Magic Number

[BrentD22]

Trying to figure out which one works...

 

I've gotten 2 different formula's. Which is correct?

 

162+1- 1st Place Team Wins - 2nd Place Team Wins = M#

 

OR

 

Games Left +1 = X / X -games ahead in loss column = M#

 

Which one is correct? Both give me different M#'s?

[ARod2212]

http://baseball.about.com/od/glossary/g/Magic_Number.htm

Examples: A formula to calculate the magic number is: (MAGIC NUMBER = G + 1 - WA -LB) where G is the total number of games in the season, WA is the number of wins team "A" has in the season & LB is the number of losses team "B" has in the season. (Let's say Team A is 96-58 & Team B is 93-62). The magic number for team "A" to win the division is (162 + 1- 96 - 62 = 5). Any combination of wins by team "A" and losses by team "B" totalling 5 makes it impossible for team "B" to win the division title.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

http://baseball.about.com/od/glossary/g/Magic_Number.htm

That formula is not entirely accurate.. When applied to a divisional race : if a team in first has a better head to head record against the second place team, then the +1 part of the formula is not needed due to tie breaking rules.

[BrentD22]

I've seen that formula and several others. How do we know which one is the right one.

[ARod2212]

That formula is not entirely accurate.. When applied to a divisional race : if a team in first has a better head to head record against the second place team, then the +1 part of the formula is not needed due to tie breaking rules.

Head to head record means squat if the playoffs are on the line. 1978 is the prime example, and more recently 1995 with California and Seattle and the Mets and Reds in 1999 I believe.

[Sizzlin22]

You could jsut look at my sig.