Net Games Back

[Astro Annie]

Has anyone else ever heard of this stat? What it is, is how many games you are back of everybody, not just the leader. So, for instance in the WC race, our NGB is 7.5 because we're 3.5 behind the Braves, 3.5 behind the Nats and .5 behind the Phillies.

I just think it's a cool stat and I'm wondering if there's anyone that posts that column in their stats or if it's something I have to keep figuring for myself.

[PopTop]

I haven't seen it posted at any of the major sites, Annie.

[barzilla]

Never heard of it. When I saw the post I thought it referred to us being a half game behind the real contenders. That Nats are going down the tubes.

[rockin500]

hadnt heard of it, and dont really think its pertinent. especially when all the teams are really close to each other, as the wild card is.

[Baseball Guru]

Never heard of it either:notme:

Sounds kinda irrelevant to me... Who cares how many combined games back you are..

The main this is the actual amount of games back from the leader.. Who you are chasing...

JMO:)

[PopTop]

It looks like an attempt to combine the gap with the number of teams in the gap. I think it is a neat little number, but I usually simplify the same thing by thinking Houston's 5 out of the wildcard spot with 3 teams to get over.

WILDCARD . . W . . L . . GB
Crickets . .50 . .40 . . --
Robins . . .49 . .41 . . 1
Bobcats. . .47 . .43 . . 3
Catfish. . .45 . .45 . . 5

If the Catfish sweep a 3-game set from the Crickets while the Robins and Bobcats are sweeping 3-game series from other teams, the Catfish have really only gained a game in the wildcard race since the Robins would move into the lead and still have a 4-game advantage over the Catfish. They start out with a 9 in the net games back, and after all of the sweeping they would still be 8 games back (below). One way or the other, you have to do the math in your head and count the number of games back as well as the number of teams you have to pass. If you just sit there as a Catfish fan and think you're 4-5 games out of the wildcard, you don't account for the teams between you and the lead.

WILDCARD . . W . . L . . GB
Robins . . .52 . .41 . . --
Crickets . .50 . .43 . . 2
Bobcats. . .50 . .43 . . 2
Catfish. . .48 . .45 . . 4

[Baseball Guru]

:nut: