Not that this is LIKELY to happen, but I wanted to warn of a potential issue with tiebreakers in the Iron Horse division of the AL, that our tiebreaker system doesn't account for. Sorry about this; I don't know why I didn't vet that tiebreaker system more carefully when it first was composed.
It's possible for Halifax to sweep the Breakers (this has now happened), and Bedford to sweep Maine, in this final series leaving three teams in the Iron Horse tied at 91-71.
Our tiebreaker system provides:
5.0 TRHL Titles and The TRHL Playoffs
5.1 - Tiebreakers
5.1.1 - Except as set our below, all ties between teams will be broken using the following criteria:
5.1.1.1 - For two-way ties:
1. head to head records
2. intra-division records
3. coin toss
5.1.1.2 - For three-way (or greater) ties:
1. intra-division records
2. coin toss (the Commissioner has the ability to toss a three-sided coin)
5.2 - Division Champions - At the conclusion of the regular season, each Division will crown a Division Champion based on the total number of regular season wins.
5.2.1 - If two or more teams end the season tied with the highest total number of wins in a Division, ties shall be broken by the Tiebreaker in rule 5.1, unless one of the teams would not make the Playoffs under Rules 5.3 and 5.4.
5.2.1.1 - If two teams are tied, they will play a one-game head-to-head playoff to determine the Division Champion. The home team for the playoff will be determined by the Tiebreaker in Rule 5.1.
5.2.1.2 - If three teams are tied, end the season tied with the same total number of wins, the Tiebreaker will determine which team is the "Bye Team". The other two teams will play a one-game head-to-head playoff, with the home team to be determined by the two-team Tiebreaker. The winner of that game will then play a home game against the "Bye Team" to determine the Division Champion.
5.4 Wild Card Teams
5.4.1 - In each league, the two Wild Card teams are the two teams that are not Division Champions with the most regular season wins.
5.4.2 - If two or three teams end the season tied with the same total number of wins, ties will be broken in an identical manner to that prescribed under "Division Playoffs", above.
The problem is, here we have three teams tied for the division title and the same three teams tied for the second wild card spot. If we determine a division champ under 5.2.1.2, we then probably need to play ANOTHER playoff to determine the Wild Card winner.
I think it's the only fair way to do it; any other way means that the intra-division tiebreaker gives that team an automatic playoff entry without winning any playoff games. I think this isn't right. We don't have MLB's problems with scheduling, so I think we can easily play a third playoff game to determine a wild card winner.
However, if others disagree I am happy to discuss!
We (meaning I) should probably revise the Constitution in the offseason to make sure this is clearly spelled out.
Also, we need to revise to clarify that playoff games are part of the regular season and that regular season PT limits (curses!) continue to apply (and, I think, that each playoff game is to be considered a new series for the purposes of farming players). And we should clarify that for owners as well, I imagine.
(Also, I looked up the MLB solution. I think theirs is stupid (but necessary because of scheduling): play one playoff to eliminate one team, and then the winner gets to play off for the division with the loser getting the wild card:
(MLB three-teams-for-one-division-and-one-wild-card tiebreaker follows)
Quote
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 on Thursday, October 4th (tentatively). The winner of that game would then host Club C on Friday, October 5th (tentatively) to determine the Division Champion. The loser of the game would be declared the Wild Card Club.
