Sit down and shut up | I am Jack's blog

Why is it that all I ever read on internet and print publications about baseball has one of two themes. Usually, its some sportswriter amazed at how the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets or Phillies somehow manage to remain near the top year after year (it might have something to do with $?). More rarely, but also more irritatingly, its someone like Joe Posnanski whining about how hard it is to be a baseball fan in Cleveland, Kansas City, etc. He's not the only one. When CC was putting on his XXXXL pinstripe pants, we got to hear about how hard it is for teams like the Brewers to compete in today's MLB with teams like the Yankees. At the start of this season, teams like the Rangers were getting headlines for even trying to compete without a high payroll. There's no shortage of midmarket writers and fans eager to write about how tough it is.

Well, they should all shut up.

I don't care how long its been since Cleveland won a WS. The fact is that they're one good draft, one nice trade, one clever signing from becoming a division powerhouse and a contender for years to come. The same can be said of KC, Texas, Milwaukee and most others. Really, only three teams' fans have earned the right to complain, and of course they're the ones you never get any chance to read about in the media.

1. Florida Marlins

There's nothing harder than being a Marlin's fan, which probably explains why there's almost none left. Think being outbid on CC Sabathia is tough, Brewers fans? How bout never being able to keep a player past his rookie contract? Hate seeing mediocre players year after year in KC? Try looking at your team every spring and knowing that half of those guys will be All Stars... in another city. The only saving grace for Marlin's fans is the occasional promise that the stars will align and the team will win a WS every 7 years before the talent is traded away.

T2. Blue Jays & Orioles

These teams are together because they're in the same boat. Remember when the Blue Jays contended for the division crown in the early 90s, or the Orioles in the middle of the decade? Well, say goodbye to that dream. Times have changed, and the Sox and Yankees won't let anyone threaten them. Back in 1995, the Jays signed Roger Clemens to a 40 million dollar deal. In 2009, the Yankees would've offered him 120 just out of spite. Why don't I include the Rays on this list? The Rays have been a team since 1998. Neither the Blue Jays nor the Orioles have made the playoffs in that long.

So hopefully Joe Posnanski and all you other Clevelanders (Clevelandites?) will remember this the next time you think about how hard everything is on you. Because when you hope for good trades and signings, other teams have to hope for a change in division.