Frizzer asked:
The Atlanta Braves have the second best record at home 22-7 in MLB this year and the worst record 7-21 on the road. Only 4 of the 30 MLB teams have winning records on the road including the Angels in the AL and the Phillies, Marlins, and Cardinals in the NL. What are the factors contributing to this disparity and is there anything that MLB teams can do to play better on the road?
The Atlanta Braves have the second best record at home 22-7 in MLB this year and the worst record 7-21 on the road. Only 4 of the 30 MLB teams have winning records on the road including the Angels in the AL and the Phillies, Marlins, and Cardinals in the NL. What are the factors contributing to this disparity and is there anything that MLB teams can do to play better on the road?
The fans make such a big difference and the players dont feel right on the road
I guess the best way to look at it is that, home field = comfort zone! Knowing that your playing in front of a mostly friendly crowd. You’re living at home when you playing at home, not out of a suit case. Decent teams are able to take advantage of it. If you’re on a really bad team losing can be an equal opportunity event!
I don’t know if there is a sure reason I think this is true, but when a team is used to their field, locker room, and the city they’re in; they can do really well. It could be because they have all their fans at home, and know every bump on the field. Look at the NBA Finals…Has there been maybe 3 road wins? The only “logical” answer I can think of for your question is players being used to their field, park, etc. I think for a team to play better on the road they would have to play at their opponent’s park multiple times, but even that wouldn’y give you a win. It’s just how a team performs on a given day.
besides playing before your home crowd and your own field.many are different.The real advantage is you bat last.you always have the last chance to score.home teams can play for a tie than the win.knowing they have last at bat. Big advantage being able to take batting practice and fielding..Players are accustomed to the backgrounds,field conditions and yes the home crowd can hype players as well.Add it all up and yes the Home team wins alot more than the teams on the road.Also I think the teams are alot more evenly matched this year than in the past few years.
well there really is no home field advantage cause just because your at home does not mean you will always win so its not that big of an issue
I think that fans make a very small difference if any, a good player can barely tell you if there were fans there, you get tunnel vision some what, in the dugout you notice it but on the field it is almost like you are on a deserted island. The big thing is that you are comfortable in your building, also most GM’s make their team to succeed in the intricacies of their ballpark. With the ballparks all have intriguing styles now you are seeing more of it than you were in the 80’s when most teams played in cookie cutter style parks that were hard to tell the differenec between. But it is still all about comfort.
Fans make a big difference when you have a stadium full of fans wearing red and yelling for the Cardinals it just given them a little added boost and more adrenalin to play better
I think that the away teams do not have the momentum. At home, you ahve the crowd going, everybody gets pumped up. You have at-bat music before. There are not as many fans heckling you. The atmosphere.
There was an article about A’s prospect Jeff Baisley, who says that it is important to have at-bat music sometimes. He says it gets you into a groove, and calms you down.
At an away game, you do not have that option.
I think the main thing is to just…..take a deep breath…..and relax. Pretend like you are at your home stadium, think about past experiences there. Do whatever you can pre-game to get into a groove.
Of course, this does affect more teams and players than others. So maybe it could just be the people on the team learning from past experiences.
For example, a vetean filled team may have a better time on the road while the younger guys may still ahve to get used to the atmosphere.