There is less science and more Schwarber.
It isn't a guaranteed prescription for success, but it appears to be one route Philadelphia can take to get to the National League Championship Series.
Manager Rob Thomson said before the team left San Diego that the science tells you to stay over, but the road-weary players decided they would prefer to fly home after Wednesday afternoon's Game 2.
Chris Winter is a neurologist and sleep expert who has worked with Major League Baseball. The San Francisco Giants used his advice to modify their October travel in order to win three World Series rings in five years.
The Padres are one of the teams that use Winter's expertise. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the teams.
Based on travel direction and game timing, the smartest play was to stay put for the rest of the game.
After learning that the team had been on the road for 22 of 24 days, the veterans talked and asked the president of baseball operations to get them home earlier.
The sleep science tells you what studies tell you. Sometimes you have to choose what is best for your ball club.
The Padres were traveling after Wednesday's game so there wouldn't be an advantage.
"Our guys have been away so long that I think the drive to get home and be there is understandable."
Schwarber hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first to give him a home run to remember. The sellout crowd of 45,279 at Citizens Bank Park watched him hit his second home run.
It happened after the team arrived in Philadelphia. Schwarber got some sleep, went to the park for treatment, and then had a nice meal.
Schwarber said that they had been on the road for a while. We would be happy to be on the road for that long if you told us we were in this situation.
Sign up for On Baseball. Our analysis of the biggest M.L.B. games, story lines and athletes, delivered daily during the postseason.In October, it's important to build itineraries that are more than charter flights and top-shelf food. When many things are unknown until the last minute, players and staff have to adapt.
There have been a lot of changes this autumn. They were going to fly home after the Atlanta game. The players decided to stay in Atlanta and fly the next day after a three hour rain delay.
Nick Castellanos said geography and the length of the flight were the differences between that night and last week.
Castellanos said that the positions they are in are much more restricted and confined. After six hours of being in high altitude, your body needs to be adjusted back to normal. I like being able to get in and have a day to acclimatize and wash off that cross country flight on a regular charter airplane.
Winter said in a telephone interview that he understands that the team is on the road a lot and that they want to get home. He said that it can be beneficial.
Winter said that players have taught him not to sleep in his own bed. A 5-foot-8 sleep doctor can say one thing, but a player's belief plays a big part in it. The science is one of the metrics that can be used by an organization.
It is one piece of information that smart managers and G.M.s can manage with a lot of data.
In October, the traveling party includes the players and their families. Two charter planes are being used by the team, front office personnel and their families.
"That's probably a better question for the wives and moms with kids, what the most difficult part of packing has been." We traveled for 18 days and I only had one suitcase. The mothers have to pack warm clothes and air mattresses. The change of weather is the most important. I'm fairly basic. Give me jeans and a few shirts to wear to the field.
It felt as if the team hadn't seen its home in a long time.
The house smelled like it had been closed up for a while. It is a welcome sight for sure. The fans are going to be fired up and we know we have been playing well. We know it will be exciting.
Travel time can act as a bonding agent.
It felt like a blink and right back on the road after 20 days on the road. We spend 14 hours a day with each other for seven months. We have to spend time with each other when we're on the road because you couple that and take a lot of the families out.
That's a positive thing. The chemistry that is talked about is built there. Trust is built there. The downs last a little longer and the highs last a little longer when you can trust the guy next to you. There is nothing better than playing at home.
Planes, buses, and hotels are not slowing down the Philadelphians. It's possible that the extra round of wild-card playoffs will lead to extended trips. The Rays had finished their season on a nine-game trip before opening at Cleveland.
Terry Francona didn't hesitate when asked if that would give his team an advantage.
Francona said if they're out of underwear. No one wants to be out of underwear.
The team understands.
Schwarber mentioned that and socks.
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