About 15-20 people in my office have been watching how the Playoff will end up. It has become a matter of honor among us. Anyway, we have been trying to figure out who will be playing whom in the first round of playoffs.
We know that in the Division Series, the wild card team plays the team with the best record. However, an MLB rule states that teams from the same division are not allowed to face each other in the Division Series. At this point in the AL, Boston is the 1st place team and New York is the wild card team (both in the East Division). Therefore, NY should the play the 2nd place team. The problem is that the LA Angels and the Cleveland Indians have been flipping back and forth as to who is in the second spot for a while. Also, since the 13th of September, they have had the same win/loss record.
If the season ends with LAA and CLE with the same win/loss record, who will play the NY in the first round (assuming no changes).
2007-09-17 04:12:15 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
When two or all three of the division champions are tied in season record, a list of non-game tiebreakers are used to determine which are seeded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The wildcard team is always seeded 4th.
Ah, found it:
If two teams are tied for the best record (#1 seed) and the wildcard is from the same division as either of them, the wildcard plays the other.
Breaking seeding ties otherwise:
1. head to head record;
2. intradivision record;
3. intraleague record;
4. last half of intraleague record;
5. last half plus one game of intraleague record -- continue until tie is broken.
2007-09-17 04:39:40 · answer #1 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Based on the standings today, it would be NYY @ CLE, and LAA @ BOS.
You are correct, two teams in the same division cannot play in the divisional series. If the Yankees win the wildcard, and Boston has the best record in the league, the Yankees would play the other division winner with the best record. As you said, right now, the Angels and Indians have identical records. In this case, it would come down to a tie-breaker between the two. They are 5-5 against each other and don't play each other again. If they finished with identical records, Cleveland would have the advantage, and host the Yankees, due to the fact they have a better intradivsional record against the AL Central oppsoed to the Angels records against the AL West. teams. Personally, I think it would make more sense to discard the interleague games first and compare AL records, in which case Cleveland still has the advantage, but that is not the case.
The record of the wildcard team does not factor in playoff scenario.
"Scenario #7: There is a two-way tie for highest winning percentage among Division winners and a tiebreaker is required to determine home field advantage in the Division Series.
If one of the Division winners tied for the highest winning percentage is from the same Division as the Wild Card:
The Division winner from the same Division as the Wild Card cannot play the Wild Card in the Division Series. The other Division winner tied for the highest winning percentage plays the Wild Card.
If neither Division winner tied for the highest winning percentage is from the same Division as the Wild Card:
A tiebreaker system will be used to determine which Division winner with the best record plays the Wild Card.
The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head competition between the two Clubs during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Clubs with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is broken."
2007-09-17 04:39:09 · answer #2 · answered by Kent K 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, first off, the people that picked the Dodgers and the Marlins to win the NL wildcard are obviously idiots and should seriously consider ending their lives. Now moving on: I really only watch the NL so that's what I'll comment on: NL East: Phillies NL Central: Cubs NL West: Diamondbacks WC: Brewers I'm going to say it right here that the if the Cubs and Brewers meet in the playoffs the Brewers will win. Why would you say that, the Cubs just swept four at Miller Park against the Brewers, the Cubs are obviously better. Well, I'll tell you why: The Brewers are 4-2 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 0-4 at Miller park this year. This has been a trend the past 2-3 years where the Cubs and Brewers beat each other up on the road but can't beat the other one when their the home team. Now since the Cubs will likely win the division, the Cubs will have home field when playing the Brewers so technically the Brewers will have the advantage. My other reason is that it's the Cubs, so you know their not going to win, 100 years and counting...
2016-05-17 04:59:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they can use some tie breakers.
Head to Head Record
AL Record
Then if still tied a Coin Flip
I doubt they would have a 1 game playoff to determine who plays who because it will be the same teams in the playoffs either way. If the tie was for a division champ of a wild card spot I think they would have a 1 game playoff.
2007-09-17 04:23:37 · answer #4 · answered by amgolf27 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good question. I was wondering the same thing. I hope to check back to this question soon for a crystal clear answer.
What do you think of this hypothetical? If Cleveland and LA would have to play a game to determine who plays the the Yankees, would Cleveland try to lose on purpose to avoid facing the Yankees?
Please address this question in your answers.
2007-09-17 04:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by Jeanne 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They use head to head matchup between LAA and CLE to determine 2nd, and 3rd seeded teams. If that is tied, it's a coin flip.
2007-09-17 04:45:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you and your co-workers are spending that much time trying to figure out the baseball playoffs, it's amazing that any of you have time to get some actual work accomplished!
2007-09-17 04:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋