12 replies to this topic

[Icterus galbula]

There have been some ties for postseason spots in the past, and they always had a play-in game. Currently, there is a three-way tie for the two wild-cards. If there is a two-way tie, it basically comes down to head to head record and then some other tiebreakers without playing a game, but if there is a three-way tie:

From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia....king_procedures

Three-way tie for the division or wildcard

If the three teams have identical records against each other in the regular season, the office of the commissioner conducts a draw with the teams designated as teams A, B, and C. First, team A plays team B with team A as the home team. The following day, the winner of the that game plays team C with team C as the away team. The winner of the game on the second day advances to the playoffs. The team designations are determined as follows:

If the teams do not have identical records against one another, and one team has a best record against both other teams, and another team has a winning record against the final team, the first team shall get the first pick of their team designation, the second team gets the second pick, and the last team is assigned the remaining designation.

If one team has a better record against both of the other teams, and the two other teams have the same record against each other, then the first team would get the first pick for team designation, and the other teams would draw lots. The winner of the draw would get the second pick, and the loser of the draw would be assigned the remaining designation.

If two teams have the same record against each other, and both have a better record than the last team, then the first two teams draw lots, with the winner choosing their designation first, the loser of the draw picking their designation second and the final team being assigned the remaining designation.

If each team has a winning record against one other team in the three team group, and a losing record against the other team in the three team group, the priority for choosing designations shall be chosen based on overall winning percentage within the three team group, any ties in winning percentage within the three team group will be broken by drawing lots.

Clear enough for everyone? It would be such a crazy way to end a season. Drawing lots and choosing designations for multiple play-in games.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Now my head hurts, thanks for that.

[Mackus]

Is it the same tie-breaking procedures now that there is the extra wild card?

[Icterus galbula]

Is it the same tie-breaking procedures now that there is the extra wild card?

They mention the 2012 wild-card addition earlier in the article, in reference to two-way ties, which no longer have play-in games, so I would assume the three-way scenario is up to date. Never put full trust in the wiki, though.

[LanceRinker]

Just for quick reference so everyone is aware - here is where the O's stand against the other teams in the WC chase.

We are currently:

3-1 vs CHW (4 games left to play)
1-2 vs DET (3 games left to play)
2-7 vs LAA (0 games left to play)
3-3 vs OAK (3 games left to play)
6-6 vs TBR (6 games left to play)

We won't be winning a tiebreaker with the Angels, that's for sure. But for that second wild card spot, if we don't end up with a better record than the Angels, we hold an edge over the White Sox and have chances to have the advantage over every other team as well.

I wouldn't call it impossible with how this season has played out so far.

[Oriole85]

Is it the same tie-breaking procedures now that there is the extra wild card?

I believe it works like it did before, just incorporating, the new system. For example, let's say the Orioles and Yankees tie for the division and both would make the playoffs anyways-- than it goes to h2h(not sure what the next procedure is if they went 9-9). The other team would drop down to a wild-card position.

Now if let's say one of the two teams would miss the playoffs(for the sake of argument), then they would play a one-game playoff.

I imagine if the two wild-card teams tie, the h2h winner will get to host. And if there's a tie for the second spot then there would be a one-game playoff.

If theres a three way tie for the WC(or division), there has to be some complicated formula to break it).

I think the schedule ends on a Wednesday again and the WC "play-in" games are on a Friday, so MLB probably intends to play the one-game playoffs on that Thur. Really will help to have a great one-two duo in this case.

[hallas]

This doesn't address what happens if the top 3 wild-card finishers all have the same record, and are thus fighting for 2 spots.

Does the winner of game 1 automatically make it to the playoffs? Then the loser of game 1 must play a 2nd game against team C?

[Oriole85]

Just for quick reference so everyone is aware - here is where the O's stand against the other teams in the WC chase.

We are currently:

3-1 vs CHW (4 games left to play)
1-2 vs DET (3 games left to play)
2-7 vs LAA (0 games left to play)
3-3 vs OAK (3 games left to play)
6-6 vs TBR (6 games left to play)

We won't be winning a tiebreaker with the Angels, that's for sure. But for that second wild card spot, if we don't end up with a better record than the Angels, we hold an edge over the White Sox and have chances to have the advantage over every other team as well.

I wouldn't call it impossible with how this season has played out so far.

The Angels scare me the most then Texas. I'd much rather (hypothetically) play the Yankees or Red Sox on the road in a tiebreaker than the Angels in LA. Aside from the travel, they just seem to have our number and play us pretty well.

[Icterus galbula]

This doesn't address what happens if the top 3 wild-card finishers all have the same record, and are thus fighting for 2 spots.

Looks like you are correct.

I found this, which doesn't really answer the question either:
http://mlb.sbnation.... ... ls-pile-up

Add a third -- or fourth, or fifth -- team into the mix, and you have to play multiple games. It'd be even worse if one or more of those teams is tied for a division title as well as one of the wild-card spots.

No one from the commissioner's office has yet said anything about this possible mess. It's likely if anyone did, you'd hear embarrassed harrumphing instead of a viable solution, caused by trying to shoehorn the two additional wild-card teams into a season where the schedule was already set, instead of waiting for the 2013 realignment.

[Oriole85]

Looks like I was wrong, if both teams are tied for the division they'll play a tiebreaker game, even if they both qualify for the playoffs.

http://msn.foxsports...1-3-days-080912

[Mackus]

Looks like I was wrong, if both teams are tied for the division they'll play a tiebreaker game, even if they both qualify for the playoffs.

http://msn.foxsports...1-3-days-080912

Yeah, that makes sense to me. There is such a drastic benefit to winning the division over making the wild card that a playoff game seems right.

[Zwolfe0]

The Outside Corner had a very elaborate post on the possibility of teams having to play as many as 3 games just to get into the playoffs. I kind of like the idea of an elaborate, mini playoff situation for the play in games. Makes it seem more thorough?

[Oriole85]

Well MLB's idea is that the wild-card team in each league should be at a distinct disadvantage, whereas before it was only home-field in theory so it will be interesting to see how this evolves over the next few years. I know Brian Cashman said a few years ago that his number one priority was keeping the pitchers healthy for the postseason and the seed didn't matter as much as that. MLB is trying to put an end to that.