do they have to play a "tiebreaker" or does one team get the wildcard spot? what happens?
2007-08-22 02:21:52 · 16 answers · asked by Topher 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
They have a one game playoff to determine the divison winner
2007-08-22 02:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by Phily310 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If both teams are bound for October regardless -- either one qualifies for the wildcard berth over the other division second-place teams -- then no game is played, but rather a list of tiebreaker methods is reviewed until the tie is broken. (I'm fairly certain head-to-head record is the first item on the list.) This happened in the 2001 National League Central division -- Houston and St. Louis finished at 93-69, both ahead of the NL East (Philadelphia, 86-76) and West (San Francisco, 90-72) runners-up. Houston was awarded the division championship, St. Louis the wildcard, as the Astros had taken the season series, 9-7. Final standings: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL_2001.shtml
If the runner-up team in a different division has the wildcard berth, then the two intradivision teams will play a tiebreaker game. This has happened once, in the 1995 American League. Seattle and California were tied for the West title (78-66; short, 144-game schedule that year), while New York led them both (79-65) in second place in the East, claiming the wildcard. The Mariners beat the Angels in a tiebreaker playoff game. Standings: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1995.shtml
If the two teams are tied along with the runner-up from another division (which has not yet happened), MLB has a two-game playoff format plan: the division rivals play for their division championship, and the loser of that game then plays the other runner-up for the wildcard.
MLB has a more detailed plan for a four-team tie but they don't much talk about it.
2007-08-22 03:08:35 · answer #2 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds strange, but depending on the situation, they will either play a one game playoff, or go by the head to head record.
If two teams have the same record to lead a division, and the team that does not win the division will miss the playoffs entirely, then they will play a one game playoff.
If two teams are tied, and the team that does not win the division will be the wild card team, then they use the head to head record.
This happened a couple of years ago when the Yankees clinched the A.L. East with 2 or 3 games left, even though at that point the Red Sox could possibly have still matched their overall record. Since the Yankees won the season series, and since no other team was alive in the wild card race, the Yankees won the division and the Red Sox the wild card.
2007-08-22 02:42:20 · answer #3 · answered by bencas9900 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the situation. If both teams qualify for the playoffs, the one with the better head-to-head record is the division winner. This happened a few years back with the Cardinals and Astros.
However, if only one can make the playoffs (i.e. - neither is at the top of the Wild Card standings), then they have to play a one game playoff in order to get in. I believe this happened with the Reds (I can't quite remember, but I think it was '95).
2007-08-22 05:27:51 · answer #4 · answered by Swish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is yes and no.
If both teams would make the playoffs (i.e. the loser of the tiebreaker would still be the wild card winner) then there is NO one-game playoff. They use a series of other tiebreakers beginning with head to head match ups to decide who wins the division, and who takes the wild card.
If both teams would not make the playoffs, then there is a one-game playoff to decide to is the division champion and who goes home.
2007-08-22 02:46:52 · answer #5 · answered by Cush 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The division goes to the one with the winning record against the other and the other team gets the Wild Card only if their record is the best of the group of teams going for the Wild Card. For example, if the Tigers manage to beat Cleveland for their division Cleveland probably would not make the play offs cuz Seattle and New York would more than likely still have better records. That would suck! Except for Tiger fans!
2007-08-22 02:45:34 · answer #6 · answered by AKA FrogButt 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They have to lead in the wilcard as well. There will always be a "tiebreaker" game to determine first place. Then if the losing team is in the lead for the wild card than that team would get in to.
2007-08-22 02:33:56 · answer #7 · answered by plummer2512 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who ever won the season series gets it.However as far the wild card goes,some other team in a another division,who didnt win their division, might have a better record,and theirfore they'd win the wild card. Hope I explained it well.
2007-08-22 03:31:36 · answer #8 · answered by Weezy F.Baby 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They would look at their head-to-head play during the season to determine who should win the division.
2007-08-22 02:37:54 · answer #9 · answered by starysky2004 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they do a one game play off. they cannot give one the wild card becasue they may not have the best non-division winning record. take the national league central division for instance no one in that divsion is even close to the highest NL record.
2007-08-22 02:33:03 · answer #10 · answered by Rocketman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the winner is determined based on their head to head competition in the regular season.
2007-08-22 02:32:00 · answer #11 · answered by wunofdamoronbros 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋