In MLB how is the games behind determined?

Answer 1

GB = ( (Wina - Winb) + (Lossb - Lossa) ) / 2
*you want the absolute values for each wins and losses. To avoid negative numbers, use this instead of the orgininal formula above.
GB = (ABS(Wina - Winb) + ABS(Lossb - Lossa) ) / 2

Wina = Wins by leader

Lossa = Losses by leader

Winb = Wins by trailer

Lossb = Losses by trailer

Using real numbers from today's standings. Cleveland is 21-19 while Detroit is 16-24 resulting in:

Det GB = ( ( 21 - 16 ) + ( 24 - 19 ) ) / 2 = ( 5 + 5 ) / 2 = 5 Games Back

Another example, Kansas City is 18-21 and thus relative to Cleveland we get KC's GB as:

KC GB = ( ( 21 - 18 ) + ( 21 - 19 ) ) / 2 = ( 3 + 2 ) / 2 = 2.5 Games Back

If it's not obvious which team trails, just sub in the numbers consistently and if you get a negative number, you know that team actually leads by that number of games.

Answer 2

GB = ((difference in wins) + (difference in losses)) / 2

For Example:

Team A 71 - 47

Team B 68 - 51

Difference in wins = 71 - 68 = 3

Difference in losses = 51 - 47 = 4

(3 + 4) / 2 = 3.5

Team B would be 3.5 games back.

Answer 3

To determine games behind - 1) Subtract the number of wins of the non-first place team from the number of wins of the first place team.

2) Subtract the number of losses of the first place team from the number of losses of the non-first place team.

3) Add those two numbers together and divide by 2. This gives you the number of 'games behind'. As an example, let's uses the standings of the American League East as of July 29: Team.........W.....L...GB Tampa.......62...44....-

Boston......61...47....2

New York..58...48....4

Toronto....54...53....8 1/2

Baltimore..51...55...11 A) Let's see how many games Boston is behind Tampa. The standings say 2 ... let's check. Using the directions above - 1) Subtract the number of wins of the non-first place team from the number of wins of the first place team. (62 - 61 = 1) 2) Subtract the number of losses of the first place team from the number of losses of the non-first place team. (47 - 44 = 3) 3) Add those two numbers together and divide by 2. This gives you the number of 'games behind'. (1 + 3 = 4 and 4 / 2 = 2 ... Boston is two games behind Tampa) B) Let's see how many games Baltimore is behind Tampa. The standings say 11 ... let's check. Using the directions above - 1) Subtract the number of wins of the non-first place team from the number of wins of the first place team. (62 - 51 = 11) 2) Subtract the number of losses of the first place team from the number of losses of the non-first place team. (55 - 44 = 11) 3) Add those two numbers together and divide by 2. This gives you the number of 'games behind'. (11 + 11 = 22 and 22 / 2 = 11 ... Baltimore is eleven games behind Tampa) C) Let's see how many games Toronto is behind Tampa. The standings say 8 1/2 ... let's check. Using the directions above - 1) Subtract the number of wins of the non-first place team from the number of wins of the first place team. (62 - 54 = 8) 2) Subtract the number of losses of the first place team from the number of losses of the non-first place team. (53 - 44 = 9) 3) Add those two numbers together and divide by 2. This gives you the number of 'games behind'. (8 + 9 = 17 and 17 / 2 = 8.5 (8 1/2) ... Toronto is 8 1/2 games behind Tampa)

Answer 4

wins and losses are tallied in their respective columns. "Games back" is the average of the number of wins behind, and the number of losses more than the division leader.

So, say the Indians were 80-60, and the Royals were 73-71.

The Royals have 7 fewer wins, and 11 more losses. 7 + 11 = 18, 18/2 = 9 = the royals are 9 games back.

The team with the best winning percentage is considered to be in first place, and the other teams' "place" in the division are determined by how many games back they are behind the division leader.

Hope that answers your question!

Answer 5

Since there are a winner and loser of each game, each victory is worth 1/2 a game each loss, 1/2 a game. For example:

W L GB

Yankees 50 30 ----

Blue Jays 47 32 2 1/2

The Yankees have three more wins and two fewer losses than the Blue Jays for a total of five games difference. Since each victory or loss is worth 1/2 a game divide 5 by 2 and the Jays are 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees.