[Chris Lang]

Just glad the Rays lost tonight. Sorry bock. They frighten me. I just want them out of the picture before the O's head down there Monday so I don't have flashbacks of '89.

[jbock13]

Just glad the Rays lost tonight. Sorry bock. They frighten me. I just want them out of the picture before the O's head down there Monday so I don't have flashbacks of '89.

Haha, I know, they don't have a good chance. Athletics and Orioles are winning, and you can't catch up with teams that win. The Rays sadly are just so inconsistent.

I do wish the O's best of luck in the playoffs though.

[Kolzilla41]

3

2

[Chris Lang]

0.

[LUminary]

I'm getting greedy now. I really want to see the O's take the AL East, but today's comeback by the Yankees really hurt. I'm afraid they've got the upper hand -- three games at home against the stinkin' Red Sox while the Birds fly south to Tampa Bay. Today would have been a great day to finally jump into first place.

[Cider Jim]

I'm pulling for the BoSox like I've never pulled them before!

[R i]

Booby V , pull something out of your hat. Manage for your job. Sweep the Yankees.

There are no mispelled words in the above plea to the redsox manager.

[NotAJerry]

With the stupid playoff setup this year, it's not an advantage to win the division unless you have the 3rd best record among division winners. The WC winner and the 3rd best division winner get the first two games of the best of five at home. The advantage is their's if they hold serve at home.

[adam42381]

It's ridiculous to give the lower seeds the first 2 home games in a 5 game series. I hate the 2-3 format altogether. 2-2-1 made much more sense.

[NotAJerry]

It's ridiculous to give the lower seeds the first 2 home games in a 5 game series. I hate the 2-3 format altogether. 2-2-1 made much more sense.

The worst part is that they're going back to 2-2-1 next year but refused to change it this year despite everyone other than Bud Selig hating the 2-3 format.

[adam42381]

I'm just glad my team didn't make it so I don't have to worry about it. Oh, wait, no I'm not.

[Chris Lang]

C'mon, NotAJerry. It's an advantage to win the division so you don't have to play in a single-elimination play-in game. Home advantage is negligible at best in baseball. A one-off scenario in baseball opens the door for all sorts of flukes. As exciting as this has been for O's fans, it could be over in one night if Oakland's pitcher is hot or someone like Derek Norris has the game of his life.

[NotAJerry]

C'mon, NotAJerry. It's an advantage to win the division so you don't have to play in a single-elimination play-in game. Home advantage is negligible at best in baseball. A one-off scenario in baseball opens the door for all sorts of flukes. As exciting as this has been for O's fans, it could be over in one night if Oakland's pitcher is hot or someone like Derek Norris has the game of his life.

Home advantage is negligible? 4 of the last 5 World Series winners had home field and the one who lost was Tampa Bay, the team with the 2nd worst home crowd/attendance in baseball.

It may not be as big a deal as it is in some other sports, but having home field for the first two in a 2-3 format over 5 games is huge.

[Chris Lang]

I'd still rather have to play two games on the road if it means being guaranteed entrance in a five-game series. There's no way you can convince me it's better to be in that single-elimination game.

[adam42381]

Home field advantage IS a big deal in baseball. On average, home teams win approximately 55% of the time. That may not seem like a lot, but a 55/45 split is somewhat significant. Obviously you don't want to be in the play-in game, but why should the 3rd best division winner get home field advantage the first 2 games ?

[jbock13]

As a Rays fan, honestly I'd rather have away field advantage For some reason they always play better on the road.

Of course, most baseball teams aren't like that.

[adam42381]

Tampa Bay has had a better home record than road record every season since 2002 according to ESPN (that's as far back as their standings go).

[jbock13]

Tampa Bay has had a better home record than road record every season since 2002 according to ESPN (that's as far back as their standings go).

Huh that's weird.

Oh well guess I'm wrong.

[Chris Lang]

I think whoever gets matched up with Detroit in Game 1 is at a disadvantage, home or away, because the Tigers will throw Verlander.

And home-field advantage will be huge in that wild card game because the road team is going most likely going to have to make a short-notice cross-country trip to play the game. The Orioles and Yankees both can assure themselves of being home for that game if they win two in their final series. If Texas is the wild card, the Rangers will end up with just 93 wins, and Baltimore and NYY both have 92 now. If Oakland is the wild card, it maxes out at 93.

Baltimore lost the season series to both Texas and Oakland and would have to go on the road if tied, so getting two in Tampa would be huge. Also, tiebreaker between the O's and Yankees would be in Baltimore Thursday.

Wednesday's starter is TBA. I'm thinking that they're trying to save Tillman if possible for either the tiebreaker or the wild card game. Or the first playoff game. Who knows. Let's worry about tonight. If Chen can get through the first couple of innings unscathed, that's a good sign. He's been bad of late early.

[adam42381]

This year only 4 teams have worse home records than away records. None of them are making the playoffs, including my Red Sox. To be fair to your Rays, if they get swept they'll have equal 44-37 records home and away.

[NotAJerry]

And home-field advantage will be huge in that wild card game because the road team is going most likely going to have to make a short-notice cross-country trip to play the game.

And the #1 division winner is going to have to do the same thing once the wild card game is over.

[LUminary]

No way you want to be a wildcard rather than division winner. Way too much risk being one and done. Much rather have the safety of a longer series (and BE IN the longer series), regardless of home-away status.

[LUminary]

O's lose to Rays, Yankees win. That hurts. One game back...again.

[Chris Lang]

Rodney is straight filthy. That changeup is a work of art.

[Cider Jim]

O's win tonight; Bosox/Yanks tied at 3 in the 9th.