Magic number is a term used in Major League Baseball (MLB) to refer to the number of wins a team must achieve in order to guarantee a post-season berth. It is calculated using the number of wins the team has and the number of wins the team’s closest rival has. The magic number is determined by subtracting the rival’s win total from the team’s win total. For example, if a team has 95 wins and its closest rival has 90 wins, the magic number would be 5. This means that if the team wins 5 more games, it will clinch a post-season berth.
How Does the Magic Number Work?
The magic number works by determining how many more wins a team needs in order to clinch a post-season berth. As mentioned above, this is done by subtracting the win total of the closest rival from the team’s win total. As such, if a team has 95 wins and its closest rival has 90 wins, the magic number would be 5. This means that if the team wins 5 more games, it will clinch a post-season berth.
The magic number is updated after each game, as the win totals of the teams are adjusted accordingly. If a team’s closest rival wins, its magic number increases. On the other hand, if the team’s closest rival loses, its magic number decreases. As such, when a team’s closest rival loses, the team’s magic number decreases, usually by one.
The Impact of Tie-Breakers
In the event of a tie, tie-breakers are used to decide which team is awarded the post-season berth. The tie-breakers are based on head-to-head records, divisional records, and overall records. If a team wins the tie-breaker, its magic number decreases, usually by one. On the other hand, if a team loses the tie-breaker, its magic number increases.
What Happens When the Magic Number Reaches Zero?
When a team’s magic number reaches zero, it means that the team has clinched a post-season berth. At this point, the team is guaranteed to make the playoffs and the number is no longer relevant.
Conclusion
The magic number is a term used in Major League Baseball to refer to the number of wins a team must achieve in order to guarantee a post-season berth. It is calculated by subtracting the win total of the closest rival from the team’s win total. The magic number is updated after each game, as the win totals of the teams are adjusted accordingly. When a team’s magic number reaches zero, it means that the team has clinched a post-season berth and the number is no longer relevant.