Help me choose my favorite AL team

[renojedi]

This is going to end up being slightly off topic but there is a PureSim connection.

OK, so I have pretty much been a NL kind of guy with the D-backs as my favorite time. I decided to add a little parity so I wanted to have a favorite AL team as well. The reason being is that I want to start a new game with that AL team, creating all three levels of minors, and play with them for a few seasons.

So here are some parameters: I am in the Army and move every few years so there is no obvious hometown affiliation to work with. And though I currently live in the Baltimore area and am following the Os this year, that changes with my move at the end of the year to Nevada and the fact that the Os really aren't committed to winning and that is a recipe for disaster in the AL East (believe me, I hear ALL of the anti-Angelos news here in the media)

Also, I don't want to follow the Yankees or Red Soxs because that is too cliche. Sorry in advance since I know those teams also have the strongest fan bases.

So who should I follow and why?

[PadresFan104]

I'm kinda in the same boat... Have never lived in an AL city, so I really don't have any affiliation with any of them.  Of course I also hate the DH rule...  Here are a couple I'd pick to follow.

Tigers - Been around forever, some great history, and they are having an incredible year.

A's - A really fun team to watch, who always come on strong in September.

[tbear2b]

Completeley Biased Opinion:

The Minnesota Twins. Despite facing contraction a few years ago, they are one of the best small-market successes outside of the Green Bay Packers. Some of their problems are self-inflicted (thanks, stingy Carl Pohlad), but they have heart and it's fun to see them beat the Yankees.

The baseball part that isn't all that fun is they play in the Metrodome, but you could always pretend like its 2010 and they are playing in their new stadium!

[matt0177]

A's no doubt, and depending on where you move to in Nevada, you may not be that far. If you need an extra boost, read moneyball.

[rowech]

A's are becoming a trendy pick...my AL team has always been the Twins.  (Reds in the NL)  Of course, it was mostly due to Puckett being my favorite player but their a fun team right now.  Unfortunately, just in the wrong division. 

[renojedi]

Wow, a lot of votes for the As. I am moving back to Reno so it will only be a 3.5 hour drive and it will be the team we see on Fox Sports Bay Area. I followed them from 2000-2005 but never really jumped on board fully. Maybe it is time for that. I do like the moneyball approach and is it jsut Karma that when they violated it this year with Loiza, Thomas, and Bradley that they are struggling a little?

More suggestions?

[SirWolf1960]

I'm a Met's fan who now lives in Kansas. So I root for the Royals. I know the Royals are hopeless, but they sure make the Mets look good.
 
And the Royals sure remind me of the Mets in the mid to late 70's.
 
Have I convinced ya??????? hehehe
 
Steve

[Nukester]

Well if you like the D-Backs, you might like the DevilRays. Lots of young talent on that team and they are no worse than the D-Backs. TB should be exciting in a couple of years if they get some pitching ot go along with Kazmir

[SittingDuck]

D-rays.  Now that might be interesting.  I am secretly (well, not now) hoping they put the O's in the cellar this year as a further message to Angelos.

Yeah, avoid the O's.  You missed the golden O's era.  It's like a police officer at a massive collision scene: "Move on, son - nothing to see here..."

But above all things, avoid trendy picking.  There is absolutely nothing worse than a front-runner fan. [8|]

[Rhett]

As my hometown (ish) team, I would vote the Angels. I like Sciosa, and they have some fun players to watch. Also, the stadium is really nice if you want to go watch a game (and you can still get some decent seats for cheap). A's are awfully trendy, otherwise I would vote for them. Second choice would be Twins.

[akcranker]

I would say Tampa Bay because they have alot of young exciting players and should be a good team within a few years.  I really like Carl Crawford.