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It’s what teams play 162 games to obtain. Home field advantage for any professional team can provide plenty of benefits.

In baseball, not all stadium dimensions are equal. The uniqueness of a park can really do some damage for the opposition.

Aside from the stadium itself, the fans can also influence a game—for better or worse. Playing in front of a loud, enthusiastic crowd can inspire a young team.

On the other hand, a stadium that resembles the attendance of a WNBA game can be troubling for a team to witness for 81 games a year.

Here are the rankings for the top home field advantages in Major League Baseball.

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The 2010 MLB season had plenty of tremendous individual stories.

People were still talking about a potential Triple Crown bid by three different players in the National League in mid August.

As it turned out, Albert Pujols ran away with the home run crown with 42 and killed the intrigue.

But Joey Votto and Carlos Gonzalez put together some of the most impressive individual numbers of any player in recent memory.

Pujols didn’t sport the batting average of the other two, the Cardinals were a big disappointment as a team, and Pujols is always in the mix for MVP. Pujols is out.

So let’s take a look at the two leading candidates for the most valuable player in the National League; Joey Votto and Carlos Gonzalez.

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Making it to the World Series is the goal of every player and team. But not all World Series participants are created equal.

Whether it be a team peaking at just the right time, or simply a down year in the league, there have been plenty of teams in the fall classic that seemingly shouldn’t have made it.

So, in light of the underdog Rangers and Giants making the World Series, let’s take a look at the worst teams of all time to have played in the World Series.

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The 2010 MLB Postseason has been bittersweet for the Cincinnati Reds and their fans.

Making the playoffs for the first time since 1995 is a huge deal. In fact just getting over .500 was a cause for celebration this season.

The Reds were able to fight off the big bad St. Louis Cardinals and finally made it to October baseball.

But then the Reds were no-hit by the Philies Roy Halladay. Running into a buzzsaw like that was part bad luck, but also part first game jitters of an inexperienced team.

Game 2 was a chance to brush it off and try and even up the series. A 4-0 lead quickly evaporated as the Reds’ defense completely unraveled. Another shutout in Game 3 and the series was over before you could blink.

Now the Reds sit back and watch the NLCS and ALCS as familiar faces are doing major damage.

Cody Ross has been the best player in the NLCS, collecting an RBI in four straight postseason games, tying a Giants record. He has 10 hits, four homers and seven RBI in the playoffs.

He has single-handedly kept a stagnant Giants offense alive and well.

Once upon a time Ross was a Red. In April of 2006 General Manager Wayne Krivsky acquired Ross from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player-to-be-named. He was placed on the disabled list after getting hit by a pitch in late April.

He was reinstated from the DL in early May. Three days later, he was traded to Florida for cold hard cash.

So maybe he wasn’t a Red for very long, but the Reds sure could have used his clutch hitting against the Phillies.

What hurts even more is watching Josh Hamilton dismantle the Yankees.

So far Hamilton has four home runs and seven RBI through five games in the ALCS. For the entire playoffs he has hit .316.

Hamilton played 90 games for the Reds in 2007. He hit .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBI. It was his first season in the bigs and fans across Red Leg Nation were ecstatic for the future with Hamilton.

After the season the pitching starved Reds decided to use the unlimited potential of Hamilton to entice the Rangers to trade Edinson Volquez for him.

With his history of drug problems, the Reds figured Hamilton would be much more injury prone than the average player. He did miss almost half the season while playing in Cincinnati.

Fast forward to today and it looks as if the Rangers have gotten the better end of that trade.

Hamilton missed a month this season with a rib injury but will still more than likely be the American League MVP.

He has continued his success against the seemingly unbeatable Yanks. He was named 2010’s best center fielder in the AL by The Sporting News on Wednesday.

Volquez was the Game 1 starter for the Reds and couldn’t even get out of the second inning.

Sure he was an ’08 All-Star, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing almost five months of game action between ’09 and ’10, it looks like Volquez has been more injury prone than Hamilton.

And now that the Reds are overloaded with starting pitching while trying to solidfy their outfield. Yes hindsight is certainly 20-20.

Not to take away anything from a great 2010 campaign, but the Reds are left wondering what-if.

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It’s a touchy subject amongst baseball fans across the country.

Who has the best fans?

What fan base is most loyal? Most fair weather? How is the attendance? Do fans actively pay attention when attending a game?

There are plenty of ways to either be a good fan base or a rotten one, and we’ll look at how it all adds up.

Fans of all 30 teams have various commitment, knowledge, participation at games, and attendance, but only one fan base can claim the No. 1 spot.

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The Cincinnati Reds had a rude welcome to the 2010 MLB playoffs.

The Phillies’ Roy Halladay threw an absolute gem. The Reds couldn’t even muster a hit off the leading candidate for NL Cy Young. He threw 104 pitches, with only 25 of those for balls.

That is incredible.

It didn’t matter what team Halladay was facing, he has a buzz-saw. So the Reds have to keep that in mind when Game 2 begins on Friday night.

Sure the Reds haven’t scored a run against the Phillies in 30 innings, all at Citizens Bank Park

Sure they have been shut out by the same team in three consecutive games for the first time since the Cubs did it in 1982.

But here is why the Reds can bounce back against the Phillies in Game 2.

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The 2010 NLDS has arrived and it has pitted David against Goliath.
 
It’s the mighty Philadelphia Phillies against the “happy to be here” Cincinnati Reds.
 
Going from 78 wins to 91 is an outstanding achievement. The Queen city enjoyed quite the celebration when the team went out to Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati to celebrate the teams’ first postseason appearance since 1995 on Monday.
 
But is that it? Are you satisfied Reds fans?
 
The media has given the Reds a minuscule chance of beating the mighty Phillies—the same team that has gone to back-to-back World Series, winning one of them.
 
Critics look at the ridiculous rotation of H2O: Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels and think the Reds are screwed. They see All-Stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Jason Werth, and Shane Victorino and think the Reds young pitching staff is screwed.
 
Not so fast my friend.
 
Led by Dusty Baker, managing his fifth postseason with his third different team, the unproven Red have to show poise and maturity when they take the field against a weathered Phillies team.
 
They also have absolutely nothing to lose. All the pressure is on the home team.
 
With 22 wins in their last at-bat in ‘10, the Reds are very familiar to playing the underdog role. Sure ESPN radio host Colin Cowerd has called the Reds “frauds” all year. Sure they have an awful record against the other three NL teams in the postseason, 10-19 to be exact. Sure there starting pitcher doesn’t feature a single “ace”.
 
But think about all the times this club has been doubted throughout the “big 162”. They were picked to finish third in the majority of preseason predictions. A .500 or better record was the bar that was set.
 
After an embarrassing home loss to the Padres in mid-April, the Reds seemed destined for yet another long season.
 
As the season rolled on most expected the St. Louis Cardinals to eventually catch the Reds after they captured first place in May. After being swept in a four game set at Philly to end the first half, the doubters again emerged.
 
The brawl series had everyone more than convinced that the little team that could ran out of steam.
 
Well here they are, predicted by none and given no respect by all. Now the Reds once again find themselves facing the same scenario. So how can this miracle upset occur?
 
Cincinnati committed just 72 errors this season. That’s the third-fewest in the National League, and their fielding percentage of .988 was second best in the NL. The Phillies committed 83 errors.
 
The Reds were the highest-scoring team in all of the NL. If a game comes down to one swing, there are few better to have on your side then soon-to-be MVP Joey Votto, whose 37 homers and 113 RBI beat the numbers of any Phillies player this season.
 
The Reds had six players with at least 18 home runs (the Phillies had five). They hit more homers than the Phillies 188-166 and had a significantly higher team average (.272-.260).
 
And if the Phillies’ pitchers have a weakness, it’s the home run, their 131 homers allowed is tied for second in all of baseball.
 
If the Reds starting pitching can hold the potent Phils lineup to three or four runs a start, the Reds power can do the rest.
 
But that is certainly a big IF.
 
Walks will destroy you and Reds pitchers walked 108 more batters than the Phillies in 2010. That was a large factor in Philadelphia’s notably better ERA (3.66 to 4.03).
 
Should rookie Travis Wood be in the rotation? He is the only Reds lefty starter and had a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Phils in July.
 
Problem is, the Philies line-up was banged up, it was their first time seeing Wood, and he has only pitched in the majors since June. So there is no need to second-guess Baker. Look for Wood to be the first one out of the ‘pen if a starter falters early.
 
Bronson Arroyo has been rocked by the lefty-latent Phillies line-up. Edinson Volquez was pitching in Single A ball last month. Johnny Cueto has been known to get overly emotional in big moments.
 
These are legit concerns and what everyone is looking at. It’s obvious: Phillies three-man rotation> the Reds three-man rotation.
 
The Phillies are finally healthy after being banged up for most of the season. All of the mashers have returned.
 
So you can see why most think the Reds are going to get eliminated very quickly.
 
The Red Legs must rely on their potent line-up filled with power, stellar defense around the diamond and the bullpen to carry them. Aroldis Chapman will be used to lock-up the lefties in big moments. Arthur Rhodes and Nick Masset are some of the best middle-relievers out there.
 
The Philies bullpen is not nearly as intimidating as the starters. Getting to the ‘pen early will be a huge advantage for the Reds. Hanging tough with the Phils through the first six innings will be the key. A tie game in the seventh is a big Reds advantage.
 
The Reds will have to dig deep to pull it off, especially with the weight of 15 losing seasons in a row on their collective backs.
 
On paper this series should be a breeze for the Phillies…but that’s why they play the game…

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The Cincinnati Reds are the 2010 NL Central division champions.
 
I’ll repeat: The Cincinnati Reds are the 2010 NL Central division champions.
 
Who in their right mind could have predicted this back in March? The Reds’ goal was to play over .500. Progress was the key.
 
Well, the team that never quits sped up the progress tenfold.
 
The offense led the NL in the most important categories for the vast majority of he season. The pitching staff is overloaded with above-average starters. The bullpen was up-and-down, but never let the team down in an important game.
 
GM Walt Jocketty has done an excellent job of blending young studs with wily veterans. Nobody liked the Scott Rolen trade at the time, but now it looks brilliant. His wisdom and leadership really lit a fuse under the losing mentality that had plagued the franchise for 15 years.
 
Since the trade, the Reds are 97-63 when Rolen starts.
 
The biggest reason for success is the leading candidate for the National League’s Most Valuable Player, Joey Votto, who has gone above and beyond all expectations placed on him this year.
 
He ranks second in the NL with a .325 batting average, third in home runs with 37, and third in RBI at 111. He has been a force in the middle of a potent lineup. He has played an excellent first base, possibly worthy of a Gold Glove.
 
Speaking of Gold Gloves, Brandon Phillips is in line for his second. He made his first All-Star team and has drank the hustle Kool-Aid. His numbers have fallen since hurting his wrist, but don’t be mistaken—he had a career year.
 
Johnny Gomes didn’t have a contract offer from any team until the day before spring training began. He lead the NL in RBI at one point in late May.
 
Miguel Cairo, Arthur Rhodes, and Orlando Cabrera were considered washed up, and now all three of them will play pivotal roles in October.
 
For the sixth time in seven years, and with five different teams, Cabrera will be going to the postseason. His ability to stabilize the shortstop position offensively has been a huge asset.
 
With the Reds’ rotation getting younger with Johnny Cueto, Travis Wood, Edinson Volquez, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake, it was Bronson Arroyo who was old reliable.
 
Arroyo was a steady veteran presence that could be counted on to deliver every fifth day. He set a career high with 16 wins, and has pitched at least 200 innings every year as a Red. He is the No. 1 starter.
 
Mike Leake may have been shut down for the rest of this season, but his eight wins are nothing to sneeze at. He was the Reds’ best starter in the month of May.
 
Travis Wood almost threw a no-hitter against the defending NL champs in his third major league start. Incredible!
 
It’s hard to believe that Aaron Harang was the opening day starter back in the beginning of April. Sad to think that he won’t even make the 25-man playoff roster, but that’s another testament to how spectacular the pitching has been.
 
The beauty of the Reds is in their bench. Cabrera got hurt, Paul Janish stepped up, and the team didn’t miss a beat. Ditto with Chris Heisey.
 
The two-headed RH combo at catcher has kept both players fresh. Ramon Hernandez has hovered around .300 all season while playing stellar defense. When Hernandez gets hurt or Bronson Arroyo is starting, Ryan Hannigan steps in and puts up similar numbers.
 
Then there is the $30 million phenom.
 
Aroldis Chapman exploded onto the scene in September and will be a Red for at least the next five seasons. He may not have contributed a whole lot to the ’10 club, but Chapman will be a vital component for the playoffs and beyond. He is spoiled with winning already.
 
Then there’s Dusty Baker, one of only two managers to win a division title for three different National League teams; he seemingly pulled all the right strings for his club. He stuck with youngsters Jay Bruce, Nick Massett, and Drew Stubbs. He never called out a player or had a blowup caught on camera.
 
Don’t forget owner Bob Castellini. He famously said, “We are here to bring winning baseball back to Cincinnati” back when he took over in 2006. It may have taken a few years, but he made good on his promise.
 
The lost decade is over.  Nine straight losing seasons is history. The Reds are legit once again and are relevant to the rest of the nation. Cincinnati really is a “baseball town,” and record setting attendance in August proves it.
 
The entire 2010 Cincinnati Reds organization deserves credit.
 
It took a total team effort by everybody from the front office brass to the ball boy: The long-term vision from the top, the guts of the manger, the focus and superb talent of the players. Put it all together and you have one scrappy bunch of winners.
 
Congrats Reds, you did it.

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The final week of the 2010 regular season has arrived and the Rangers and Twins have already popped the champagne.

The Rangers success can be attributed to finally having solid starting pitching. Nolan Ryan really does make whatever he touches turn into gold.

The Phillies have clinched at least a Wild Card position, while the Yanks and Rays are battling for the AL East crown. The loser gets the Wild Card.

Thinking back to April most experts wouldn’t expect the upstart Reds to be one game away from clinching their first playoff birth since 1995.

The Braves, Giants and Padres are fighting for two spots. The Giants effectively ended the Rockies’ season by winning two-of-three against the Rox over the weekend.

How big is the Giants and Padres season ending series now?

Buckle up, it’s crunch time.

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The Cincinnati Reds have slept walk through the National League for much of September, but it really doesn’t matter.
 
The magic number for clinching a playoff spot is down to six. If the Reds go 6-6 in their 12 remaining games, the Cardinals would have to go 13-0 to tie. Pop some bottles.
 
The biggest surprise of the season is just a few days away from calling themselves “NL Central Champs.” Sounds pretty good huh?
 
Now it’s time to start thinking about postseason play.
 
The Reds will unfortunately have the NL’s worst starting pitching staff heading into October. Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, Tim Lineccum, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mat Latos, and Ubaldo Jimmenz are all top-flight starters.
 
The Reds don’t boost a single one.
 
What they do have is a ton of solid to very good starters.
 
Bronson Arroyo will start the first game of the series. His consistency has been incredible and he is the only starter with any sort of postseason experience. He picked up his 15th win of the season last week, doing so for the third straight year.
 
He now has 16, a new personal best. He doesn’t blow by anybody; he just uses his excellent location and guile to frustrate the opponent.
 
For the season he has 20 quality starts in 31 outings for a 16-10 record.
 
Johnny Cueto is a lock for the second game. He leads the team with a 3.35 ERA. He has really come of age in his third season in the majors, cutting down on his walks and posting a 1.23 WHIP.
 
He has also done a better job of keeping his emotions in check. In previous seasons, a young Cueto would get frustrated and few hits would turn into a huge inning and an early shower.
 
He is much more composed and the Reds should feel safe trotting him on the mound for Game Two.
 
With more days off in the playoffs, the Reds will need just one more starter. The answer is not an easy one. Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, and Travis Wood are the three candidates.
 
Homer Bailey has been fairly consistent over the course of the past eight weeks. He missed three months with an arm issue earlier in the season, but appears to be healthily.
 
He has had nine starts since coming back and lowered his ERA .80 of a point to 4.73 over that span. Not exactly anything to get too wound up about. He is learning how to work himself out of jams and has cut down on his walks.
 
Bailey has consistently been able to reach 95 MPH on the radar gun and this is the same pitcher that Albert Pujols said “will be amazing” early this year.
 
Volquez returned from Tommy John surgery in July to mix results. He has been boom or bust for the Reds.
 
In 10 starts since his return, he has given up one run or less in half of his starts. Yet he has failed to reach the fifth inning in four of his starts, highlighted by not being able to get out of the first inning against the Giants.
 
The problem has been his mechanics. The Reds brass decided to send him way down the ladder to work out the kinks.
 
Since being called up from Class-A Dayton, he is 0-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts. Volquez has the stuff to snag the third spot in the rotation, but has he fully figured out all of his mechanical issues?
 
The rookie Wood is the third candidate. The lefty has been great for the Reds since being called up July 1st. He has the best ERA of the bunch at 3.43 ERA.
 
Wood has been excellent all season, allowing more than four earned runs only once in 15 starts. He has been the model of consistency for a rookie pitcher.
 
If the Reds play the lefty laced Phillies lineup, except Wood to get the call. Oh yeah, he almost threw a no-hitter against them back in July.
 
The problem is his pitch count (that’s Nolan Ryan’s groan you are hearing in the background). Between his AAA starts and 15 big league one’s; he has logged over 189 innings pitched. That is by far the most in his career for the 23-year-old.
 
Mike Leake has already been shutdown after reaching his innings limit, wouldn’t one assume the Reds will do the same with Wood?
 
Volquez is the best bet. He has the most dominating stuff when he is on and the Reds have to just cross their fingers that he doesn’t have a meltdown in the early innings.
 
But the beauty of the three-man rotation is that Bailey can always come in to save the day if Volquez falters early. Wood would be the guy, but he needs to be shutdown and preserved for the future.
 
Go with Volquez and take a deep breath.

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