NEW YORK (AP) -- Fans who root, root, root for the home team are leaving ballparks a lot happier this year. Home teams have won nearly 57 percent of games, the highest
figure in the major leagues since 1978. They had a 778-590 record
entering Thursday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, which
comes to a .569 winning percentage. Last year's mark was .542.

There is always a home field advantage in any sport, but there is a danger when the home team always wins. We all love fair play, so it is alarming when we see the advantage nearing the 60% clip.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia is quoted in the wire story saying he belives it could be part of a cycle. And unlike football where no one knows which team will get the ball first, home teams get the last at bat. But the sport has always been set up that way, which shouldn't account for this year's spike.

We have seen these kind of statistics in other sports, like the NBA where there is always a huge home court advantage. That's often explained by "homer" calls which is under and even larger cloud of suspicion in light of the current referee scandal.

While we are not suggesting umpires are more prone to making homer calls this season, we do find it interesting more teams are having trouble winning on the road.

It was very difficult to explain why Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriquez could pitch so well at Minute Maid Park last season, and then look so terrible on the road. Some suggested he was getting more rest at home, the comfort level, the crowd etc. But it really didn't add up since Wandy is a left hander, and the Crawford Boxes certainly favor a right handed line up, which Rodriquez is more apt to face when he is pitching at home.

Let's hope Scioscia is right, and the statistics is just one of those things. But then again now that the perk for winning the All-Star Game is getting the home field advantage for the World Series, maybe it is a big deal after all.

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