Baseball/White Sox question

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:11 pm

I'm confused as to how the White Sox clinched their division today (according to ESPN).

As of 9:00 pm Eastern they have a 3.5 game lead on the Indians with 3 games to play against Cleveland. Cleveland has 4 left including tonight's game against the Devil Rays (the Indians are winning big).

I can understand Chicago clinching a wild card spot at a minimum because NYY/Boston play each other the final weekend hence they both can't win all three remaining, but what happens if Cleveland wins tonight then sweeps the White Sox? They'd both finish with the same record.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:50 pm

Doesn't Chicago have the series lead against Cleveland this year?

If so, that may be why.

crazyhorse1 · Post by **crazyhorse1** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:51 am

That is why. Unless the final standings in a division affects the wild card choice, division winners, in case of identical records, are determined by their series records against one another rather than an additional playoff game.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:03 am

Then why are they reporting that the Yankees and Red Sox will have to play each other with tying Cleveland if all three tie?

Should the AL-East be decided the same way and just the two loser play each other?

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:11 am

JansenFan wrote:Then why are they reporting that the Yankees and Red Sox will have to play each other with tying Cleveland if all three tie?

Should the AL-East be decided the same way and just the two loser play each other?

Oh no I've gone cross eyed!

I don't care about baseball until my Javy plays for a team worth a damn. If the Orioles can turn their sorry butts around that would work but poor Javy may be stuck, and me with him.

Go Redsox! :cry:

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:03 pm

NikiH wrote:
JansenFan wrote:Then why are they reporting that the Yankees and Red Sox will have to play each other with tying Cleveland if all three tie?

Should the AL-East be decided the same way and just the two loser play each other?

Oh no I've gone cross eyed!

I don't care about baseball until my Javy plays for a team worth a damn. If the Orioles can turn their sorry butts around that would work but poor Javy may be stuck, and me with him.

Go Redsox!

The Orioles are a joke of a franchise and until Angelos is gone, I feel sorry for quality players/people like Javy.

Interesting article today:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal- ... &cset=true

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:18 pm

JansenFan wrote:Then why are they reporting that the Yankees and Red Sox will have to play each other with tying Cleveland if all three tie?

Should the AL-East be decided the same way and just the two loser play each other?

you're right. if the sox take two of three this weekend, they'll be statistically tied with the yankees, and will play a one game playoff for the division title, despite the fact that the yanks will have a 10-9 advatage head to head. yet if the indians sweep the white sox, they'll be statistically tied, but won't play a one game playoff because of the head to head record (which the sox own).

it gets better, though. if the sox, yanks and indians all end up with the same record, the sox and yanks play a one game playoff for the al east title, then the loser of that game plays the indians in a one game playoff for the wild card spot.

i'm still baffled by the whole thing. i think i'll just wait until it's all over and have someone explain it to me.

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:40 pm

What I was told on another board was that if Cleveland loses two or three (unlikely because Chicago will be resting players) and the Red Sox take two of three, the Yankees will be the division champs and the Red Sox will be the wild card due to the head to head.

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:16 pm

Lets go Los Angles Angels of Anaheim!!:lol:

Ok, the name sucks. But the stadium is cool