Jonny Gomes: not a fan of the A’s “home field advantage”

Craig Calcaterra

Oct 8, 2012, 1:00 PM EDT

25 Comments

Oakland Athletics Jonny Gomes hits a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of their MLB baseball game in Oakland

There has been a lot of chatter about how the 2-3 format of the division series — with the higher seed starting on the road for two games — is not really a home field advantage. It certainly hasn’t been for the A’s, as they have started off their series 0-2 in Detroit despite having said advantage, theoretically speaking.

Jonny Gomes put a bit of a point on that yesterday when he spoke with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Gomes said the A’s 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. buses to the ballpark Sunday felt like 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. for the West Coast team. “It’s tough to call that a home-field advantage,” he said. …

Well, I guess that does kinda stink. And given that, aside from this year’s schedule, which was necessitated by a compressed playoff calendar, baseball has generally abandoned the 2-3 structure, it seems that no one really agrees that 2-3 advantages the higher-seeded team. Also mitigating against any advantage in a 2-3 is the fact that, over the course of baseball history, winners of Game 1 in any series have a pronounced edge.

That said, outside of the Oakland-Tigers tilt, the higher-seeded teams in these division series are 4-0 so far, so I don’t think Gomes is gonna get too many people to join his pity party.

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25 Comments (Feed for Comments)

willclarkgameface - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:05 PM

There is no homefield advantage for them this year. They are getting fucked and Bud Selig is to blame.

Call your union rep!

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bucs1905 - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:13 PM

After dealing with A’s fans and hearing their players, are they all this whiney? Is it California that makes you this much of a baby? I mean, cry about the umps, Al Al kissing the ball, and now the format. How about you look and see you have been struck out 23 times in two games. How about you worry about that.

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- Mark - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:16 PM
  
  I assume you’re from California then because all I heard you do was whine .
  
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urdoingitwrongreds - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:14 PM

2-3 is better for the better seed anyways. All you need to do is win 1 of the first 2 and you basically cruise. If you cant win a game on the road you arent winning the series anyways.

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brewcrewfan54 - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:17 PM

Cry me a river and knock in some runs.

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vallewho - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:19 PM

Historically, 75% of 5-game series have never gone the full 5. So, the advantage has certainly been wiped off the table for the higher-seeded team.

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albertmn - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:20 PM

The A’s just need to sweep three in a row. No different than what they had to do last week to the Rangers to win the division. They need to quit worrying about the setup for the playoffs and just go out and hit and pitch like they did most of September.

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- churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged - Oct 8, 2012 at 2:33 PM
  
  The problem is that the next three games become win or go home, so you change your strategy a bit compared to Detroit who can’t lose the series regardless of the outcome of the next two games. So say you are up by 4 runs in the 9th, normally you may not bring in your closer. However, if you need that game, you bring him in (or your best reliever outside your closer in the 8th rather than let your SP go 8 IP) to ensure the win. It may not matter for G3 or G4, but you can burn out your bullpen like that for G5.
  
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randygnyc - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:30 PM

I don’t like it either but understand the timing problems this year. I sure hope baseball keeps their word for next year going forward.

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- Paul Zummo - Oct 8, 2012 at 3:09 PM
  
  You know I don’t even buy the timing issue. Most series don’t go five, so there was no need to completely revamp the 2-2-1 model. Even if a series goes 5, is it it so difficulty to travel between games without a day off?
  
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sharkcity408 - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Screw you. Pity party. Ur a joke writer. THERE IS NO HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. Is there a way to filter writers. I’m tired of reading no talent authors writing hack articles

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- bigxrob - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:48 PM
  
  No, but there should be a way to filter commenters
  
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- El Bravo - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:57 PM
  
  I feel like I’ve reached a new level of personal enlightenment simply by reading such powerful, thought-provoking and soulful words from Mr. Sharkcity.
  
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- churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged - Oct 8, 2012 at 2:28 PM
  
  HERE IS NO HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.
  
  Umm, yes there is. This study* shows that since ’95, home teams have won 54% of the games played (advantage is minutely smaller in the playoffs, but beware the sample size).
  
  http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18572
  
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- Tick - Oct 8, 2012 at 5:57 PM
  
  sharkcity, I’m guessing you’re from San Jose. That would mean you are the territorial property of The Giants and are no longer allowed to comment on the A’s. Please concentrate on making up awful excuses for the Giants and the Sharks, which should keep you plenty busy.
  
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  - paperlions - Oct 8, 2012 at 8:37 PM
    
    Not only that…the A’s gave you away to the Giants for free, I am guessing they were trying to get rid of you.
chipperforever - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:38 PM

Bud’s Fault because the Yankees had to play in primetime. I’d be pissed too.

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makeham98 - Oct 8, 2012 at 1:54 PM

Always blame Bud. Always. The rest of the owners are mere puppets to his diabolical plans.

Always blame Bud.

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sharkcity408 - Oct 8, 2012 at 2:15 PM

U want real advice…take a bath with your toaster. Looking forward to reading the results in the obituary

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weaselpuppy - Oct 8, 2012 at 2:53 PM

wahhhhh…..no other team EVER had jet lag flying to the left(ist) coast, right?

How about you win some games when it matters against somebody other than Seattle and two payroll and talent heavy choke job teams with questionable pitching….

The A’s are a team full of babies both in MLB service time and maturity…not shocking they are getting swept out

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juanhughjazz - Oct 8, 2012 at 3:52 PM

The A’s had multiple chances to take one(or two) games in Detroit. Stop blaming your problems on someone else.

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simon94022 - Oct 8, 2012 at 4:15 PM

2-3 was the format for years until about a decade ago, and no one complained.

I am rooting for the A’s but not optimistic if they are whining about a morni g bus ride in Detroit, and it wasn’t even their first day in town. Come on. This is embarrassing.

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Loren - Oct 8, 2012 at 4:43 PM

“winners of Game 1 in any series have a pronounced edge.”
Of course they do, they already won a game! The question is, do winners of Game 1 have even more of an advantage than winners of Game 3 (or any other game) do?

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daveitsgood - Oct 8, 2012 at 5:05 PM

@weaselpuppy I’m pretty sure they didn’t win 94 games just against the west. That would be a very unbalanced schedule.

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johnnyb1976 - Oct 9, 2012 at 1:25 AM

The reds disagree with that Jonny. They had no trouble defending they’re home field advantage.

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