How playoff tiebreaker works in MLB

[harvey16]

With the race for the AL East title so close I was curious to see how the tiebreaker rules work. Did not realize in a 3 way tie for the division that the top team gets to choose their match up (designation A, B or C), interesting! Jays would get to choose their designation based on us currently having the best record between the potential tied team's (Boston ,Baltimore and Toronto).

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/59527184/playoff-tiebreaker-rules/

[baseballsss]

With the race for the AL East title so close I was curious to see how the tiebreaker rules work. Did not realize in a 3 way tie for the division that the top team (designation A) gets to choose their match up, interesting! Jays would get the A designation based on us currently having the best record between the potential tied team (Boston ,Baltimore and Toronto).

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/59527184/playoff-tiebreaker-rules/

 

I don't get it? If there was a 3 way tie everyone has the same record then? So is it best record vs both teams?

[jaysfan2014]

At this point, it's not out of the question a 3-way tie happens.. Toronto, Boston and Baltimore are basically deadlocked. All 3 are well into a postseason berth.. leading by 3.0-4.0 games in the standings for the wild card.

[harvey16]

I don't get it? If there was a 3 way tie everyone has the same record then? So is it best record vs both teams?

 

The team with the best record in only the games involving the tied teams would be ranked accordingly. Currently Jays are 14-12 (7-6 vs both Bos and Bal). Bos and Bal are tied with 12-13 records (they are 6-6 against each other so far). Crazy tight even in common games!

[Jonn]

Let's hope it never comes to this

[CBlake]

At least they are using using head to head etc now to figure it all out rather than coin flips which they did previously up to 2008.

 

Tiebreakers have been played 11 times in the past. A three or more team tiebreaker has never been needed but it has been close in the past.

 

I don't know what happened in the past but how the heck would a team handle ticket sales for one of these? All you have to look at is see that the Jays last series of the season is at Boston. For instance the Blue Jays FO could very likely have no idea they are hosting a game the next day until 7 pm Sunday night.

[Terminator]

What does choosing a designation mean?

[ChrisS]

Three-Club Tie for Division Championship & One Wild Card Spot:

After Clubs have been assigned their A, B and C designations, Club A would host Club B. The winner of that game would then host Club C to determine the Division Champion. The loser of the game would be declared the Wild Card Club.

 

Three-Club Tie for Division Championship & Two Wild Card Spots:

After Clubs have been assigned their A, B and C designations, Club A would host Club B. The loser of the game would be declared one Wild Card Club. The winner of that game would then host Club C to determine the Division Champion. The loser of the game would be declared the other Wild Card Club.

[harvey16]

Three-Club Tie for Division Championship & One Wild Card Spot:

After Clubs have been assigned their A, B and C designations, Club A would host Club B. The winner of that game would then host Club C to determine the Division Champion. The loser of the game would be declared the Wild Card Club.

 

Three-Club Tie for Division Championship & Two Wild Card Spots:

After Clubs have been assigned their A, B and C designations, Club A would host Club B. The loser of the game would be declared one Wild Card Club. The winner of that game would then host Club C to determine the Division Champion. The loser of the game would be declared the other Wild Card Club.

 

So basically if you had a choice you would choose "C" since you would only need to win one game to get the division, only drawback is you would have to win that game on the road. IMO, designation C should get homefield, cause now you have to choose between trying to win a single game on the road or possibly 2 at home if you choose designation "A". Strange setup.

[ChrisS]

So basically if you had a choice you would choose "C" since you would only need to win one game to get the division. Both "A" and "B" must win 2 games. Order of preference would be C, then A, then B

 

It doesnt make sense, assuming "A" is the better seed. Replacing "A" with "C" would be better.

[harvey16]

It doesnt make sense, assuming "A" is the better seed. Replacing "A" with "C" would be better.

 

It doesn't work that way. The better seed gets to pick what designation they want. So they can be either A, B or C, it's their choice. 2nd seed picks next and 3rd seed gets whatever is left.

 

The "C" designation should get homefield though, they shouldn't have to choose between winning only 1 on the road or potentially winning 2 at home. "C" should be hosting the winner of the "A" vs "B" game.

[UWHabs]

It doesn't work that way. The better seed gets to pick what designation they want. So they can be either A, B or C, it's their choice. 2nd seed picks next and 3rd seed gets whatever is left.

 

The "C" designation should get homefield though, they shouldn't have to choose between winning only 1 on the road or potentially winning 2 at home. "C" should be hosting the winner of the "A" vs "B" game.

 

If they had 1 game plus homefield, that gives too much of an edge. Your "penalty" for only having to play 1 game is that you have to play it on the road. More fair that way.

[Terminator]

The "C" designation should get homefield though, they shouldn't have to choose between winning only 1 on the road or potentially winning 2 at home. "C" should be hosting the winner of the "A" vs "B" game.

 

I don't know about that. It's just supposed to be a tiebreaker among equal teams, not necessarily tip the scales so dramatically to one team over the others. If they gave C home field advantage for the single game they have to win then A would have to win a home and away and B would have to win two roads games. It's weird and there is probably no perfect way to do it but I think it's an alright setup.

[RealAccountant]

I am surprised that Boston lost two in a row to Tampa

 

Shows you that all teams have their strength and their weaknesses.

[baseballsss]

A basically gets screwed cause they will have to use pitchers in game one and two.

 

Mide as well run with the coin flip