By Chad Jennings, C. Trent Rosecrans and Stephen J. Nesbitt
In one American League Wild Card Series, the entire outcome hinged on a play that utilized crowd noise. It was so loud at Target Field that the Twins’ shortstop, Carlos Correa, realized the Blue Jays’ baserunners couldn’t hear their third-base coach’s warning about an impending pickoff play. The Twins took advantage of the noise, picked off Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and swept the series in two games.
On the other hand, the AL Wild Card Series saw empty seats aplenty. The Rays, a team known for thriving as underdogs despite financial constraints and injuries, were swept by the Rangers in front of two of the smallest postseason crowds in the past century. The lack of fan enthusiasm was palpable.
It turns out that home-field advantage varies significantly from one ballpark to another. Third baseman Alec Bohm of the Phillies expressed his belief that Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies swept the Marlins to improve their postseason record to 24-11, has one of the best home-field advantages in baseball. He attributed this advantage to the difficult playing conditions and the knowledge gained from playing there.
The postseason brings out the best in teams and is often defined by the reactions of the crowds in attendance. After observing the way crowds responded (or didn’t) to October baseball this week, The Athletic ranked the remaining playoff teams’ home-field environments. This ranking considered factors such as crowd participation, stadium features, and historical postseason moments.
The content continues with the rankings and characteristics of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, and Houston Astros’ home fields, highlighting their memorable moments and audience reactions.