Suggested tiebreakers

[Guest AG/DC]

If two teams are tied by for a playoff spot, what tiebreakers would you suggest as an alternative to a one-game playoff? A quick suggestion.

Division Tiebreakers Division Record League Record Head-to-Head Record Net Run Differential Division Run Differential League Run Differential Head-to-Head Run Differential Total Reyeses Scrabble Tournament

Wild-Card Tiebreakers League Record Head-to-Head Record Net Run Differential League Run Differential Head-to-Head Run Differential Total Reyeses Scrabble Tournament

[nymr83]

if there are two teams with identical records i'd want the 1 game playoff. the only time i'd want to use an alternative method is if the "loser" of a division tie will win the wild card anyway.

if i'm making a list though i'd put head to head first.

[Guest AG/DC]

I hear you. It's exciting and dramatic, if hastily arranged and often anti-climactic. That's why I phrased this as an if-then question.

On the other hand, if the Mets win 10 of 14 from the Phils during the regular season, is it really more meaningful if the Phils take number 163?

[nymr83]

well i think all the games should count the same when there are 162 of them (which means you need a tiebreaker game.)

the NFL is in a bit of a different situation because with only 16 games there are multiple ties every year and worse yet there are often 3 teams tied for one spot, and with how physical football is the idea of a team having to play 2 tiebreaker games is not one that many people would endorse.

[Frayed Knot]

NFL tiebreakers exist for convenience sake. There's simply no room in their tightly scripted schedule for an extra game.

So if that means that there are 5 seperate 9-7 teams and only room for two in the playoff scheme then three of them have to be eliminated. And if the elimination process is meaningful (initial tie-breakers) then that's good, and if it's silly and arbitrary then that's tough.

If there's a MLB tie for a playoff spot I want a game!

[seawolf17]

Dammit. When I saw the thread title I was going to suggest "Total Reyeses." I hadn't thought of Scrabble tournament, though. I might get myself an MLB contract yet.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Well clearly, you need different rules for each league, what with the DH and all.

NL: If your team name begins with M, you may proceed.

AL: If the greater good of all humanity is served by your evil asses getting sent home early, then you do not proceed.

That takes care of the Yankees. I don't care about the rest of the AL teams.

[Guest AG/DC]

Frayed Knot wrote: If there's a MLB tie for a playoff spot I want a game!

Well, this isn't what I wanted to talk about, but there certainly is an argument that it's less meaningful --- single games including only a small portion of your pitching staff and all.

[Frayed Knot]

Less meaningful than what -- a series of tie-breaking procedures which arbitrarily favor one statistical variation over another?

[Guest AG/DC]

Jeez, the sarcasm.

No, you... sarcasm guy, a series of tie-breaking procedures which considerately favor wins and losses accrued in situations meaningful to the championship being won.

Do you really think awarding a division championship to a team with the best won-loss record in the division is an arbitray statistical variation?

Hey cool, our pen is pissing runs away.

[Frayed Knot]

I've either lost track of what you're talking about or I never understood it in the first place.

[Guest AG/DC]

You're doing fine.