Home-team advantage key for winning the All-Star Game – MLB News
Prior to the commencement of the All-Star Game involving the American League and National League on Tuesday, June 10, if there was anything that Tony La Russa wanted to see, it was the advantage of the home-field.
Having served the St. Louis Cardinals as the team manager, that also won the World Series last year, Tony La Russa is this year’s National League manager. The home-field advantage that he thought the Cardinals missed was against the teams like Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies.
But that does not take the edge off from the fact that the teams cannot overcome that disadvantage. That is what the former St. Louis Cardinals' manager referred to while explaining it.
"We didn't have home-field against Philadelphia and Milwaukee, and that was a big disadvantage against two very good clubs," NL manager Tony La Russa said. "If you are an October team, you can overcome that. I'm sure the National League would rather play their home games there. But if you don't have it, you can still win. I mean, it's not a magic bullet; it's just a nice edge."
It is important to recall that home-field advantage has had a key role. For example, anyone with this advantage has won 24 of the last 31 and more importantly 21 of the last 26 World Series. That’s what counts the most.
However, that does not stop the team from competing. In fact, competition has been the key part in every game of baseball. There is a reason for this competitiveness as well.
"The reason these games are so competitive," La Russa opined, "I think both leagues just want a shot at the other one. They just like to compete. And home field is a nice extra, but it's not the major reason the guys are into the games."
Who wins Tuesday’s game, just when the NL and AL meet, will determine how profound the impact of having the home-field advantage is. If the NL wins, it will prove once again that the home-field is always a boon for any team in Major League Baseball.
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