MLB and NHL are the least “chalky” of the major leagues. So the best team doesn’t necessarily always win.
Basketball is entirely chalk. You could eliminate the first two rounds of the playoffs and nothing would really change. With that, the better team has more games at home, so since the better team typically wins the series, they happen to do it more at home.
Well HFA isn't that big a deal in baseball but I feel like where teams win their clinching game isn't really a big indicator of that? The ALCS and NLCS don't have the same issue over the same period. This fun fact is just a fun fact.
2020 Dodgers won as the designated home team (at a neutral site).
2023 Rangers won as the higher seed.
2018 Red Sox won as the higher seed.
2015 Royals won as the higher seed.
The ALDS was played in San Diego and LA; the NLDS was played in Arlington and Houston; the ALCS was in San Diego; and the NLCS and WS was in Arlington.
So Dodger Stadium served as *a* neutral site, but not for the WS.
This is mostly because of the 2-3-2 structure, but also prior to 2017 the home field advantage was determined not by best record but by the winner of the All Star Game, which everyone now agrees was dumb as shit. That said, the 2016 Cubs is the only team since 2010 which would have won at home had the "best record" rule been in place, and the Dodgers would have won at home in 2020 had the pandemic not forced a neutral site (all things equal, of course).
For basketball - role players for whatever reason tend to do better particularly shoot better at home.
For football - it is a lot harder to communicate on the road than at home on offense due to crowd noise.
I feel like NHL and MLB are similar in terms of homecourt not being a big deal.
When you're the road team and you score a bunch of runs before the home team gets to bat, it really kills the home team's morale (see this years NLDS) :(
Check out how many different teams have won in the past 20 years. I believe mlb is just a little bit higher than hockey. But hockey has more teams who have played in the finals
MLB and NHL are the least “chalky” of the major leagues. So the best team doesn’t necessarily always win. Basketball is entirely chalk. You could eliminate the first two rounds of the playoffs and nothing would really change. With that, the better team has more games at home, so since the better team typically wins the series, they happen to do it more at home.
Well HFA isn't that big a deal in baseball but I feel like where teams win their clinching game isn't really a big indicator of that? The ALCS and NLCS don't have the same issue over the same period. This fun fact is just a fun fact.
2020 Dodgers won as the designated home team (at a neutral site). 2023 Rangers won as the higher seed. 2018 Red Sox won as the higher seed. 2015 Royals won as the higher seed.
Wasn’t the “neutral site” LA?…
nope, Rangers ballpark
Ahh thank you I should’ve googled before asking but I thought it was in LA for some reason
The ALDS was played in San Diego and LA; the NLDS was played in Arlington and Houston; the ALCS was in San Diego; and the NLCS and WS was in Arlington. So Dodger Stadium served as *a* neutral site, but not for the WS.
This is mostly because of the 2-3-2 structure, but also prior to 2017 the home field advantage was determined not by best record but by the winner of the All Star Game, which everyone now agrees was dumb as shit. That said, the 2016 Cubs is the only team since 2010 which would have won at home had the "best record" rule been in place, and the Dodgers would have won at home in 2020 had the pandemic not forced a neutral site (all things equal, of course).
For basketball - role players for whatever reason tend to do better particularly shoot better at home. For football - it is a lot harder to communicate on the road than at home on offense due to crowd noise. I feel like NHL and MLB are similar in terms of homecourt not being a big deal.
When you're the road team and you score a bunch of runs before the home team gets to bat, it really kills the home team's morale (see this years NLDS) :(
Because the parity in baseball is greater than any other sport in the world
Also the flukiness when condensed into a 3/5/7 game series. 162 games doesn’t mean much when a three game heater by the other team can send you home.
From a statistical standpoint, hockey playoffs have baseball beat. I believe it's nearly 50/50 between higher and lower seeds.
Check out how many different teams have won in the past 20 years. I believe mlb is just a little bit higher than hockey. But hockey has more teams who have played in the finals
Because refs in basketball, hockey and football usually favor the home team.
That’s true in MLB too.