RCL Rooting Interests

While the Lasorda Division figures to go down to the last day, the playoff picture in the RCL is actually pretty clear. Both defending champion Montreal and Seattle, RCL's best record, have clinched playoff spots. The Lasorda teams have been so strong that no other team in the RCL can make the playoffs. Carolina was eliminated by their loss to Ann Arbor on the last sim's last game.)

All four Lasorda Division teams are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, although one would have to consider Dallas on life support as they are 9 games out of 1st and 8 back in the wild card race.


If the playoffs started today Seattle (best record) would host Nottinghamshire (wild card) while Ann Arbor would host Montreal in the battle of division winners. Montreal trails Ann Arbor by 5 games for home field advantage, but because most matches remaining are division, if the Lasorda kills itself off, then maybe Montreal has a shot at home field.

Would this be the "desired" matchup for these division winners? Actually no. Seattle has lost 8 of the 9 games played against Nottinghamshire, while they are only 3-4 against Ann Arbor. They might actually prefer New York (4-3). On the other side, Montreal would actually like to see Nottinghamshire win the division, since they are 5-1 against the Outlaws. (They can exert a little control on the outcome as the travel to Nottinghamshire for 3 games this sim.) Meanwhile they are only 3-4 against Ann Arbor. Again they are 4-3 against New York.

Clearly the sample is small and to win the title you have to beat who you play, but it will be interesting to see the rooting interests in Seattle and Montreal.