If there is a three-way tie

by taco pal on Sep 28, 2009 4:13 PM EDT Comment 4 comments

So there's a real possibility that we will end this season in a three-way tie with both the Dodgers *and* the Cardinals for best record in the NL. If Baseball Reference is to be believed (and if I'm reading it correctly), then we will get homefield throughout. The Dodgers will get the "3" seed and ~~be our opponents in the first round~~ [edit: start the DS round on the road against the Cardinals, while we play the Rockies - unless of course the Braves catch the Rockies, in which case we will open against the Dodgers at home].

The tied Club that has a better record against both of the other Division champions during the championship season will be deemed to have the higher winning percentage. The tie between the two remaining Clubs shall be broken as follows:

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 Club 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.

If none of the three tied Clubs has a better record against both of the other Division champions during the championship season, then the Club deemed to have the higher winning percentage shall be:

The tied Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition among the tied Clubs during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club 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.

Maybe I'm just distracted here, but I'm finding that rule to be completely inscrutable. So somebody check my work.

Here's how the season series (serieses?) between the three teams went this year:

Dodgers 4 - Phillies 3
Phillies 4 - Cardinals 1
Cardinals 5 - Dodgers 2

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Related to this, I guess, is that for all intents and purposes, the Cardinals have to play a full game better than the Phillies, since the Phillies have the tiebreaker?

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 28, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes. And we have to play a full game better than the Dodgers – unless we tie them and the Cardinals tie them, in which case we don’t.

by taco pal on Sep 28, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about against the braves?

who gets the tie break (new rule this year, whoever wins the season series gets home for the one game playoff)

by Halos in DE on Sep 29, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay, so reading this through...

You’re right. The first tiebreak is if a team beat BOTH other division champions. That didn’t happen.

So you jump down to that last paragraph – winning percentage against other division champions.

Phillies- 7/12
Cardinals – 6/12
Dodgers – 6/14

I didn’t bother with the exact percentages because looking at it this way makes the answer evident. The Phillies finished over .500, so they get 1st. Then the tiebreaker between the Dodgers and Cardinals is the head to head between the two. Cardinals 2nd, Dodgers 3rd.

@Halos – If the Braves are involved, they’d have to determine who won the East first. Winner goes through the whole process outlined above. Loser is either WC or goes home.

by Aphilfan on Sep 29, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs