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 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.
Gravy, great question, and I think fhmesq44 (who, if he played baseball, would need a nickname) posted a well researched, correct answer. But to address what I suspect is the true thrust of your question, a three way tie would be broken by statistical tie-breakers, NFL style, not by a one game or round robin mini-playoffs that might throw off the rotations of the teams involved. Still, I definitely respect your profit-minded way of thinking.
For what it's worth, the NL wild card might give your angle some new legs. In the event of a two way tie I think most people are aware that there would be a one game playoff likely to weaken the rotation of the winner (not to mention all that travelling) vis a vis their upcoming NLDS, but I doubt most people are aware that in the case of a three way tie for the WC there would be two games played. The first would be SD at Philly the day after the season ends. The winner of that game would then play the next day at Colorado, and the winner of that game would become the WC. Presumably that would make the futures prices for the Mets to win the NL more attractive, but then who can even be sure the Mets will win their division? Anyway, pretty exciting stuff from an otherwise boring sport. Good luck to everyone.
