Home field advantage means NOTHING in postseason baseball.

**lunchbawks** · 10-07-10, 03:38 PM

Pressure, shitty rays fans that only support a winning team?

**AceofSP2107** · 10-07-10, 03:51 PM

Phillies will move on enough said

**yisman** · 10-07-10, 03:54 PM

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=5632321

Keeping hundreds of players on message might be tough as the players' association tries to bring back the big free-agency paydays of the past.

The Rays, Yankees and Twins are fighting for home-field advantage in the AL playoffs, but as Kenton Wong of ESPN Stats & Information writes, history tells us that it really doesn't make that much of a difference.

This from Kenton:

"On Sept. 22, the Yankees and Twins were tied for the best record in baseball at 92-60. The Rays were just 1.5 games back at 90-61. The Twins had already clinched the AL Central and the Yankees and Rays had firm grips on the AL East and wild-card spots.

"The three teams still had home-field advantage to play for, but it seems like no one really wanted it. Since Sept. 23, the Twins have gone 1-5, the Yankees have gone 2-5 and the Rays have gone 4-3. Hardly spectacular play from three of the best teams in baseball -- but maybe they are on to something. Since 1995 (in the wild card era), the team with home-field advantage in the division series has won just 31 of the 60 series. Since the division series adopted a 2-2-1 format in 1998, the team with home-field advantage has won 25 of 48 series. (It was a 2-3 format from 1995 to 1997).

"It's a similar story when we get to the league championship series. Teams with home-field advantage in the LCS are actually under .500 since it began in 1969: 39-41. The win percentages for division series since '95 for the team with the 'advantage' are just .517, while in the championship series, the 'advantaged team' has a .488 win percentage."

All three of those teams played Wednesday.

**GiveMeaBJ** · 10-07-10, 03:56 PM

Few teams own a home field advantage. Yankees, Giants, Phillies and Braves are incredible teams in front of their home fans.

**kmarinouofm** · 10-07-10, 03:57 PM

Yeah i don't know about new yankee stadium.. but if you think that old yankee stadium wasn't an advantage during the postseason.. u need to get your head checked..

After philly moves on against cincy.. that stadium will be a shit show.. and they will get on pitchers and players quick there..

People in philly are pissed.. that town has been downhill since Ben Franklin died.. and they know it..

**kts** · 10-07-10, 04:25 PM

whats your next play tha_disel? need to fade you .

**zebraman** · 10-07-10, 04:28 PM

its funny because baseball is really the only sport that has home field advantage... technically speaking of course. dunno if it's really the case but i just know the home team has an advantage batting second

**pavyracer** · 10-07-10, 05:32 PM

Is home field advantage really important in baseball?

I think out of all the major sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer) the home field advantage in baseball is the least important. It's not hard to win a series as a road team.

Thoughts?

**constrictor** · 10-07-10, 05:48 PM

agree with you sir

**str** · 10-07-10, 06:09 PM

Hockey is worse IMO

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 06:18 PM

Twins are getting ready to head back to New York down 2-0.

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 06:28 PM

Originally posted by THA_DIESEL

Twins are getting ready to head back to New York down 2-0.

The Twins should have asked Selig if they could play all the games in the series at Yankee Stadium, maybe they would have played better.

**THE PROFIT** · 10-07-10, 06:38 PM

IDK pavy. I think football is the most important because of the noise factor. Noise doesnt make a shit bit of difference in basketball & baseball

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 06:50 PM

Orlando Hudson giving the hometown fans false hopes

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by THA_DIESEL

Orlando Hudson giving the hometown fans false hopes

Yankees get the lead back in a flash

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by THA_DIESEL

Yankees get the lead back in a flash

4-2 Yankees

Blowout now

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 07:14 PM

A grand slam here by the Yankees would be nice to have the fans heading for the exits

**Unicorn7** · 10-07-10, 07:16 PM

I agree and Braves should add to it later on

**zebraman** · 10-07-10, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

I think out of all the major sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer) the home field advantage in baseball is the least important. It's not hard to win a series as a road team.

Thoughts?

I wouldn't say that... bottom of the 10th a solo home run can win the game, where as the top of the 10th wont... no other sport has that kind of advantage for the home team.

**Sunde91** · 10-07-10, 07:46 PM

NHL? Tell me the total and game 7 records of teams on home ice last 2 seasons

Good call though for MLB, Dies

**815Sox** · 10-07-10, 07:55 PM

Not true, but it seems like it this year. Certain teams are good at taking advantage of it.

Rays and Twinkies just look flat. The Twins were playing out of there mind the whole second half, no way they can keep it up. It was a shocker at how long it lasted. I thought for sure I was going to see my White Sox in the playoffs (and get knocked out early) around the AllStar break... no homer

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 07:57 PM

How large are people pounding the Braves? It is a ridiculous price for the Giants.

**k13** · 10-07-10, 08:42 PM

hockey and baseball are all coin flips in the playoffs.

you never see a huge fave. Its not like game 1 and its -500 or higher for anyone.

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 08:47 PM

Originally posted by THA_DIESEL

How large are people pounding the Braves? It is a ridiculous price for the Giants.

Lincecum looking shaky to start the game

**Poster X** · 10-07-10, 08:49 PM

often times the road team is actually better, i.e. wild card, so that negates the hfa.

**THA_DIESEL** · 10-07-10, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by THA_DIESEL

Lincecum looking shaky to start the game

Lowe looking sharp on the other hand

**chaseman** · 10-07-10, 09:05 PM

Diesel please leave my Braves out of your voodoo

**jonmic** · 10-07-10, 09:21 PM

Phillies are going to the world series easy, bet them big

**Igetp2s** · 10-07-10, 09:42 PM

Starting pitching means a lot more than home field advantage. The baseball regular season and playoffs are nothing alike. A good regular season record is due to depth and the ability to overcome injuries to regulars. The postseason relies a lot more on having 2 dominant starters and 2 dominant relievers. That's all you really need to win because of all the days off in the postseason.