An important message to all the bitter Oakland Athletics' fans: It's not the schedule's fault that the A's are down 2-0 to the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS.

Much has been made in recent days of this season's format for the Division Series, in which the team with the better record opens with two road games and plays Games 3, 4 and 5 at home. It's a one-year departure from the typical format of the better team having Games 1, 2 and 5 at home. As a result, the A's—who lost two straight this weekend in Detroit—are returning to the...