Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pucc-i Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CS-Mordred!Pucc-H:Pucc-I:ags From: ags@pucc-i (Seaman) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Tigers' magic number Message-ID: <387@pucc-i> Date: Mon, 6-Aug-84 15:30:45 EDT Article-I.D.: pucc-i.387 Posted: Mon Aug 6 15:30:45 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Aug-84 19:18:57 EDT References: <1435@ucbvax.UUCP> <380@pucc-i> <559@noscvax.UUCP> Organization: Purdue University Computing Center Lines: 29 > Quoted from the '84 Detroit Tigers Score Book and Official Program: > > "To determine the 'magic number' in a pennant race, compute > the number ot games yet to be played, add one, then subract > the number of games ahead in the loss column of the standings, > from the closest opponent." If you apply that formula today, it tells you what Detroit needs to finish ahead of Toronto in the final standings. It does not guarantee that Detroit will finish any higher than sixth (with Toronto seventh). Incidentally, there is an even easier formula: Magic Number = GS + 1 - W1 - L2 where: GS = games in season = 162 W1 = games won by first-place team L2 = games lost by second-place team. The "official" version appears to involve L1 (= games lost by first-place team), but this number appears twice and cancels out: "Official" Magic Number = (Games Left) + 1 - (Difference in Losses) = (GS - W1 - L1) + 1 - (L2 - L1) = GS + 1 - W1 - L2. -- Dave Seaman My hovercraft is no longer full of ..!pur-ee!pucc-i:ags eels (thanks to my confused cat).