has found a way year in and year out to be competitive and ultimately dominate the competition for the better part of 2 decades. 2014 was no different. After winning 90 games and once again being crowned champions of the NL Central Division, they have played their way to the NLCS after defeating the Dodgers 3 games to 1. This now marks the 4th consecutive year the Cardinals have found their way to the NLCS, a feat that is truly admirable.

The Royals, in contrast, are in the ALCS and are playing in the postseason for the first time since 1985, a frustrating and disappointing 29 years of futility. The younger brother Royals have wandered and strayed while the elder Cardinals have prospered and brought pride. The Royals have made it to only 8 post seasons in their entire history, and the series win against the Angels was only the 4th post season series win in franchise history. The Cardinals have won EIGHT series….since 2011.

Cardinals fans can hopefully understand then that we may be hesitant to hope for a Cardinals vs. Royals World Series.

It isn't that it wouldn't be fantastic for the state of Missouri, and bring an enormous amount of pride to an entire region. It isn't that both teams don't deserve to be there, ESPECIALLY the Cardinals.

You see, for so long, those on the west side of the state have had to listen to over and over again the "right way" to do it from the self labeled best fans in baseball. By finishing at or near the top of MLB in attendance year in and year out, they have earned the right to label themselves however they want. Success breeds confidence, and with the amount of success from that side of the state it is easy to understand the sentiment.

The annual success has caused a change in territory across the state and beyond. Areas that were once heavily "blue" have slowly been turned red. The futility of the Royals is as much to blame for the shift, but none the less, it is one that has caused an entire fan base to be a loyal band of jaded followers who have had nothing to cheer for in decades other than the demise of those who made us feel like second rate fans.

This year marks something completely different for a Royals fan. For comparison, since 2000 the St. Louis Cardinals have reached the post season every year save 4. One of those years was 2003, a year that is remember fondly by most Royals fans. In the 2003 season, the Royals were in first place and competed for most of the season only to finish 83-79 and out of the playoffs. This was a year labeled as a POSITIVE in the minds of Royals fans. On the flip side, the Cardinals finished 85-77 and outside of the playoffs as well. It was the lone year for Cardinals fans between 2000 and 2006 that they did not get to watch postseason baseball.

A positive for one side of the state. An absolute failure on the other.

This season for Royals fans isn't merely one that garners pride based on depth of a playoff run or quality of play, it is one in which the Royals have done anything AT ALL. They have FINALLY found a way to put together a band of players capable of being successful. And this year…this year is the proof. Our reward.

The one thing that cannot happen is the Royals cannot lose on this run to the St Louis Cardinals. We already have grown weary of hearing how Denkinger is the sole reason we have our one and only Championship. Never mind other blown calls or the fact there was still more than ample opportunity to win. We get it big brother….your better and even though we won once, it was because we cheated.

Pardon our lack of enthusiasm for hoping to play out the '85 World Series once again. This year is about us for once, and we would just as soon keep it that way. For once, let the Royals have some spotlight. Let the Royals be the best team in Missouri. Let the Royals turn a little bit of the state back over to blue. The opportunities are few and far between over here and we want to be selfish, just this once.

The younger, black sheep, brother has finally come up and is finally getting back on their feet.

Hopefully, if all goes well in recovery, the Royals can find a way to at least make periodic trips deep in the postseason at least a few times a decade. If that becomes a pace we can achieve then who is to say in a few years we wont want to have a prize fight front and center for all to see. But right now…we are still too fragile. We hope you understand.

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