  09/08/2003 1:15 PM ET
2003 postseason tiebreakers
Excerpts from Major League Rule 33 and Major League Rule 34
Scenario #1: If there is a tie for a Division Championship and the winning
percentage of the two Clubs tied for first place is higher than the winning
percentage of each of the second-place Clubs in the same League, the
Division Champion shall be:
The Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition between the
two tied Clubs during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in
intradivision games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the
last half of intraleague games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the
last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season, provided that
such additional game was not a game between the two tied Clubs. This process will be
followed game-by-game until the tie is broken.
Example of Scenario #1: The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners end the
championship season tied for the AL West Division Championship. Both Clubs have a
higher winning percentage than the Boston Red Sox. Through games of September 7,
the Mariners have the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition (7-6,
.538) and would be declared the Division Champion. Oakland would be the Wild Card.
Scenario #2: If there is a tie for a Division Championship and the winning
percentage of the two tied Clubs is lower than the winning percentage of the
second-place Club with the best record among all non-Division winners in the
same League, the tie for the Division Championship shall be broken as
follows:
A one-game playoff shall be played on Monday, September 29 to determine the Division
Championship. The site of the game would be determined by a coin flip and the winner
of the game shall be declared the Division Champion.
Example of Scenario #2: The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals tie for the NL
Central Division Championship. The Florida Marlins have a better record than both tied
Clubs and would be the Wild Card. The Astros and Cardinals would play a one-game
playoff on Monday, September 29 to determine the Division Championship.
Scenario #3: If two teams are tied for the Wild Card, the tie shall be broken
as follows:
A one-game playoff shall be played on Monday, September 29 to determine the Wild
Card. The site of the game would be determined by a coin flip and the winner of the
game shall be declared the Wild Card.
Example of Scenario #3: The Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox tie for the AL Wild
Card. The New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics win the AL East and AL West,
respectively. The Mariners and Red Sox would play a one-game playoff on Monday,
September 29 to determine the AL Wild Card.
Scenario #4: If three Clubs are tied for first place in a Division (or Wild Card)
with an identical winning percentage at the conclusion of the championship
season and the tied Clubs do not have identical records against one another
in the championship season, the tie for the Division Championship (or Wild
Card) shall be broken as follows:
If the three tied Clubs have identical records against one another in the championship
season, the Office of the Commissioner shall supervise a draw that results in the Clubs'
being designated Club "A," "B," and "C."
If the tied Clubs do not have identical records against one another in the champoinship
season, they will be designated Club "A,""B," and "C" based on their records in head-to-
head competition during the championship season as follows:
If Club 1 has a better record against each of Clubs 2 and 3, and Club 2 has a better
record against Club 3, then Club 1 shall choose a designation as Club "A," "B," or
"C," and Club 2 shall choose a designation from the remaining two designations.
Club 3 shall be assigned the remaining designation.
If Club 1 has a better record against each of Clubs 2 and 3, and Club 2 and Club 3
have the same record against each other, then Club 1 shall choose a designation as
Club "A," "B," or "C," and the Office of the Commissioner shall supervise a draw
between Clubs 2 and 3, the winner of which shall choose one of the remaining two
designations. The remaining Club shall be assigned the remaining designation.
If Club 1 and Club 2 have the same record against each other but each has a better
record against Club 3, then the Office of the Commissioner shall supervise a draw
between Clubs 1 and 2, the winner of which shall choose a designation as Club "A,"
"B," or "C." The Club losing the draw shall choose a designation from the remaining
two designations. Club 3 shall be assigned the remaining designation.
If Club 1 has a better record against Club 2, Club 2 has a better record against Club
3, and Club 3 has a better record against Club 1, then the three Clubs shall be
ranked on the basis of overall winning percentage within that three-Club group, and
the Club with the highest winning percentage from among that three-Club group
shall have first choice among designations as Club"A," "B," or "C," the Club with the
next highest winning percentage from among that three-Club group shall have the
next choice between the two remaining designations, and the Club with the lowest
winning percentage from among that three-Club group shall be assigned the
remaining designation. If two or more of the Clubs within such three-Club group have the same winning percentage among the group, the Office of the Commissioner shall supervise a draw between the Clubs so tied to determine priority of selection among the designations.
Club"A" shall play Club "B" at the ballpark of Club "A" on Monday, September 29. The
following day (Tuesday, September 30), the winner of the first game shall be the home
Club in a second game, against Club "C." The winner of the game between Club"C"
and the Club that won the game between Club"A" and Club"B" shall be declared the
Division Champion.
Example of Scenario #4: The Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota
Twins tie for the AL Central Division Championship. The Seattle Mariners have a better
record than all three tied Clubs and would be the Wild Card. Based on their head-to-head
records through games of September 7 (CWS 7-5 over each Minnesota and KC;
KC 11-8 over Minnesota), the White Sox would choose their designation as Club "A,"
"B," or "C," and Kansas City would choose a designation from the remaining two
designations. Minnesota would be assigned the remaining designation.
Scenario #5: If three Clubs in a League are tied with identical winning
percentages at the end of the championship season and two of those tied
Clubs are from the same Division and are also tied for first place in that
Division and the third tied Club has the highest winning percentage among
the second-place Clubs in the remaining two Divisions, the Division
Champion shall first be determined by a one-game playoff on Monday,
September 29. Any playoff games played to determine a Division champion
shall not count in determining which Clubs are deemed tied for a Wild Card
designation. Clubs that were originally tied with a Club or Clubs for a Wild
Card designation shall still be considered tied.
Example of Scenario #5: The Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins all
have identical winning percentages at the end of the championship season. The Astros
and Cardinals are tied for first place in the NL Central and the Marlins have the highest
winning percentage among the second-place Clubs from the NL East and NL West. The
Astros and Cardinals would play a one-game playoff on Monday, September 29. The
winner shall be declared the Division Champion. Despite the loss, the losing Club would
still be considered tied with the Marlins for the lead in the NL Wild Card. Those two
Clubs would play a one-game playoff on Tuesday, September 30. The winner of that
game shall be declared the Wild Card.
Scenario #6: If four Clubs are tied for first place in the Wild Card (or
Division) with an identical winning percentage at the conclusion of the
championship season and the tied Clubs do not have identical records against
one another in the championship season, the tie for the Wild Card (Division)
shall be broken as follows:
The four teams will be designated Club"A," "B," "C," and"D" based on a draw by the
Office of the Commissioner. Club"A" shall play Club"B" at the ballpark of Club "A" and
Club "C" shall play Club "D" at the ballpark of Club"C" on Monday, September 29. The
following day (Tuesday, September 30), the winner of these games shall play one
game, at the ballpark of Club "A" or Club "B," whichever has won the game between
the two. The winner of the third game shall be declared the Wild Card.
Scenario #7: There is a two-way tie for highest winning percentage among
Division winners and a tiebreaker is required to determine home field
advantage in the Division Series.
If one of the Division winners tied for the highest winning percentage is from the same
Division as the Wild Card:
The Division winner from the same Division as the Wild Card cannot play the Wild Card
in the Division Series. The other Division winner tied for the highest winning
percentage plays the Wild Card.
If neither Division winner tied for the highest winning percentage is from the same
Division as the Wild Card:
A tiebreaker system will be used to determine which Division winner with the best
record plays the Wild Card.
The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head competition between the two Clubs during the
championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Clubs with the higher
winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season. If the
Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intraleague
games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club
with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the
championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher
winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the
championship season. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is
broken.
American League tiebreakers to determine home field advantage in the Division
Series (through 9/7/03):
New York vs. Oakland; Oakland wins tiebreaker (6-3, .667)
New York vs. Seattle; New York wins tiebreaker (5-4, .556)
Boston vs. Oakland; Oakland wins tiebreaker (4-3, .571)
Boston vs. Seattle; Boston wins tiebreaker (5-2, .714)
National League tiebreaker to determine home field advantage in the Division Series
(through 9/7/03):
Atlanta vs. San Francisco; San Francisco wins tiebreaker (4-2, .667)
Scenario #8: There is a three-way tie for highest winning percentage among
Division winners and a tiebreaker is required to determine home field
advantage in the Division Series.
The tied Club that has a better record against both of the other Division champions
during the championship season will be deemed to have the higher winning percentage.
The tie between the two remaining Clubs shall be broken as follows:
The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head competition between the two Clubs during
the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the
higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season.
If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in
intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then
the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague
games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club
with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games
during the championship season. This process will be followed game-by-game until
the tie is broken.
If none of the three tied Clubs has a better record against both of the other Division
champions during the championship season, then the Club deemed to have the higher
winning percentage shall be:
The tied Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition
among the tied Clubs during the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied,
then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during
the championship season. If the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the
higher winning percentage in intraleague games during the championship season. If
the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the
last half of intraleague games during the championship season. If the Clubs remain
tied, then the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one
of intraleague games during the championship season. This process will be followed
game-by-game until the tie is broken.

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