2007-09-14 17:05:19 · 5 answers · asked by Giants Fan! 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Counts down the number of combined wins by that team, and losses by whatever competing team that particular magic number is calculated against (typically the nearest follower, but a MN can be worked out between any two teams) for the first team to clinch an uncatchable lead over the second. (It is easily seen how this is not of much interest besides winning the divisions or wildcard berths.)
2007-09-14 17:11:19 · answer #1 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a team is in first-place and the season winds down, they must get to a certain game to mathematically eliminate the second-place team. For example, let's say the San Francisco Giants are six games ahead of the Dodgers with nine games left in the season. The magic number for the Giants is four to eliminate the Dodgers. This means that each time the Giants win a game subtract one from the magic number. In addition, each time the Dodgers lose a game, subtract one. Sometimes magic numbers get reduced by two in one night if it's a combination of a Giants win and Dodgers loss. Once the Giants magic number is 0, then they have mathematically eliminated the Dodgers. This is when they can now celebrate a successful season.
2007-09-15 00:14:45 · answer #2 · answered by catch1171997 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means they are closer to clinching a playoff spot or winning the division. Yes the answers above give you the calculation method to find a magic number.
2007-09-15 09:28:38 · answer #3 · answered by josh_huth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means the team above them (or below) have lost and they won and are gaining
2007-09-17 20:25:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
closer to a playoff spot
2007-09-18 23:22:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋