10 Reasons Why Great Baseball Teams Win On The Road

Being able to win games on the road is what separates the good baseball teams from the champions. In a sport where the regular season consists of 162 games, with half of them played away, it is essential to win on the road.

Many may argue that the physical talent of a team is what makes a great baseball team regardless of home or away games, I disagree. Obviously you need the talent to compete, but without having team chemistry, good coaching, leadership, confidence and a little luck, teams don't stand a chance. Here are the top 10 attributes that make a great baseball team win on the road.

1. Team Chemistry
There are many cases of teams having the best talent on paper that have fallen short of reaching their goals. Why? Lack of team chemistry. Team chemistry is especially important on a long road trip when the mental and physical pressures can lead to infighting, confrontations and sheer exhaustion.

Don't forget that personal egos and Personnel changes can also have a devastating effect on the team chemistry of a major league baseball team.

2. Coaching
The important of great coaching is not in the strategy but how the players are handled. Managers need to handle players differently some need caressing, others a pep talk and others need a good kick in the butt.

Great coaches are able to shield their players from the media and give their stars rests on the road without conceding a win.

3. Leadership
Leadership on a ballclub is often overlooked as a reason for a team's success. Having a veteran player keeping things tight can make all the difference in the world - especially on the road.

4. Conditioning
It's a long season and it's important to stay in shape to prevent injuries. Players on the DL adversely effect team synergy. Something could be said about the 2009 New York Mets and the number of players on the DL -and it's only June 10!

5. Confidence
Having the confidence and belief in oneself, especially in a different ballpark, in front of booing fans, makes a winner - period!

6. Road Schedule
The road schedule for a team can be critical to a team's success. Rainouts sometimes put a wrinkle in the schedule - a team may have to travel on what was originally an off-day to make up for the rainout. The great teams will take care of business and come home with a win.

7. Preventing That Mental Block
It has happened countless times - The Chicago Cubs in 1969, the NY Mets in 2007 and 2008 - mental blocks, bad karma, baseball voodoo - that prevents a team from finishing what they started. When this happens it seems to perpetuate from year to year.

8. Dedication
Sure most baseball players are dedicated. It seems that the players on the great teams work a little harder and more as a cohesive unit.

9. Baseball Mentality
Baseball is a mental game. The great teams tend to be able to excel under the heavy mental pressures of the day-in, day-out grid of the game. Maybe it's because they feel comfortable with each other, can express themselves, have fun and keep it real.

10. Sheer Good Luck
Call it what you want but it seems that teams with confidence and positive thinking get the better bounces, better calls and often just get plain lucky!

The bottom line is that to be a great baseball team you must win on the road and having the best talent just won't do it for you!