The other day I read an article in Sports Illustrated (if you get it, smoke it) about how Major League Baseball's road teams are making it easier than ever. In 2023, the home team's winning percentage dropped to .521, the lowest number since 1971.
Noise in NFL stadiums has a clear impact on team performance, but we don't see those direct fan consequences on the diamond. With stadium dimensions becoming more standardized, playing surfaces immaculately manicured, and visiting quarters more luxurious than podunks, it stands to reason that players who start first are not at such a disadvantage.
With that in mind, I was curious about the best (and worst) home/road winning percentage in Minnesota Twins history…
Best home winning percentage
(Note: Technically, the pandemic-shortened 2020 season had a franchise-best home WP of .774. Maybe unused seats should have cardboard cutouts again? )
- 1969: .704 (57-24)
- 1987: .691 (56-25)
- 2002 and 2006: .667 (54-27)
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Worst home winning percentage
- 2016: .370 (30-51)
- 2012: .383 (31-50)
- 2013: .395 (32-49)
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Highest road win rate
- 2019: .679 (55-26)
- 1965: .630 (51-30)—Remarkably, this World Series team was just 51-30 at home.
- 1962: .568 (46-35)
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Worst road win rate
- 1982: .284 (23-58)
- 1986: .346 (28-53)
- 1981: .347 batting average (17-32) – strike-shortened (perhaps fortunately) season
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All of this would seem to bode well for Baldelli's team, as Rocco holds the highest single-season standard in road success. In a league where last-ups mean less than they have in more than 50 years, this may become less of an “interesting oddity” and more of an “important aspect” heading into 2024.
