But again... if you're deciding only for yourself, that's one thing. But in HMC, you're making the decision for both teams.

Can you see why a given manager of any intelligence is going to set aside those factors that are of equal advantage or disadvantage to both sides, and simplify the equation to just compare the factors that actually post an advantage to him or a disadvantage to him?

In this case, I suppose if you're managing and you're at home so you get to choose... and you think your own pitcher's psyche is so much more delicate that the opposing pitcher's, such that there is a distinct disadvantage, then, okay, that's something to consider.

How often would one manager judge such a substantial advantage/disadvantage based on how much more or how much less distracted his pitcher would be, in comparison to actual objective numbers? Well, I'll say this... probably not that often, but I'll grant you that there will be times when managers just go with their gut. It's become increasingly less common in this analytics era, of course. But it does happen.