Baseball Trivia (General)/Games Back

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Expert: - 9/16/2008


Question
Tonight as the Red Sox and the Rays begin to play their records are 88-61 and 88-59 respectively.  Why are the Sox only "one game back" if they are two games back in the loss column?

Thank you in advance for any help.  K.

Answer
Hi Karen:

Games behind are figured like this: add the number of wins of the leading team to the number of losses of the next team; do the same with the next team (wins + losses); subtract the smaller number from the larger; then divide that number by two.

In this case: (88+61) - (88+59) = 2/2 = 1 or one game back.

Baseball Trivia (General)

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Tom Schott

Expertise

I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. I don't do off-the-field stuff. Please if you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."

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I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.

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SABR

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Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in American history.

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Bevy of writing awards.

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