Defending the Home Field Advantage

In basketball it's all about the crowd noise and the flailing behind the backboards during an opponent's free throw attempt. In hockey, well, let's just say you don't want to be in the penalty box ANY longer than you have to be on unfriendly ice. In football it's sheer volume in numbers and the familiarity of field and backdop. In tennis... well, uh, I guess you'd leave THAT on the shelf with NASCAR, wrestling and horse racing. And golf? Ha! Even with a sport that I love I have to say that home field advantage basically means that if you're a pro golfer in your home state in a tournament NOT including Tiger or Phil, you've got it made. But I digress...

In all fairness, baseball is singular in it's home field advantage. From Little League to Cal Ripken, college, and the pros the home team has the distinct advantage of batting last in each inning. Not to mention that if you are at home and leading going into the 9th inning you may not even have to play the full 9 innings (offensively that is) to get a win. I mean really, who wouldn't want to know what they're up against before heading to the plate? Obviously you don't want to be down 4 or 5 runs right off the bat, but the mountain doesn't seem quite so high when you've got the last say. Just ask the Red Sox about Mother's Day 2007! If you're at a loss on that one, just check the game links over to the lower right and click on Game #36.

Let's think about this in terms the other sports would understand...

Football: Let's imagine that in every game, the home team was GUARANTEED the last possession of the game. Ooh! Think about the Super Bowls John Elway and Peyton Manning would have won... besides the three they did.

Golf: Here's the new rule Tiger - if you're in a playoff, you have to play the hole FIRST and the other guy gets to see what score you post and try and beat it. Hmmm... playoffs aren't too fun anymore.

Tennis? NASCAR? Lawn darts? Yeah - I'm still laughing too.

Basketball: Ooooh! Here's a doosy! If there are less seconds on the play clock than the shot clock, the home team automatically gets the ball for the final possession. Eeew. Kinda sounds like the hockey shootout...

You just can't beat a good game of baseball, especially if you could get a Princess on the field. Ooh! Sorry New York - I forgot you already have one. Way to go A-Rod!!

Now if only the Sox could keep Chewbacca on the field aid in their defense...

"Ha! So you WANNA take out the shortstop to break up the double play huh? Let's just remember OUR "shorty" is over 7 feet tall and can pull your arms out of their sockets if he wants to."

Gee whiz I love baseball.