Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1981

Here are the scores for Thursday, June 18:

Giants 6, Cubs 5
Padres 4, Pirates 3
Braves 10, Expos 4
Reds 3, Mets 2
Phillies 5, Astros 2
Cardinals 7, Dodgers 6

Here are the updated standings in the East:

Phillies: 36-26
Cardinals: 34-26- 1 GB
Expos: 35-29- 2 GB
Pirates: 29-29- 5 GB
Mets: 21-41- 15 GB
Cubs: 19-43- 17 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 45-20 (Magic Number: 7)
(tie) Astros: 34-30- 10.5 GB
(tie) Reds: 34-30- 10.5 GB
Giants: 34-32- 11.5 GB
Padres: 29-34- 15 GB
Braves: 29-35- 15.5 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Friday, June 19.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Friday, June 19:

Braves 11, Mets 5
Expos 5. Astros 4
Pirates 3, Dodgers 2
Cardinals 13, Giants 7 (10 innings)
Cubs 6, Padres 5
Reds 8, Phillies 3

Here are the updated standings in the East:

(tie) Phillies: 36-27
(tie) Cardinals: 35-26
Expos: 36-29- 1 GB
Pirates: 30-29- 4 GB
Mets: 21-42- 15 GB
Cubs: 20-43- 16 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 45-21 (Magic Number: 7)
Reds: 35-30- 9.5 GB
Astros: 34-31- 10.5 GB
Giants: 34-33- 11,5 GB
Braves: 30-35- 14.5 GB
Padres: 29-35- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Saturday, June 20,

Thoughts?
 
I'm going to skip ahead a couple of days and do Monday, June 22 because there's only one game in the whole National League:

Padres 5, Dodgers 4

The updated standings in the West:

Dodgers: 45-22 (Magic Number: 7)
Reds: 35-30- 9 GB
Astros: 34-31- 10 GB
Giants: 34-33- 11 GB
(tie) Braves: 30-35-14 GB
(tie) Padres: 30-35- 14 GB

Next: Back to Saturday, June 20.

Thoughts?
 
I coined the term "Pythagorean universe" to talk about games that are played with adjusted records using the Pythagorean system for determining what a team's win-loss record "should" be if things like home field advantage, injuries, and just plain luck were taken out of the equation. The main factor used in determining Pythagorean won-loss record is scoring unit differential (points in football and basketball, runs in baseball). Beyond that, I can't tell you much; high-level math isn't my strong suit.

Personally, I couldn't care less about the math anyway. I just like seeing how different matchups play out,
 
Here are the scores for Saturday, June 20:

Expos 2, Astros 1
Cardinals 9, Giants 5
Braves 3, Mets 1
Padres 1, Cubs 0
Phillies 6, Reds 5 (10 innings)
Dodgers 3, Pirates 1

Here are the updated standings in the East:

(tie)Phillies: 37-27
(tie) Cardinals: 36-26
Expos: 37-29- 1 GB
Pirates: 30-30- 5 GB
Mets: 21-43- 16 GB
Cubs: 20-44- 17 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 46-22 (Magic Number: 5)
Reds: 35-31- 10 GB
Astros: 34-32- 11 GB
Giants: 34-34- 12 GB
(tie) Braves: 31-35- 14 GB
(tie) Padres: 31-35- 14 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Sunday, June 21.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Sunday, June 21:

Padres 3, Cubs 1
Dodgers 5, Pirates 4
Expos 9, Astros 4
Mets 4, Braves 3
Reds 11, Phillies 8
Cardinals 4, Giants 3 (Game 1)
Giants 7, Cardinals 3 (Game 2)

Here are the updated standings in the East:

Cardinals: 37-27
(tie) Phillies: 37-28- .5 GB
(tie) Expos: 38-29- ,5 GB
Pirates: 30-31- 5,5 GB
Mets: 22-43- 15.5 GB
Cubs: 20-45- 17.5 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 47-22 (Magic Number: 4)
Reds: 36-31- 10 GB
Astros: 34-33- 12 GB
Giants: 35-35- 12.5 GB
Padres: 32-35- 14 GB
Braves: 31-36- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Tuesday, June 23.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Tuesday, June 23:

Cardinals 13, Reds 4
Astros 12, Pirates 4
Phillies 4, Cubs 3
Mets 4, Expos 2
Braves 12. Giants 2
Padres 8, Dodgers 6

Here are the updated standings in the East:

Cardinals: 38-27
Phillies: 38-28- .5 GB
Expos: 38-30- 1.5 GB
Pirates: 30-32- 6.5 GB
Mets: 23-43- 15.5 GB
Cubs: 20-46- 18.5 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 47-23 (Magic Number: 3)
Reds: 36-32- 10 GB
Astros: 35-33- 11 GB
Giants: 35-36- 12.5 GB
Padres: 33-35- 13 GB
Braves: 32-36- 14 GB

Next: The scores and standings for June 24.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Wednesday, June 24:

Cardinals 6, Reds 5
Astros 1, Pirates 0
Phillies 9, Cubs 4
Expos 6, Mets 1
Giants 6, Braves 5 (10 innings)
Dodgers 6, Padres 2

Here are the updated standings in the East:

Cardinals: 39-27
Phillies: 39-28- .5 GB
Expos: 39-30- 1.5 GB
Pirates: 30-33- 7.5 GB
Mets: 23-44- 16.5 GB
Cubs: 20-47- 19.5 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 48-23 (Magic Number: 1)
(tie) Reds: 36-33- 11 GB
(tie) Astros: 36-33- 11 GB
Giants: 36-36- 12.5 GB
Padres: 33-36- 14 GB
Braves: 32- 37- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Thursday, June 25.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Thursday, June 25:

Astros 14, Pirates 6 (11 innings)
Cardinals 5. Reds 0
Phillies 6, Cubs 0
Expos 4, Mets 2

Here are the updated standings in the East:

(tie) Phillies: 40-28
(tie) Cardinals: 39-27
Expos: 40-30- 1 GB
Pirates: 30-34- 8 GB
Mets: 23-45- 17 GB
Cubs: 20-48- 20 GB

In the West:

Dodgers: 48-23 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 37-33- 10.5 GB
Reds: 36-34- 11.5 GB
Giants: 36-36- 12.5 GB
Padres: 33-36- 14 GB
Braves: 32-37- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Friday, June 26.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Friday, June 26:

East:

Cardinals 4, Mets 3
Phillies 5, Pirates 3
Cubs 5, Expos 0

Here are the updated standings:

(tie) Phillies: 41-28
(tie) Cardinals: 40-27
Expos: 40-31- 2 GB
Pirates: 30-35- 9 GB
Mets: 23-46- 18 GB
Cubs: 21-48- 20 GB


West:

Reds 4, Braves 3
Astros 2, Dodgers 0
Padres 4, Giants 3 (11 innings)

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 48-24 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 38-33- 9.5 GB
Reds: 37-34- 10,5 GB
Giants: 36-37- 12.5 GB
Padres: 34-36- 13 GB
Braves: 32-38- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Saturday, June 27.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Saturday, June 27:

East:

Cubs 4, Expos 1
Cardinals 8, Mets 4
Pirates 5, Phillies 3

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 41-27 (Magic Number:12)
Phillies: 41-29- 1 GB
Expos: 40-32- 3 GB
Pirates: 31-35- 9 GB
Mets: 23-47- 19 GB
Cubs: 22-48- 20 GB

West:

Padres 6, Giants 3
Reds 6, Braves 2
Astros 1, Dodgers 0

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 48-25 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 39-33- 8.5 GB
Reds: 38-34- 9.5 GB
Padres: 35-36- 12 GB
Giants: 36- 38- 12.5 GB
Braves: 32-39- 15 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Sunday. June 28.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Sunday, June 28.

East:

Cardinals 16, Mets 2
Expos 3, Cubs 0
Pirates 9, Phillies 4

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 42-27 (Magic Number: 10)
Phillies: 41-30- 2 GB
Expos: 41-32- 3 GB
Pirates: 32-35- 9 GB
Mets: 23-48- 20 GB
Cubs: 22-49- 21 GB

West:

Dodgers 4. Astros 0 (Dodgers clinch division title)
Padres 7, Giants 5
Reds 12, Braves 1 (Game 1)
Braves 13, Reds 10 (Game 2; 11 innings)

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 49-25 (clinched)
Astros: 39-34- 9.5 GB
Reds: 39-35- 10 GB
Padres: 36-36- 12 GB
Giants: 36-39- 13.5 GB
Braves: 33-40- 15.5 GB

Next: Scores and updated standings for Monday, June 29.

Thoughts?
 
To keep everything equal, I've decided that each team will enter the second half after their eighty-first game, regardless of when it is. There may be games that count toward the first half for one team and the second half for the other, but everything should work out in the end.

More coming soon!
 
Here are the scores and standings for Monday, June 29.

West:

Padres 8, Dodgers 6
Astros 9, Reds 2

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 49-26 (clinched)
Astros: 40-34- 8.5 GB
Reds: 39-36- 10 GB
Padres: 37-36- 11 GB
Giants: 36-39- 13 GB
Braves: 33-40- 15 GB

For those who want to follow a race, the Astros' magic number to clinch second place is six.

East:

Cardinals 8, Phillies 3
Expos 14. Pirates 2
Cubs 4, Mets 3

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 43-27 (Magic Number: 8)
(tie) Phillies: 41-31- 3 GB
(tie) Expos: 42-32- 3 GB
Pirates: 32-36- 10 GB
(tie) Mets: 23-49- 21 GB
(tie) Cubs: 23-49- 21 GB

Next: The scores and standings for Tuesday, June 30.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Tuesday, June 30:

West:

Padres 4. Dodgers 3
Reds 5. Astros 0
Braves 6. Giants 3 (Game 1)
Braves 8, Giants 7 (Game 2; 11 innings)

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 49-27 (clinched)
Astros: 40-35- 8.5 GB
Reds: 40-36- 9 GB
Padres: 38-36- 10 GB
(tie) Giants: 36-41- 13.5 GB
(tie) Braves: 35-40- 13.5 GB

East:

Phillies 11, Cardinals 6 (Game 1)
Cardinals 5, Phillies 1 (Game 2)
Pirates 6. Expos 4
Cubs 4, Mets 3

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 44-28 (Magic Number: 6)
Phillies: 42-32- 3 GB
Expos: 42-33- 3,5 GB
Pirates: 33-36- 9.5 GB
Cubs: 24-49- 20.5 GB
Mets: 23-50- 21,5 GB

Next: The scores and standings for Wednesday, July 1.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the scores for Wednesday, July 1.

West:

Reds 5, Astros 0
Braves 5. Giants 3
Dodgers 12, Padres 6

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 50-27 (clinched)
Reds: 41-36- 9 GB
Astros: 40-36- 9.5 GB
Padres: 38-37- 11 GB
Braves: 36-40- 13.5 GB
Giants: 36-42- 14.5 GB

East:

Cardinals 6, Phillies 3
Mets 4, Cubs 1
Pirates 5, Expos 2

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 45-28 (Magic Number: 4)
Phillies: 42-33- 4 GB
Expos: 42-34- 4.5 GB
Pirates: 34-36- 9.5 GB
(tie) Mets: 24-50- 21,5 GB
(tie) Cubs: 24-50- 21.5 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Thursday, July 2.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Thursday, July 2.

West:

Giants 5, Braves 0
Dodgers 8, Padres 5

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 51-27 (clinched)
Reds: 41-36- 9.5 GB
Astros: 40-36- 10 GB
Padres: 38-38- 12 GB
(tie) Giants: 37-42- 14.5 GB
(tie) Braves: 36-41- 14.5 GB

East:

Mets 6, Cubs 3
Pirates 5. Expos 4
Cardinals 11. Phillies 8

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 46-28 (Magic Number: 2)
Phillies: 42-34- 5 GB
Expos: 42-35- 5.5 GB
Pirates: 35-36- 9.5 GB
Mets: 25-50- 21.5 GB
Cubs: 24-51- 22.5 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Friday, July 3.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Friday, July 3.

West:

Padres 6, Reds 0
Giants 4, Dodgers 1
Astros 5, Braves 4 (13 innings)

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 51-28 (clinched)
Astros: 41-36- 9 GB
Reds: 41-37-9.5 GB
Padres: 39-38- 11 GB
Giants: 38-42- 13.5 GB
Braves: 36-42- 14.5 GB

East:

Cardinals 7, Cubs 3
Phillies 7, Expos 5
Pirates 9, Mets 4

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 47-28 (Magic Number: 1)
Phillies: 43-34- 5 GB
Expos: 42-36- 6.5 GB
Pirates: 36-36- 9.5 GB
Mets: 25-51- 22.5 GB
Cubs: 24-52- 23.5 GB

Next: Scores and standings for Saturday, July 4.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the scores for Saturday, July 4.

West:

Dodgers 6. Giants 2
Astros 7, Braves 6 (12 innings)
Reds 4, Padres 1

Here are the updated standings:

Dodgers: 52-28 (clinched)
Astros: 42-36- 9 GB
Reds: 41-38- 10.5 GB
Padres: 40-38- 11 GB
Giants: 38-43- 14.5 GB
Braves: 36-43- 15.5 GB

This marks the end of the first half for the Giants,

East:

Phillies 4, Expos 2
Pirates 13, Mets 0
Cardinals 15, Cubs 1 (Game 1)
Cardinals 6, Cubs 3 (Game 2)

Here are the updated standings:

Cardinals: 49-28 (clinched)
Phillies: 44-34- 5.5 GB
Expos: 42-37- 8 GB
Pirates: 37-36- 10 GB
Mets: 25-52- 24 GB
Cubs: 24-54- 25.5 GB

Next: We unveil the second-half standings in the West.

Thoughts?
 
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