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Friday, September 28, 2007

MLB.com: Races could reach dizzying heights

Brace yourself. That is the message Major League Baseball essentially sent everyone on the final Thursday of this unforgettable regular season, holding further coin tosses due to four- or even five-way playoff tiebreaker scenarios that have emerged.
...
Turner Broadcasting, already geared up for its first autumn of broadcasting an MLB postseason (all Division Series and the National League Championship Series), would televise any playoff tiebreakers on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday or even Thursday, if necessary. Turner would utilize TBS and TNT, as necessary, if multiple tiebreakers are played.
...
If there’s a four-way tie among the Mets, Phillies, D-Backs and Padres:

• The Mets and Phillies would play in Philly on Monday to crown the East champ.
• The Friars and Snakes would go at it Monday in Arizona for the NL West crown.
• Monday’s losing teams would play Tuesday to decide the Wild Card. The Diamondbacks would have to go to Philly or New York. The Padres would either host the Phils or travel to New York. If the Rockies were in the mix here, they’d host either way.

NTNgod Posted: September 28, 2007 at 12:19 AM | 10 comment(s)
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1. Craig K Posted: September 28, 2007 at 12:29 AM (#2547542)

My dream is for there one day to be a 16-team tie in a league with everyone going 81-81.

The cerebral hemmhorages from the MLB front offices alone would be worth it.us

2. E., Hinske Posted: September 28, 2007 at 12:32 AM (#2547548)

Sadly, the dream is about to be dead.

3. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: September 28, 2007 at 12:49 AM (#2547582)

My dream is for there one day to be a 16-team tie in a league with everyone going 81-81.

The cerebral hemmhorages from the MLB front offices alone would be worth it.us

On Monday, one team in the NL East and one team in the NL West gets a "bye". Seven playoff games are played.

On Tuesday, three more playoff games are played. Three teams get "byes".

On Wednesday, there are three more games for the division titles.

Then Thursday, there are six playoff games, one team getting a "bye". On Friday, there are three more playoff games with another team getting a "bye".

Friday, there are two playoff games.

Then Saturday, there is a playoff game for the NL Wild Card.

Sunday, the division series starts in the NL... while both AL Division Series may already be over. The ALCS is going on while both NLDS' are still going on, in all likelihood. The ALCS is over before the NLCS begins. The AL champion has perhaps more than a week off before the World Series starts.

Fun.

4. With 17th Pick, From LA, 1k5v3L KcoLLoP Posted: September 28, 2007 at 12:54 AM (#2547587)

In the end, I'm sure every division race will sort itself out on the last day or the regular season and no pre-playoff playoff games will be played. Just like everything else that MLB tries to hype as the "next big thing", this "5 way tie" is going to be a huge and disastrous flop (like the all star game tie).

5. Bowling Baseball Fan Posted: September 28, 2007 at 01:01 AM (#2547595)

There has got to be very good odds of some tie somewhere. Its got to be close to a sure thing. I would bet on it.

6. Eraser-X is emphatically dominating teh site!!! Posted: September 28, 2007 at 01:03 AM (#2547598)

Well, there will likely be ties, but there's a reasonable chance that those ties will be between teams not going anywhere.

7. Templeusox has reached his genetic threshold Posted: September 28, 2007 at 01:11 AM (#2547602)

All I hope for is the most convoluted scenario possible...and that the Padres don't make the playoffs.

8. In 2005, I named my pet turtle Melky Cabrera (zop) Posted: September 28, 2007 at 01:12 AM (#2547603)

There has got to be very good odds of some tie somewhere. Its got to be close to a sure thing. I would bet on it.

From Clay Davenport's Postseason Odds report, as of this morning:

"5.3% chance of a four-way tie, and a 0.8% chance of a five-way tie. The four-and five-way ties would both mean ties for division titles
as well."

Given tonights results, I'd guess the odds must have gone up...so greater than a 6% chance of a 4 or 5 team tie. That's higher than I would have expected.

9. Biff. You know, for kids! Posted: September 28, 2007 at 01:42 AM (#2547616)

Given tonights results, I'd guess the odds must have gone up...so greater than a 6% chance of a 4 or 5 team tie. That's higher than I would have expected.

Well, there's no longer any chance of the 5-team tie, as the Rockies and DBacks can't possibly end the season tied.

10. Dan Evensen Posted: September 28, 2007 at 03:36 PM (#2548188)

I seem to remember something in "The Unforgettable Season" about a gambling plot to make the 1908 NL end in a 3-way tie. Don't have the book on hand, so I can't give you a direct quote, but the 2007 NL reminds me of that.

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MLB.com: Races could reach dizzying heights

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