Playoff Home Field Advantage

termcl · 10-30-2016, 04:04 AM

Just wrapped up the 2016 season and now in the playoffs, I have a question that hopefully you knowledgeable folks can clarify.

Detroit won the Central Division title with a record of 91-71. They were the second seed among the division winners.

Toronto was the #1 wild card with a record of 93-69.

Both teams are now in the American League Championship Series and the game is showing Toronto with home field advantage based on their better record.

My understanding is that regardless of record the wild card team should not have home field advantage in any league series. Is that correct? Which team should have the home field advantage, Detroit or Toronto?

By the way, the Cubs are playing the Dodgers for the National League Championship.

madjac74 · 10-30-2016, 11:04 AM

In the 2015 NLCS the Cubs as a wildcard had a much better record than the Mets as division winners and the Mets had homefield in that series

Le Grande Orange · 10-30-2016, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by termcl

My understanding is that regardless of record the wild card team should not have home field advantage in any league series. Is that correct?

Yes, that is correct. The wild card club never has home advantage in any series, and it's been that way since MLB adopted the wild card qualifier.

Unfortunately, OOTP does not get this correct. (It has some shortcomings in regards to post-season schedules and match-ups.)

termcl · 10-30-2016, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the quick responses. I can just manually manipulate the scheduled games to change the home field advantage, correct?

FunkyBike1 · 10-30-2016, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by termcl

Thanks for the quick responses. I can just manually manipulate the scheduled games to change the home field advantage, correct?

Yes.

RchW · 10-30-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Yes, that is correct. The wild card club never has home advantage in any series, and it's been that way since MLB adopted the wild card qualifier.

Unfortunately, OOTP does not get this correct. (It has some shortcomings in regards to post-season schedules and match-ups.)

It's right in my leagues.

I just checked 7 postseasons in two different leagues and the WC never got HFA inappropriately within a league. When a WC and/or a lower record division winner made the WS the HFA was correct based on alternating HFA by league each year.

NoOne · 10-30-2016, 08:23 PM

very easy workaround, go to edit scheduel and click "Flip teams" for each game in that series. no thought or planning required.

since others aren't seeing it. i'd double check that it is not reseeding after each playoff round.

Le Grande Orange · 10-30-2016, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

I just checked 7 postseasons in two different leagues and the WC never got HFA inappropriately within a league. When a WC and/or a lower record division winner made the WS the HFA was correct based on alternating HFA by league each year.

Is this with one wild card qualifier or two?

(OOTP's post-season scheduling still needs work, especially for the minor leagues and historical leagues.)

RchW · 10-30-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Is this with one wild card qualifier or two?

(OOTP's post-season scheduling still needs work, especially for the minor leagues and historical leagues.)

One, so that could be the reason.

BIG17EASY · 10-31-2016, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Yes, that is correct. The wild card club never has home advantage in any series, and it's been that way since MLB adopted the wild card qualifier.

Unless the wild card team makes the World Series and comes from the league that won the All-Star game. Then the wild card team will have home-field advantage in the World Series.

Yeah, thanks Bud Selig.

RchW · 10-31-2016, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG17EASY

Unless the wild card team makes the World Series and comes from the league that won the All-Star game. Then the wild card team will have home-field advantage in the World Series.

Yeah, thanks Bud Selig.

I have that off in my game.

BIG17EASY · 10-31-2016, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

I have that off in my game.

As do probably most reasonable people.

(Yes, that's another thinly veiled shot at Bud Selig.)

Number4 · 10-31-2016, 11:35 AM

People criticize the all star game method, yet I fail to see how either a random method based on year or comparing standings from matches played against different opponents is in any way more fairer. "The best players from each league fight for the home field advantage" is a reasonable solution - not perfect, but so aren't your counter offers.

BIG17EASY · 10-31-2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number4

People criticize the all star game method, yet I fail to see how either a random method based on year or comparing standings from matches played against different opponents is in any way more fairer. "The best players from each league fight for the home field advantage" is a reasonable solution - not perfect, but so aren't your counter offers.

Giving home-field advantage based on record is more fair because at least the two teams in the World Series have some influence. This year's home-field advantage was decided in large part because Johnny Cueto (Giants) and Jose Fernandez (Marlins) couldn't get Eric Hosmer (Royals) and Salvador Perez (Royals) out in the All-Star Game

Let it be determined by the teams who get there at the end of October. Not by players from any of the other 28 teams.

Number4 · 10-31-2016, 12:20 PM

But the if the difference between home field advantage is being swept by the Red Sox instead of sweeping the Brewers, that is something you can control?
One could say that while the all star methods has it flaws, it is inherently fair - while the strenght of schedule method is inherently flawed by the objective disparity between different divisions as well as between the NL and AL as a whole. If you're complaining about other players not doing enough in the ASG, your could send more

But, hell, I'd argue for a 2 A - 3 B - 1A - game 7 at a neutral side halfway in between the cities anyway.

BIG17EASY · 10-31-2016, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number4

But the if the difference between home field advantage is being swept by the Red Sox instead of sweeping the Brewers, that is something you can control?
One could say that while the all star methods has it flaws, it is inherently fair - while the strenght of schedule method is inherently flawed by the objective disparity between different divisions as well as between the NL and AL as a whole. If you're complaining about other players not doing enough in the ASG, your could send more

But, hell, I'd argue for a 2 A - 3 B - 1A - game 7 at a neutral side halfway in between the cities anyway.

I get your point, but like I said, at least the teams in the World Series are guaranteed a hand in the outcome of home-field advantage if it's decided by season record. Plus, the outcome over 162 games is much more indicative of who's deserving than the outcome of one game in which the vast majority of players are from the other 28 teams AND the best players leave the game in the middle innings.

My biggest beef is that the All-Star game is treated like an exhibition in every way, but the outcome directly affects the World Series. That is the epitome of contradiction. If they want it to be important, run it like an important game. The best players play the whole game and not every team is guaranteed a representative.

thehef · 10-31-2016, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG17EASY

My biggest beef is that the All-Star game is treated like an exhibition in every way, but the outcome directly affects the World Series. That is the epitome of contradiction. If they want it to be important, run it like an important game. The best players play the whole game and not every team is guaranteed a representative.

Completely agree with this. With interleague play comprising just 12% of each team's schedule, best record is not the ideal determiner. However, it's much better than HFA being decided by an exhibition. That's like the Hall of Fame game deciding HFA for the Super Bowl.

Le Grande Orange · 10-31-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG17EASY

Unless the wild card team makes the World Series and comes from the league that won the All-Star game. Then the wild card team will have home-field advantage in the World Series.

That would have be the case under the old league rotation system as well.

termcl · 10-31-2016, 03:36 PM

My take on all this? Hockey gets it right with it's 2-2-1-1-1 format. That's the thing that bugs me the most about baseball playoffs. In game 5, the team without home field advantage has more home games than the team with the advantage. How is that fair? If you steal one game as the visitor in game 1 or 2, then you are cruising with 3 games in a row at your home park. The team with "home field advantage" has to hope there's a game 6 to play in front of their fans.

Matt Arnold · 10-31-2016, 03:39 PM

To me, it's still an unbalanced schedule otherwise too. I mean, Cleveland got home field over Boston in their series because they won 1 more game, but they also had almost half their games against DET/KC/CWS/MIN vs Boston having half the games against TO/BAL/NY/TB, never mind that both teams had different inter-league opponents.

So yeah, schedules aren't balanced, but take 162 games, whoever has the better record gets home field in the World Series. Everyone and their mother knows the Cubs were a better team in the regular season over the Indians, so they should have home field. Never mind that it didn't happen as much this year, but it could have been Chapman getting the save in the All-Star game that screws it for his new team because he switched leagues.

As for the original, yeah, the wildcard should be the road team in the ALCS always. Looks like we might not be picking teams in the right order, so we can be sure to fix it up for next year.

10-31-2016, 11:35 AM	#13
Number4 Major Leagues Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 460	People criticize the all star game method, yet I fail to see how either a random method based on year or comparing standings from matches played against different opponents is in any way more fairer. "The best players from each league fight for the home field advantage" is a reasonable solution - not perfect, but so aren't your counter offers. __________________ "Odor is now 2 for 5 today" (Commentator, after Rougned Odor, up to then 1 for 4, punched Jose Bautista square in the face.)

10-31-2016, 12:20 PM	#15
Number4 Major Leagues Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 460	But the if the difference between home field advantage is being swept by the Red Sox instead of sweeping the Brewers, that is something you can control? One could say that while the all star methods has it flaws, it is inherently fair - while the strenght of schedule method is inherently flawed by the objective disparity between different divisions as well as between the NL and AL as a whole. If you're complaining about other players not doing enough in the ASG, your could send more But, hell, I'd argue for a 2 A - 3 B - 1A - game 7 at a neutral side halfway in between the cities anyway. __________________ "Odor is now 2 for 5 today" (Commentator, after Rougned Odor, up to then 1 for 4, punched Jose Bautista square in the face.) Last edited by Number4; 10-31-2016 at 12:21 PM.

10-30-2016, 04:04 AM	#1
termcl Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 121	Playoff Home Field Advantage Just wrapped up the 2016 season and now in the playoffs, I have a question that hopefully you knowledgeable folks can clarify. Detroit won the Central Division title with a record of 91-71. They were the second seed among the division winners. Toronto was the #1 wild card with a record of 93-69. Both teams are now in the American League Championship Series and the game is showing Toronto with home field advantage based on their better record. My understanding is that regardless of record the wild card team should not have home field advantage in any league series. Is that correct? Which team should have the home field advantage, Detroit or Toronto? By the way, the Cubs are playing the Dodgers for the National League Championship.

10-30-2016, 11:04 AM	#2
madjac74 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 133	In the 2015 NLCS the Cubs as a wildcard had a much better record than the Mets as division winners and the Mets had homefield in that series

10-30-2016, 03:33 PM	#4
termcl Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 121	Thanks for the quick responses. I can just manually manipulate the scheduled games to change the home field advantage, correct?

10-30-2016, 08:23 PM	#7
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	very easy workaround, go to edit scheduel and click "Flip teams" for each game in that series. no thought or planning required. since others aren't seeing it. i'd double check that it is not reseeding after each playoff round.

10-31-2016, 03:36 PM	#19
termcl Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 121	My take on all this? Hockey gets it right with it's 2-2-1-1-1 format. That's the thing that bugs me the most about baseball playoffs. In game 5, the team without home field advantage has more home games than the team with the advantage. How is that fair? If you steal one game as the visitor in game 1 or 2, then you are cruising with 3 games in a row at your home park. The team with "home field advantage" has to hope there's a game 6 to play in front of their fans.

10-31-2016, 03:39 PM	#20
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 16,152	To me, it's still an unbalanced schedule otherwise too. I mean, Cleveland got home field over Boston in their series because they won 1 more game, but they also had almost half their games against DET/KC/CWS/MIN vs Boston having half the games against TO/BAL/NY/TB, never mind that both teams had different inter-league opponents. So yeah, schedules aren't balanced, but take 162 games, whoever has the better record gets home field in the World Series. Everyone and their mother knows the Cubs were a better team in the regular season over the Indians, so they should have home field. Never mind that it didn't happen as much this year, but it could have been Chapman getting the save in the All-Star game that screws it for his new team because he switched leagues. As for the original, yeah, the wildcard should be the road team in the ALCS always. Looks like we might not be picking teams in the right order, so we can be sure to fix it up for next year.