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Playoffs Guide

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Summary:The ThePlayoffs. Its why we play the game. For the chance to play into October. For the chance to be crowned champs of our league.

Here's what you need to know about the CSFBL Playoffplayoff model - tie-breakers, how the playoffs work, and everything else you need to know.



Who makes the playoffs?

The top two teams from each of the four division make the playoffs - the division winner and the runner-up. Tiebreaker rules are based on the following:

       *1) Won-lostOverall record
       * 2) Won-lostDivision record
against3) divisionHead-to-head teamsrecord
       * Runs4) scoredRun differential
       * Runs scored against division teams
       *5) Coin flip

In the case of a 3-way tie, the list goes from division record straight to run differential, skipping over head-to-head.

The Playoff Model

CSFBL uses a three-roundthree-series playoff model. Each round is a 7-gamemaximum seriesof (i.e.7 games, in other words, first team to win 4 games wins the round).series. There are off-days"travel days" in between Games 2 and 3 as well as between Games 5 and 6. The team with home field advantage hosts games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

       * Division Championship: EachThe four Division Championship Series (DCS) each feature the division winner playsplaying the runner-up infrom that division. The division winner has home-field advantage.
       * League Championship: The two League Championship Series (LCS) each feather the winners of the first round inwith each "association" (divisionsdivisions 1 and 2,2 matched against each other, and divisions 3 and 4,4 arefacing grouped)each pairother up.in the other LCS. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the best won-lost recordrecord. (usingIn the sameevent tiebreakerof rulesa astie, outlinedhome above),field excludingis playoffdetermined games.by the head-to-head record in the 9 regular season games between these two inter-division opponents.
       * World Series: The two winners of the secondLeague roundChampionship pairSeries offare inpennant winners of their conference and heading to the World Series. Home-field advantage goes to the team with the best won-lost record (using In the sameevent tiebreakerof rulesa astie, outlinedhome above),field excludingis playoffdetermined games.by the head-to-head record in the 3 regular season games between these two inter-conference opponents.

Pitching rotations

WhenWith yourextra teamdays makesoff and a long off-season to rest, managing a pitching rotation in the playoffs,playoffs hereis different than managing a pitching rotation in the regular season. Here are some guidelinessuggestions for managing your pitching rotation.staff in the postseason.

  • When the playoffs start, If you have not adjusted your pitching rotation during the regular season Division Championship Game 1 will use your SP1 pitcher, Game 2 SP2, Game 3 SP3, Game 4 SP4, and so on. But if you did change it, you'll need to make sure your rotation is setup properly before the playoffs begin.
  • When you advance to the next round, your rotation picks off where it ended in the previous round. So for example, say your team sweeps (4-0) the Division Championship round using pitchers SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4. In Game 1 of the League Championship round, SP5 will be used. Or if your series ends after 7 games, your Game 1 starter in the League Championship round will be SP3.
  • Because the playoffs are so competitive, it is possible and perfectly legal to use a 3-man rotation. Most starters can recover to full strength or very close to it on 3 complete days of rest. CSFBL currently doesn't allow you to select youra 4-man or a 4-man rotation size, however you can do thisa 3 man rotation manually with great success. For example, move your game 1 starter (usually SP1) to SP4 as soon as his start is completed, then move Game 2 starter (usually SP2) to SP5, and so on. Use your worst pitchers to fill in the other starter pitcher roles (which if you manipulate things right, they will never pitch). Things will turn out to look this way in a 7 game series (assuming all of your starters are able to pitch on schedule), guaranteeing your ace 3 starts and the other two starters 2 starts:

    Game 1: SP1 (your ace)
    Game 2: SP2 (your 2nd best starter)
    Off Day
    Game 3: SP3 (your 3rd best starter)
    Game 4: SP4 (your ace)
    Game 5: SP5 (your 2nd best starter)
    Off Day
    Game 6: SP1 (your 3rd best starter)
    Game 7: SP2 (your ace)

  • Special note if you use a 3-man rotation: throw your other starters into the bullpen. If you have closer problems, maybe throw your 4th starter as closer. Or if you have a closer, move the extra starters to fill long and middle relief roles just in case your playoff starters falter.