Tournament Task: Part 1

July 3, 2019

 

With the season over 60 % complete, it’s not too early to look forward just a bit to the MCBL post-season tournament. With this post, we’ll look at what it takes to get into the post-season tournament. In a future post, we’ll look at what it takes to make it to the finals of the post-season.

 

Looking at the past nine seasons, 54 teams (6 per season) have made the tournament. This is about 64 % of the 84 teams that have played during those nine seasons.

 

In reviewing the records of all 84 teams, we learned the following:

 

1) With the exception of 2017, all teams with a winning record (e.g., above .500) have made the tournament.

 

In 2017 there was six way tie for fourth place. Six teams had a 16-15 record. Using established tie-breaking rules, three of those teams with a 16-15 record ended up in 7th, 8th and 9th place…..hence missed the tournament.

 

So…..unless we have a similar (albeit unlikely) scenario for 2019, it looks like a simple winning record will get you into the postseason.

 

2) It is possible to make the tournament with a losing record.

 

In six of the past nine seasons, a team with a losing record made the post-season tournament.

 

With one exception, all have been the # 6 seed. In 2013, the Putty Hill Panthers made the post-season as the # 5 seed with a 15-17 record and the Frederick Hustlers made the post season as the # 6 seed with a 14-15 record. 3).

 

3) No team has made the postseason winning less than 43 % of their games.

 

Three of the teams that have made the post-season tournament have made it winning 43 % of their games.

 

In looking at the current season, every team still has a chance to win at least 43 % of their games. In fact, up to only 3 wins separate several teams from being in the postseason. And given that any team can get hot at any time…….everyone is still in the hunt. Stay tuned.

 

See ya at the ballfield !