Worst division in baseball history?

[PotatoPeeler]

I started a historical replay in 1976 with the player recalc option turned off. I wanted to see how Dale Murphy and Bob Horner would turn out if OOTP were in charge instead of history.

To get back to the subject of this post, according to my replay of 1996, the NL West was by far the worst division ever. Three of the four teams in the division finished with 100 losses or more. The division winner was the San Diego Padres with a record of 64-99. They had to play a one game playoff with the Dodgers to determine which of the two "won" the division. Unbelievable.

As far as Murphy and Horner go, Murphy didn't amount to much, finishing his career with just 60 homeruns. Horner, on the other hand, turned into an absolute stud. He's currently 39 years old, has spent his entire career with Atlanta, and is now sitting on 782 homers. In his 19 year career, he's only had two seasons where he's hit less than 30 dingers. One of them he hit 27 and the other he hit 17 in an injury shortened season.

[JWay]

So you claim Rapid City now?

[PotatoPeeler]

Well, I'm in Custer now but I'll be moving to Rapid whenever I find a job.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by PotatoPeeler

To get back to the subject of this post, according to my replay of 1996, the NL West was by far the worst division ever. Three of the four teams in the division finished with 100 losses or more.

Well, that's what can happen when you combine a divisional structure with a balanced schedule.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Well, that's what can happen when you combine a divisional structure with a balanced schedule.

This is why I'm excited about the new flexible playoff system. In one of my leagues, I have a subleague of two divisions with 10 teams each. The top four teams make the playoffs. With a league of this many teams, the game automatically creates a balanced schedule. So lots of the times, the first team out of the playoffs has a better record than the division winner of the other division. With the new playoff system, I won't even have divisions. I can choose the top four teams to play each other, or even the top eight if I desire. The only reason that I have divisions right now is so that I can get four teams into the playoffs.

[spark240]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Well, that's what can happen when you combine a divisional structure with a balanced schedule.

Just what I was thinking...

Hey, has anyone worked out the math to know, how many games must be in-division ("how unbalanced" must the schedule be) in order to be certain that every division winner will have a record over .500?

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by spark240

Hey, has anyone worked out the math to know, how many games must be in-division ("how unbalanced" must the schedule be) in order to be certain that every division winner will have a record over .500?

It can't be done. Theoretically even with a totally unbalanced schedule (no games outside division), every team could finish at .500. Once you add one out-of-division game, they could all drop below .500.

[spark240]

Originally Posted by Curtis

It can't be done. Theoretically even with a totally unbalanced schedule (no games outside division), every team could finish at .500. Once you add one out-of-division game, they could all drop below .500.

Hmm, I guess that's mostly right. Except, I suppose you could have an odd number of games per team. You can't finish at .500 then, assuming all scheduled games are played.

[Curtis]

Originally Posted by spark240

Hmm, I guess that's mostly right. Except, I suppose you could have an odd number of games per team. You can't finish at .500 then, assuming all scheduled games are played.

That's true, and with four, six or eight (any even number) team divisions it would even be easy. What would you do about the homefield advantage? If you play a team ten at home and nine away one year, then you play nine at home and ten away the next?

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Curtis

What would you do about the homefield advantage? If you play a team ten at home and nine away one year, then you play nine at home and ten away the next?

That's exactly what the AL did from 1979-1993 when it had teams playing 13 games against each divisional opponents each season.