Magic Numbers: Final Week

Going into Week 21, the final week of the regular season, here's how the playoff race and other things are shaping up...

1.) Dublin

Clinched a first round bye due to having such a big lead in the Western Division. They can't finish any lower than 2nd seed and they are in the drivers seat for the #1 seed. They have the H2H tie breaker over Las Vegas and Weymouth.

2.) Las Vegas

Clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the 1st round BYE with 6.5 more wins (or 6.5 more losses by WEY), or some combination. LV owns the H2H tie breaker over WEY with their last second 5-4-1 win last week. Lowest position LV can finish is 3rd. Plays RAK in week 21, who is just trying to hold onto their 11th seed and away from the pink jersey.

3.) Weymouth

Clinched a playoff spot. Can't finish any lower than 4th, but can still get as high as the 1 seed with some luck. Plays BRW in week 21, who really doesn't care about any of this at this point. 

4.) Quebec City
Just three weeks ago QC was on the outside looking in to the playoff scenarios. Now they are just 4 wins away from clinching their ticket. They can't get a 1st round bye, but they can still jump as high as the 3-seed. If by some crazy circumstances they miss the playoffs, they can't finish any lower than 7th. They play RIO in week 21, who's holding on desperately to their playoff seed themselves. This could be a preview of a 1st Round Playoff match up. 

5.) San Juan

Just 5 wins to go for San Juan and they can start planning out their playoff rotation. They can't jump any higher than the 4th seed, so this week is all about just making sure to get those 5 wins, though I'm sure they wouldn't mind avoiding a 1st round match up with Shaddupu. They get to earn those wins against San Fernando Valley in week 21, who is just getting back from their pink jersey fitting after their beat down by the hands of RAK in week 20.

6.) Rio de Janeiro

RIO now find themselves as they playoff team holding on by the thinest thread. They still control their own destiny, but need 7.5 wins to clinch their spot, or a little help from Tokyo. In all likelihood they'll still find themselves playing next week, pending a completely meltdown. With a big win and some help from their friends, they could still finish as high as 4th. They play Quebec City in week 21, who is still in need of officially clinching their spot as well.

7.) Santo Domingo

They'd been holding onto that 7th seed ever since QC jumped back into the mix. They need some help, but it helps they get to play TKO in the final week. They can take solace that they've clinched at least the 7 seed, so there's that. They can still mathematically finish as high as the 4-seed.

8.) Tijuana

Eliminated from playoff contention. Can't finish any higher than 8, or any lower than 11th. Phew, no chance at that pink jersey. They play Dublin in the final week. Two teams who have almost nothing to play for in the final week. Great match up. Should be a nail biter.

9.) Bridgewater

Also eliminated from the playoffs, Bridgewater can still possibly find themselves wearing the pink jersey, but something tell me they'll miss out on it this year. They play WEY in the final week.

10.) Tokyo

TKO was eliminated two weeks ago. They only sit 8 games up on the lowest seed, so they could still virtually wear the pink jersey. They can't finish any higher than 8th.

11.) Rakeville

After sitting in the basement by themselves for the majority of the season, Rakeville finally clawed their way back up to the 11 seed with a beat down of SFV in week 20. They just need to hold on against LV in week 21 to avoid wearing the pink jersey in Boston this winter. LV has publicly said they'd like to see owner Dave Claffey dawn the pink jersey at the Winter Meeting. That combined with LV trying to tie up a 1st round bye gives them all the motivation they need to put it all out there in week 21. RAK can't finish any higher than the 8 seed.

12.) San Fernando Valley

SFV fought admirably all season. In their initial season int he EHCC they did not live in 12th place for a majorty of the season, which can't be said for all new teams. They are in line for the 2017 1st overall MaDP however as they face off against SJ in the final week. They can't finish any higher than 9th, which clinches them a top 3 2017 MaDP and top 3 odds in the 2017 MiDraft as well. So there's that.

Check back later for more number-related updates....

Record Breaking Season...

With the new line up rules the EHCC offensive stat categories were bound to be broken and even with the shortened regular season and with another week of play to finish up we've already got three records broken...

RUNS - The long standing record set in 2006 by the Las vegas Doggs of 782 Runs scored on the year has already been crushed by Dublin, Las Vegas, and Quebec City in 2016. Dublin currently leads the league going into the final week with 827, and with a 13 run lead over LV they should have their name etched into the EHCC record books by the end of Week 21.

HOME RUNS - The Golden Gryphons left the EHCC a few years ago but we've been reminded of their presence thanks to their long standing season-long home run record of 241. That will change after this season is over as two teams in 2017 have already surpassed that mark - RIO (256) and WEY (242). Rio de Janeiro in all likelihood will hold onto their lead in the category.

RBI - RIO is really putting their name out there as a powerhouse offense this season as they have already surpassed Rakeville's long standing season-long RBI record. They currently sit at 811 on the season and will add to that total in Week 21.

SB - Even with the added offensive roster spots, no team is coming close to breaking Winston-Salem's 173 mark. Las Vegas currently sits in the league in 2017 with 141 stolen bases, but we can't see them gaining 32 more in week 21, especially after trading away Billy Hamilton.

AVG - Current record sits at .302, set by Weymouth in 2006. Dublin currently sits at .295, and as good as that is in 2016 (next best is LV at .275 on the season), its going to fall just short of the EHCC record books.

WINS - Rio De Janeiro's 2012 record seems safe this year, with Quebec City currently in the lead for 2016 with 121 wins. It'll take some very savvy steaming to garner the 21 wins needed to tie the record.

SAVES - Quebec City took this record from Las Vegas back in 2011 and Las Vegas has the chance to take it back in 2016. Even with the shortened season, the Doggs need 7 saves in week 21 to tie the season-long record. They've averaged 6.8 saves a week through the first 20 weeks, and with 4 decent/elite closers they could bring back the coveted category record back to Sin City.

STRIKE OUTS -  Quebec City has an outside chance, however unlikely, of breaking their own K record this week. If the season wasn't shortened this year we'd expect them to easily update their own record. They set it with 1830 in 2008 and currently sit 129 K's short of that mark in 2016.

ERA - In 2013 Dublin set the new season-long ERA mark with a final of 3.28. Santo Domingo currently sits closest at 3.46, which is a far cry for the current record. Looks safe to me.

WHIP - 2013 was a good year for Dublin pitching, as they also set the currently sitting WHIP record of 1.15. In 2016 the best bet to tie/break it will be Weymouth, who currently sits at 1.17 through the first 20 weeks. With a very good showing in week 21 they have a chance of taking the record.

Both the Highest (.734, QC-2003) and Lowest (.284, ARL-2009) are safe and cannot mathematically be broken this season.

With the shortened season the Most Wins (156, QC-2003) and Most Losses (150, ARL-2009) are surely safe for a while. No one in 2016 will come close to either record.