In MLB history, there have been 12 single game tiebreakers. They all brought the anticipation and nerves of a playoff matchup even though they were regular-season games. But game No. 163 is now history.
MLB has expanded its playoff format, which launched in October. MLB realized that there was not enough time on the calendar for ties to be broken in this extra-game fashion. If 162 games don’t suffice to determine the 12-team field, then a set tiebreaking rules will be used. This will not only decide seeding but also who is eligible for the postseason. This means that your favorite team’s series played in the first half of the season could have an impact on its playoff chances.
“It’s going be a big deal when everybody (the fans) wakes and realizes what is going on.” Milwaukee Brewers Craig Counsell was the manager.
Counsell’s team could be directly affected, as Milwaukee is currently outside the last wild card berth in National League. San Diego Padres For the final playoff spot. However, the Brewers will have a challenge this year as they lost their season series 4-3 to the Padres. This means that if both teams finish with the exact same record, San Diego will be in and Milwaukee out.
Counsell stated that “We completed games against them in… early June.” We were aware at the time that there were 110 games remaining. There’s little to be done.
Counsell stated, “We knew the rule.” Counsell stated, “Everyone knew the rule…They didn’t think it was possible to fit a tiebreaker into the schedule.”
While the league is aware of some of the emotions that might arise if a team is eliminated in a series around Memorial Day, the league believes the trade-off of more teams for a playoff spot makes it worth it.
Morgan Sword (executive vice president of baseball operations), stated that “we are excited that more fans will get the chance to experience postseason Baseball this year as part a expanded playoff format.” “Due to increased postseason games, it was necessary to ensure that the regular seasons would be completed on time.
The postseason format was clearly defined in the recent collective bargaining agreement. However, there is still some flexibility regarding the tiebreaker rules. This will allow the league the opportunity to evaluate the impact and make necessary adjustments if necessary. New rules could result in more emphasis being placed on head to head matchups, as both players and teams are aware of the stakes.
“If they beat me more than we beat them it should go to them. So I’m completely fine with the rule.” St. Louis Cardinals Oliver Marmol was the manager. “Our job it to win, so if someone did that more well than us, then we go home.”
Next year, each team will play just 13 games in its division. The new format has already shown the importance of beating other teams in intraleague matches with playoff hopes.
“When we played Padres it wasn’t like we placed more emphasis on winning those games than any other games.” Philadelphia Phillies Dave Dombrowski was the president of baseball operations. “But, after we won, we did talk about how big this series might become.”
The Phillies are currently ahead of the Padres at the NL wild card race. While both teams may get in, home-field advantage is determined by tiebreaker system if they have the same record after 162. It means that the loser in tiebreaker will not get a home match in the best of three first round.
Philadelphia won their season series against San Diego (4-3), and Milwaukee (4-2), so Philadelphia would win any tiebreakers. The Brewers are now aware of the task ahead: defeat the opponent above them by at most one game to remove the tiebreaker. It will be a sad end to their season.
Counsell said, “You treat each game as an important and significant game, but there is a game every day.” You must keep both concepts in your mind every day.
What do the new tiebreakers look like?
These are the five tiebreaker rules, as these new procedures have already had an impact on the homestretch this season.
Head-to-head record: Self-explanatory. Tiebreakers are won if more teams tie. The team with the highest combined win percentage against other teams wins.
Intradivision record If the head to head records are tied (this would only occur between wild-card teams who played an even number of games), then the winner is the one with the best record in each division.
Interdivision record: If the tiebreakers do not resolve the issue, the next one rates records within the leagues of the teams but does not include their own divisions.
Second-half intraleague game: If the teams are still tied at this point, the winning percentage of each league’s final 81 games will determine the winner.
Second-half intraleague game plus one (or more). If teams are still tied after four tiebreakers have been completed, then the winner will be decided by going backwards to the end of the first-half intraleague match until the tie is broken.
The league does not have an answer for extreme situations, such as five-team tie. These situations are covered by a clause that allows for the “commissioner’s discretion”. Rob Manfred could choose which team goes to the postseason, but this scenario is unlikely.
What does this all mean for the season’s races
This season is full of close races, so tiebreakers might be an option. However, it is unlikely that you will need to use more tiebreakers in any situation this year. Let’s look at the impact of the new procedures on some of the most exciting divisional and playoff races.
National League East The New York Mets Take the lead in the season series Atlanta Braves 9-7. 9-7. The probable No. The 2nd seed will be granted a bye. The loser hosts a first-round playoff series.
NL Wild As we have already stated, the Brewers lose a tiebreaker against both the Phillies (and the Padres) while Philadelphia wins one over San Diego.
American League Central It’s a three-team match between the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox And Minnesota TwinsThe postseason will be decided by the losers, who are most likely not included in the final.
The White Sox have the chance to change that script, even though they currently lose tiebreakers against both teams. To win the season series, they will need to sweep the Guardians in Chicago. They are currently 6-7 against the Twins with six games remaining.
Minnesota must win at least one more game to defeat Minnesota in the Division Title race. Minnesota has already won its season series against the Twins.
AL Wild: This is the place where a tie can have the greatest chance of being formed. This is where a tie has the best chance of occurring. Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays And Tampa Bay Rays For all three wild-card spots, they are neck and neck.
The Mariners tiebreaker wins with the Blue Jays, but the Rays loses one. With four games remaining, Tampa Bay is leading the series 8-7 with Toronto.
The new system, and the elimination game No. 163 will be headline-worthy if head-to–head records are used to bounce players out of the playoffs or give a bye to division winners. There are still many possibilities this year.