road rage

by the Tewk on Aug 1, 2008 2:04 AM EDT

I started my 'road record' thought when someone on a thread said something like "hopefully we can take care of business at home (against the Phillies)." I wondered... are we actually playing better on the road than at home? And sure enough, after the 3 of 4 wins in Atlanta, the Cards actually do have a slightly better record on the road (+6) than at home (+5).

And only two other NL teams, the aformentioned Phillies (+5) and the Brew Crew (+2) have a winning record away from home so far this year. My next question was how bad has it been, league-wide. As of this morning it stands at .4325. That seemed, indeed, rather low. Last year, league-wide, the NL won .4564 on the road

The 2 and a quarter percent decrease from last year is pretty significant, I think; but I don't have any reasons that jump out at me to account for it. Statistical anomoly? A bit of it may be the NL's woeful performance this year in inter-league play, but it was bad in '07 too. And, as point of reference, the AL currently stands at winning road ganes at a .4556 clip.... another 2 and a quarter point difference from this year's NL mark.

Any theories as to why the dip in road wins?

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that's a very good question

it is rather odd that so many teams aren’t doing well on the road. the Cardinals look like road warriors compared to most teams at this point. I wonder how much that plays into the underdog mentality, since they would obviously be more distraught on the road (they must have a thick hide for other teams’ fans) and react to the pressure. But you would think that with how the bulk of their pitchers pitch, they would be better at home (although the records are nearly identical). Another piece of the puzzle to a pretty strange season (both Chicago teams in first place, WTF?).

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 1, 2008 2:15 AM EDT reply actions

Factoid time

Another anamoly: The Angels are currently 37-19 (.661!) on the road. They’re only 31-21 (.596) at home.

by mojowo11 on Aug 1, 2008 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

ONLY 10 games over at home

by bornin82 on Aug 2, 2008 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

you hit on most of the reasons i can think of

The NL plays 40-something more road games in interleague than the AL and since we got whooped in those games, that’s a big factor, I’d imagine. As more non-interleague road games are played, the overall split should get closer to what it was last year.

I do seem to recall that the overall home-road split in both the NL and the AL was higher this year than last going into interleague as well, though.

Some have suggested the amphetamine ban is a big factor. And whatever they are doing in the 8th and 9th inning at wrigley can’t help.

"..and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped." -Sir Belvedere

by SleepyCA on Aug 2, 2008 2:01 AM EDT reply actions