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So, Yanks and Phils not in playoff?! Math, logic, and common sense analysis

halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭
Combination of math, logic, and common sense:

In a best 2 games out of 3 series (call it x out of y), there are six ways that the series can play out: WW, LL, LWW, WLW, WLL, AND LWL.

In a best 3 out of 5, there are 20 ways this can occur such as WWW, LLL, etc.

In a best 4 out of 7, there are 70 ways: WWWW, LLLL, etc.

70 is a big gap from 20. A 5-game series is too much of a crapshoot, as it marginalizes the regular season. I am not saying that the Cards and/or Tigers would have lost, but if they had won it would have had more equity.

If there are any math weenies on the board, the following combinatorial analysis will achieve the desired result:

Best (x out of y) = C (y+1 , x)

Have fun,

Greg

Comments

  • EstilEstil Posts: 7,058 ✭✭✭✭
    The moral of that story (and this seems to be true more and more in recent years) is that anything can happen in the postseason. I mean, look at all the different WS and league champs we've had since 2001.

    So much for the idea that we need a salary cap or luxury tax...
    WISHLIST
    D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
    Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
    74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
    73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
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  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Of course, we obviously don't need any sort of fair system. Teams like Oakland, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Milwaukee, etc.. are known for putting together long runs of success year after year. This year the Brewers made it to the NLCS. And now, they will lose Prince Fielder. Just like they lost Sabathia after their last trip to the playoffs. If a small market team does things perfectly, yes they can compete. But that's about the only way. And they won't compete for long. What's going to happen when a person of the wealth of a Warren Buffett or Bill Gates decides they want a championship team and money is no object? So, even if the team loses a billion dollars it is of no consequence. Gates could buy the Pirates today and have a championship team by next season by having a $350 million salary. Is that what we want? I'd rather a cap. I have nothing against the Yankees or Red Sox winning a World Series. I'd like to see them do it under the same restraints as the Royals.
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