2-3-2 Format: Not So Bad Being Away Team

Here is a post from my favorite message board at IndiansInk:

(Originally posted the day after we clinched against the Yankees)

After last nights game, how can anyone not be in an optimistic mood. In keeping with seeing the cup as "half-full", I for one, am very excited about the home/away format for the upcoming series. Here are a few reasons why:

1) C.C. and Fausto in Games One and Two. It may be a bit of a reach to expect two wins, but certainly not impossible. That said, I fully expect to take at least one of two in Boston, which nullifies home-field advantage immediately. Pitching at home certainly factors into all players to some extent; however, I would argue that the overall abilities and dominating stuff at times, make this a bit less important for pitchers such as C.C. and Fausto. If they bring their "A" games, then I'm not sure if it would matter if they were pitching in Antarctica.

2) Schilling and Wakefield on the Road. While the top end of our rotation may be a tad stronger, the same cannot be said for our #3, #4. One must give a bit of an advantage to Schilling, regardless of his age, and you never know how nasty that darn knuckleball is going to be. That said, if you take a look at the home/road splits, Schilling and Wakefield have been average at best on the road (especially Wakefield). Schilling (5-5, 3.65, 40K in 69IP {ROAD})Wakefield (7-8, 4.26, 40BB in 93IP {ROAD} vs. 10-4, 24BB in 94IP {HOME})Those numbers certainly scream, "Very Hittable".

3) Simple Mathematics. Probably could be left unsaid, but the 2-3-2 format seams to really favor the away team for the early part of a series. In Wedge's, "one game at a time" approach, that you have heard repeatedly from both players and coaches throughout the season, we have proven very successful. If we continue this approach, and feed off of our fans, who are simply on fire with Tribe fever right now, I really like this arrangement.

4) I'm Ignoring Game 7. Game seven is unlike anything in all of professional sports. You can throw out the splits. Forget about fatigue. It is all guts and glory that wins in the end. And hell, if we are in a game seven, I will be ignoring each and every little detail that the media will be shining its bright lights upon. That will be one to just sit back and enjoy (or pace back and forth for four hours as has been the case thus far). One final reason I'm ignoring game seven: Fausto Carmona. He will win game six regardless. If we are up 3-2, game seven doesn't exist. If we are down 3-2, then re-read the aforementioned and sit back and enjoy.

And so in summary, if someone offered me the abilty to switch to the home team in this series, would I? Maybe. But the fact that I have to really think about it, is keeping my cup half-full for now.

Gooooooooooooooo TRIBE!

Cheers!