Fire up the toaster!

[Bob78164]

The Chicago White Sox have lost 94 games so they cannot win more than 68 games. Cleveland has already won 72 games so Chicago cannot win the American League Central Division. The Yankees and the Orioles each have won at least 72 games so the White Sox will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. Minnesota has won 70 games. Kansas City has won 68 games and has clinched the season series against Chicago. The White Sox will therefore finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

This year, winter in Chicago starts in August. The White Sox have been toastified. --Bob

[jarnon]

Bob, examine the sorry state of the Rockies, including their head-to-head record against the Braves and Mets (sorry, Sprots). At least they survived till September. The Marlins will be next.

[Bob78164]

Bob, examine the sorry state of the Rockies, including their head-to-head record against the Braves and Mets (sorry, Sprots). At least they survived till September. The Marlins will be next.

I did. They can still win a 3-way head-to-head-to-head, which is still possible to achieve. --Bob

[littlebeast13]

Bob, examine the sorry state of the Rockies, including their head-to-head record against the Braves and Mets (sorry, Sprots). At least they survived till September. The Marlins will be next.

I did. They can still win a 3-way head-to-head-to-head, which is still possible to achieve. --Bob

In such a scenario:

Atlanta would be 6-7 against the Mets and 1-5 against the Rockies = 7-12 combined record.

New York would be 7-6 against the Braves and 4-2 against the Rockies = 11-8 combined record (.579 winning percentage)

Colroado would be 5-1 against the Braves and 2-4 against the Mets = 7-5 combined record (.583 winning percentage)

Impossible to believe, but true. And bring back the Game 163's.....

lb13

[jarnon]

I thought that in a 3-way tie, if one team wins the head-to-head against each of the others, they get the wild card regardless of percentages. Don’t give up on your Mets!

[Bob78164]

I thought that in a 3-way tie, if one team wins the head-to-head against each of the others, they get the wild card regardless of percentages. Don’t give up on your Mets!

You're correct. The Mets would win a 3-way tie.

However, to be sure, I'd have to examine all of the possible 4+-way ties, of which there are far too many to count. --Bob

[jarnon]

Thanks for explaining this. The Rockies lose every 4-way tie. There is a 5-way tie with the Giants and Cardinals where Colorado has the best percentage. Hang in there Rockies!

[Bob78164]

Colorado has lost 87 games so the Rockies cannot win more than 75 games. Los Angeles has won 83 games so Colorado cannot win the National League Western Division. The Padres and the Diamondbacks each have won at least 77 games so the Rockies will finish behind two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. Philadelphia has won 81 games. The Mets and the Braves each have won 74 games and they have 3 games remaining against each other, so at least one of those two teams will win at least 76 games and the Rockies will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division.

Winter is here for Colorado. The Rockies have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Miami has lost 86 games so the Marlins cannot win more than 76 games. Philadelphia has won 81 games so Miami cannot win the National League Eastern Division. The Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks each have won at least 77 games so the Marlins will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. The Mets and Atlanta each have won 74 games and they have 3 games remaining against each other, so at least one of those two teams will win at least 76 games. Miami cannot win any tiebreaker involving either the Mets or the Braves, so the Marlins will finish behind at least one additional non-division winner.

Fishing season is over and hurricane season has begun. Miami has been toastified. --Bob

[SportsFan68]

Bob, examine the sorry state of the Rockies, including their head-to-head record against the Braves and Mets (sorry, Sprots). At least they survived till September. The Marlins will be next.

Apology not necessary, we're terrible.

We're almost as bad as Randomax Rocks!

[Bob78164]

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have lost 86 games so they cannot win more than 76 games. Houston has won 77 games so Los Angeles of Anaheim cannot win the American League Western Division.

The Yankees and the Orioles each have won 83 games so the Angels will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. Cleveland, Kansas City, and Minnesota all have won at least 77 games so Los Angeles of Anaheim will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

No point to checking out any outfields in October. The Angels have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Washington has lost 81 games so the Nationals cannot win more than 81 games. Philadelphia has won 88 games so Washington cannot win the National League Eastern Division. The Dodgers, the Padres, and the Diamondbacks each have won at least 82 games, so the Nationals will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. The Mets have won 80 games, the Braves have won 79 games, and New York and Atlanta have 3 games remaining against each other, so either one of those teams will win at least 82 games or both teams will win exactly 81 games. The Nationals cannot win any possible tie-break that includes both the Mets and the Braves, so they will finish behind at least one additional non-division winner.

I cannot tell a lie. Washington has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Oakland has lost 85 games so the As cannot win more than 77 games. Houston has won 81 games so Oakland cannot win the American League Western Division. The Yankees and Orioles each have won at least 84 games so the As will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. Cleveland, Kansas City, and Minnesota each have won at least 79 games so Oakland will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

Is Oakland sure it wants to keep major league baseball? The As have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Pittsburgh has lost 79 games so the Pirates cannot win more than 83 games. Milwaukee has won 87 games so Pittsburgh cannot win the National League Central Division.

The Phillies have won 90 games. The Mets have won 83 games, the Braves have won 81 games, and the Mets and Braves have 3 games remaining against each other, so at least one of those two teams will win at least 84 games and the Pirates will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division.

Los Angeles and San Diego each have won at least 86 games so Pittsburgh will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Western Division. The Diamondbacks have won 83 games and the Pirates cannot win any tiebreak that includes the Diamondbacks, so the Pirates will finish behind at least one additional non-division winner.

They didn't quite make it to Talk Like a Pirate Day. Pittsburgh has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Cincinnati has lost 79 games so the Reds cannot win more than 83 games. Milwaukee has won 87 games so Cincinnati cannot win the National League Central Division. The Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks each have won at least 84 games so the Reds will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. Philadelphia has won 90 games. The Mets have won 83 games, the Braves have won 82 games, and the two teams have three games remaining against each other, so at least one of them will win at least 84 games and the Reds will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division.

It has not been a good year for teams with stadiums on the Ohio River. Cincinnati has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the National League Central Division champion Milwaukee Brewers. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the New York Yankees, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Cleveland Guardians, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[Bob78164]

San Francisco has lost 79 games so the Giants cannot win more than 83 games. Los Angeles has won 90 games so San Francisco cannot win the National League Western Division. The Padres and the Diamondbacks each have won at least 84 games so the Giants will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. New York and Philadelphia each have won at least 84 games so San Francisco will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division.

No title this year for the long-time home of the Say Hey Kid. The Giants have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies, who have clinched a postseason berth. —Bob

[Bob78164]

Toronto has lost 82 games so the Blue Jays cannot win more than 80 games. The Yankees have won 90 games so the Blue Jays cannot win the American League Central Division. The Orioles have won 86 games so the Blue Jays will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Central Division. Cleveland, Kansas City, Minnesota, and Detroit all have won at least 81 games so Toronto will finish behind at least three non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

Has hockey season started yet? Toronto has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Texas has lost 82 games so the Rangers cannot win more than 80 games. Houston has won 85 games so Texas cannot win the
American League Western Division. The Yankees and Orioles each have won at least 86 games so the Rangers will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. Cleveland, Kansas City, Minnesota, and Detroit all have won at least 81 games so Texas will finish behind at least three non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

Texas has met its Alamo. The Rangers have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

St. Louis has lost 77 games so the Cardinals cannot win more than 85 games. Milwaukee has won 88 games so St. Louis cannot win the National League Central Division. The Phillies and the Mets each have won at least 86 games so the Cardinals will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Arizona each have won at least 87 games so St. Louis will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division.

Cry me a river along the Mississippi. The Cardinals have been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Chicago has lost 76 games so the Cubs cannot win more than 86 games. Milwaukee has won 88 games so Chicago cannot win the National League Central Division. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Arizona each have won at least 87 games so Chicago will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the National League Western Division. Philadelphia has won 92 games. The Mets have won 86 games and the Cubs cannot win any tie-break that can still occur that includes the Mets, so the Cubs will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the National League Eastern Division.

The South Side of Chicago finally has company on the sidelines. The Cubs have been toastified. --Bob