Well, there are 162 games in a season so that's a good starting point. It would be impossible for two teams in the same division to win 162 games (they have to play each other). It is possible for one team to win 162 and another to lose 162 games, but it's the difference between the first place and second place teams that makes the difference. IE: If Toronto passes NY, then you take Toronto losses into accout. The formula is simply enough. 162-FIRSTPLACEwins-SECONDPLACElosses. But nobody really thinks about this stuff until the September. Also of note, if the second place team has a winning record against the first place team, add 1 to the magic number. (Which is why I corrected the MN from 15 to 16.)
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prowler1971) wrote2005-09-15 05:59 am
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Every time the Red Sox win, it goes down 1. Every time the Yankees loses, it goes down 1. It doesn't go up.
You hear more talk about the Cardinals magic number right now... it's 2.
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