I love baseball, major and minor league versions. When I was five years old, I told people who asked that when I grew up, I wanted to play for the New York Mets. Some sour (realistic?) adult told me "You can't because you're a girl." I adjusted my career goals.

But I still enjoy the game. I love the Mets and like the Yankees; I'm not one of those "one not the other" New York baseball fans. Sadly, this year neither of my hometown teams will be in the World Series.

In fact, the only team I really cared a bit for was the Los Angeles Dodgers (due to their Brooklyn roots!) and they lost the playoffs to the Atlanta Braves. Shucks. (I did tell a high school friend I'd root for the Milwaukee Brewers, for him, but they lost early on too.)

Turns out that this year I don't like EITHER team going into the World Series. I don't like the Houston Astros, largely due to their controversy a few years back (the sign stealing scandal). And as a diehard Mets fan, I've never cared for the Braves. The "tomahawk chop" and chant of the fans is rather grating on the nerves.

So, what should I do? Ignore the whole series? Watch and hope that they both lose, which is impossible?

My husband said he will sort of root for the Astros because manager Dusty Baker is a longtime trooper who deserves a championship team. Did you know that Dusty's real first name is Johnnie? It is.

But I'm also intrigued by Joc Pederson of the Braves, who played for the Israeli baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball classic. (I have a friend from junior high school who son played for this year's Israeli team!)

I think I will watch at least parts of the World Series, partly out of curiosity, and mostly because I still find the game fascinating. And this time, without a team I'd pull for strongly, I will be watching to evaluate the techniques, the power, to see bizarre errors and other aspects of the game. I will be more detached and less emotional. This should be interesting.

Recently I've been discussing with a few people the issue of lengthier games, and how that is annoying for many of us fans. So I will be curious to see how dragged out these World Series games will get. Will the pacing be livelier or more sluggish?

I do hope that next year, the Mets or the Yanks will go further, and maybe even into the World Series. Part of me would like to see a women's professional baseball or softball league, and see it succeed similar to the WNBA.

I know I'll never get to play baseball professionally, but I still appreciate the skills and the rituals of this "all American game." Play ball!