Well, the American League East pennant race is apparently over, with one game to spare. The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-4 on the Sox home turf.
Randy Johnson pitched 7 1/3 innings for the win, giving up a home run to Manny Ramirez. On the offensive side, Matsui and A-Rod each had solo shots.
My main purpose of putting this up is a question, How did the Yankee's clinch? I honestly do not understand, is there some sort of new math, or baseball math I don't know about?
Let's take a look at the case. Going into Friday night's game, the Yankees led the AL East by 1 game over the Red Sox. After the Red Sox win, 5-3, the two teams were tied atop the division with 2 games left. With the Yankees win today the Bombers went up by one.
The records look like this: Yankees 95-66, Red Sox 94-67. There is one game left, meaning if the Red Sox win, their records will be identical. With an identical record still possible, how can it be that the Yankees have clinched? I would understand if they said clinched a tie, or clinched a playoff berth, but all the reports are saying they clinched the division.
I don't understand it. Does this mean that if the Sox win tomorrow and the records are even, they still come in second? Wouldn't there have to be a one game playoff to determine the winner?
I'm not a fan of either team, so I don't really have a vested interest either way, but it just does not make sense to me. The math just doesn't add up.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
If the Sox and Yanks had the same record, there would be no need for a one-game playoff because they would both make the playoffs. And if the Sox win tomorrow, the Yankees will still have won the season head-to-head record 10 games to 9.
2 - Chris Beaumont
I still don't buy the Sox being a second place team with the exact same record as the first place team, irregardless of the season series between the two.
The season series, to me doesn't really have a bearing on the big picture of the season and their overall records.
Whatever will be, will be.... :)
3 - bhw
The Yankees won the NY-Boston head-to-head matchup for the season. That's the tie-breaker if two teams have an identical regular season record.
It works the same way in the NFL, I believe.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
There's no point in having a playoff between two teams that will make the playoffs.
Only if the Indians also had the same record would all hell break loose. The Yanks/Sox would have played for the AL East, then the loser of that would play for the Wild Card. But that can't happen now.
NFL tiebreakers can get really detailed.
5 - bhw
That 3-team playoff thing would have been a lot more fun.
6 - John G.
I'm a Yankee fan so using the head to head tie breaker is great and just, but is it? If I put myself in Bostons place I don't think I'd feel the same. But it has to end somehow. What a shame, 10 to 9 what a season. I didn't think the Yankees would do it, their middle relief has been so bad, will this backfire on them. Is this just a bigger embarrassment, I hope not.
7 - Victor Lana
As I write this, Boston is winning 7-0. If Boston wins, they have exactly the same records.
Oh, I HATE THE YANKEES.
Anyway, the idea that the Yankees clinch because they beat Boston head to head during the season is ridiculous.
Oh, I HATE THE YANKEES.
I am praying that the Angels (get it?) get some heavenly inspiration and kick those Yankee butts into hades so that it's over toot sweet.
Oh, by the way, I HATE THE YANKEES.
This is the most overrated bunch of players ever. As a Mets fan (and I love the team win or lose) the thing that bothers me most is the arrogance of the team and its fans.
Anyone who has ever heard a Yankee radio broadcast knows what I mean. John Sterling is obnoxious and the Yankee fans love him.
Awarding the Yankees the division win is just another example of favoritism. I have never heard that the division is decided by the head to head games played during the year (if there is a tie). This is absurd.
8 - scott
for one "irregardless" isn't a word.
two, if neither team were going to win the wild card there would be a one game playoff provided they finished with the same record. but since cleveland choked big time at home, they base it on head to head records with the "loser" getting the wild card.
there's no favoritism. look it up.
9 - scott
oh and yes, john sterling is obnoxious and his little kiss-butt sidekick chicky friend is almost as bad but not all yankee fans love him - just the fun he has with his catchphrase. "yankees win! theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee yankees win!"
they are a bunch of overpaid bunch of hacks but they're still good players. if a-rod gets over the postseason choke-itis, the title goes back to the bronx in '06.