A three-way tie for the second Wild Card created chaos

Green & Gold Heart · 10-12-2013, 10:28 PM

So I just finished up an MLB regular season and finished in a three-way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the American League.

Houston won the division by one game.
Oakland (me), Texas, and Seattle had identical records.

So first the game has the A's play the Mariners, and the A's won.
Then the game has the A's play the Rangers, and the A's won again.

By the A's winning twice, they ended up with the same winning percentage as the Astros, who had clinched the division two days earlier.

And here's what the Wild Card looks like after the tiebreaker games. Notice the Astros now appear there because we have the same winning percentage. They had clinched the division on the final day of the regular season.

So I get my roster set up for the Wild Card playoff game and then take a look at the playoff tree...

Ummmm...

I haven't simmed forward to see what happens yet.

But it appears I'm going to automatically get the Wild Card spot, while the Astros, who won the A.L. West, are getting the shaft. The A's should be playing at Kansas City for the Wild Card.

Green & Gold Heart · 10-12-2013, 10:38 PM

So I simmed forward a day and looked at the scores and schedule page.

At least it had the sense to use different pitchers, but those guys are teammates, not foes.

Green & Gold Heart · 10-12-2013, 10:45 PM

Now here are the A's playing against themselves in the playoffs.

Green & Gold Heart · 10-12-2013, 10:49 PM

Game over. Of course it went to extras.

My closer both won and lost the game.

Green & Gold Heart · 10-12-2013, 10:50 PM

And now we get to play a series against an opponent that is not clones of ourselves. So, back to normal.

Boy, that was weird.

Poor Astros.

TGH-Adfabre · 10-12-2013, 11:06 PM

That is hilarious! Thank you so much for posting this.

The Wolf · 10-12-2013, 11:15 PM

That's the funniest OOTP bug I ever saw. Thanks for posting it.

Ike348 · 10-12-2013, 11:28 PM

Even in a parallel universe, the Astros don't make the playoffs.

Padreman · 10-12-2013, 11:30 PM

Make you report the bug

hefalumps · 10-12-2013, 11:36 PM

Wow - while this is quite amusing, if it had happened to me in my league, I'd be extremely upset and probably have to junk the whole league and recover from a midseason backup. Fortunately the league I'm running right now is in the 1950s so we don't even have the LCS yet, but I will definitely keep a close eye on tie situations like this going forward.

There was another thread on the forums recently about OOTP poorly handling tiebreaker scenarios and seeding with regards to home team advantage. I know the game can't possibly be tested to handle every possible scenario, but I do hope it gets a good strong look in 15.

Le Grande Orange · 10-13-2013, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

By the A's winning twice, they ended up with the same winning percentage as the Astros, who had clinched the division two days earlier.

Well, not really the same winning percentage if you go to the fourth decimal place. Houston's winning percentage is .5370 while Oakland's is .5366.

I'm glad everyone is having a bit of a laugh with this. But still, when it's all said and done, this sort of thing should NOT be happening. The tie in this case was actually a straightforward one: three clubs tied for one playoff spot. The normal three-way tiebreaking rules would apply (which OOTP sort of does right sometimes).

as5680 · 10-13-2013, 08:19 AM

If this isn't conclusive proof that OOTP is handling tiebreakers wrongly, I don't know what is!

Ever since my own experience of a problem with tie breakers I have been making sure to take even more regular backups/saves at the end of the regular season in case anything goes wrong and will certainly do that as the end of my coming season approaches, especially with a three-way tie looking at least a possibility.

Has this been reported in the Bug Report Thread? The issue of tiebreakers really needs attention as soon as possible as for me, something like this would completely ruin a game.

injury log · 10-13-2013, 08:42 AM

There was an issue with this in an earlier patch. If you're still on an old patch, you may find this problem goes away if you update.

I'm 75% sure your game is going to crash as you advance through the playoffs. So don't save your game now, because if you do, you'll never get past the crash point and won't be able to use your league again.

Honorable_Pawn · 10-13-2013, 08:52 AM

Calm down folks. This is a small sample size.

We need more data and an in-depth analysis. God forbid potential customers see this thread and get the wrong idea.

EDIT: added smiley for the sarcasm-challenged

David Watts · 10-13-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

That's the funniest OOTP bug I ever saw. Thanks for posting it.

Not attempting to get you in trouble or anything, but a new sig of "Turn off Wild Cards" may be appropriate.

The Wolf · 10-13-2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

Calm down folks. This is a small sample size.

We need more data and an in-depth analysis. God forbid potential customers see this thread and get the wrong idea.

EDIT: added smiley for the sarcasm-challenged

Yes. The game is flawless as is right now, nothing to see here, move along.

The Wolf · 10-13-2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Watts

Not attempting to get you in trouble or anything, but a new sig of "Turn off Wild Cards" may be appropriate.

I already did that for myself. I never use them in my fictional leagues, and my MLB league is in 2015 with 32 teams in two leagues of four divisions of four teams each. Mo more stinking wild cards. Win your division or go home - baseball like it ought to be.

Green & Gold Heart · 10-13-2013, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by injury log

There was an issue with this in an earlier patch. If you're still on an old patch, you may find this problem goes away if you update.

I'm 75% sure your game is going to crash as you advance through the playoffs. So don't save your game now, because if you do, you'll never get past the crash point and won't be able to use your league again.

I am on 14.5.28, which I believe is the latest.

The Wolf · 10-13-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

I am on 14.5.28, which I believe is the latest.

You are correct.

Le Grande Orange · 10-13-2013, 05:27 PM

I will simply point out that only having division winners make the playoffs does not exempt one from encountering wonky tie breaking. It probably lowers the odds, but it doesn't eliminate it.

10-12-2013, 10:28 PM	#1
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	A three-way tie for the second Wild Card created chaos So I just finished up an MLB regular season and finished in a three-way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. Houston won the division by one game. Oakland (me), Texas, and Seattle had identical records. So first the game has the A's play the Mariners, and the A's won. Then the game has the A's play the Rangers, and the A's won again. By the A's winning twice, they ended up with the same winning percentage as the Astros, who had clinched the division two days earlier. And here's what the Wild Card looks like after the tiebreaker games. Notice the Astros now appear there because we have the same winning percentage. They had clinched the division on the final day of the regular season. So I get my roster set up for the Wild Card playoff game and then take a look at the playoff tree... Ummmm... I haven't simmed forward to see what happens yet. But it appears I'm going to automatically get the Wild Card spot, while the Astros, who won the A.L. West, are getting the shaft. The A's should be playing at Kansas City for the Wild Card.

10-12-2013, 11:06 PM	#6
TGH-Adfabre Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,599	That is hilarious! Thank you so much for posting this. __________________ You mock me, therefore I am My wife

10-13-2013, 08:52 AM	#14
Honorable_Pawn Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 6,407	Calm down folks. This is a small sample size. We need more data and an in-depth analysis. God forbid potential customers see this thread and get the wrong idea. EDIT: added smiley for the sarcasm-challenged __________________ PBA Quickstart for OOTP Background Images Collection All PBA games broadcast live on Steam. Last edited by Honorable_Pawn; 10-13-2013 at 08:57 AM.

10-12-2013, 10:38 PM	#2
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	So I simmed forward a day and looked at the scores and schedule page. At least it had the sense to use different pitchers, but those guys are teammates, not foes.

10-12-2013, 10:45 PM	#3
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	Now here are the A's playing against themselves in the playoffs.

10-12-2013, 10:49 PM	#4
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	Game over. Of course it went to extras. My closer both won and lost the game.

10-12-2013, 10:50 PM	#5
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	And now we get to play a series against an opponent that is not clones of ourselves. So, back to normal. Boy, that was weird. Poor Astros.

10-12-2013, 11:30 PM	#9
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,140 Blog Entries: 1	Make you report the bug

10-12-2013, 11:36 PM	#10
hefalumps All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,357	Wow - while this is quite amusing, if it had happened to me in my league, I'd be extremely upset and probably have to junk the whole league and recover from a midseason backup. Fortunately the league I'm running right now is in the 1950s so we don't even have the LCS yet, but I will definitely keep a close eye on tie situations like this going forward. There was another thread on the forums recently about OOTP poorly handling tiebreaker scenarios and seeding with regards to home team advantage. I know the game can't possibly be tested to handle every possible scenario, but I do hope it gets a good strong look in 15.

10-13-2013, 08:19 AM	#12
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	If this isn't conclusive proof that OOTP is handling tiebreakers wrongly, I don't know what is! Ever since my own experience of a problem with tie breakers I have been making sure to take even more regular backups/saves at the end of the regular season in case anything goes wrong and will certainly do that as the end of my coming season approaches, especially with a three-way tie looking at least a possibility. Has this been reported in the Bug Report Thread? The issue of tiebreakers really needs attention as soon as possible as for me, something like this would completely ruin a game.

10-13-2013, 08:42 AM	#13
injury log Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 9,162	There was an issue with this in an earlier patch. If you're still on an old patch, you may find this problem goes away if you update. I'm 75% sure your game is going to crash as you advance through the playoffs. So don't save your game now, because if you do, you'll never get past the crash point and won't be able to use your league again.

10-13-2013, 05:27 PM	#20
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,405	I will simply point out that only having division winners make the playoffs does not exempt one from encountering wonky tie breaking. It probably lowers the odds, but it doesn't eliminate it.