How can the Yankees have clinched the AL East, when...

[Redneck Socialist]

they are only one game up on the Sox with one game to play? Is it because if they tie the Yanks have a winning record against the Sox?

Can someone help me out here? <insert scratching head in befuddlement smilie here>

[Bill McBlueState]

1. you're right

Historically baseball has settled division ties on the field. But if both teams are going anyway and the tiebreaker would just determine seedings, they don't bother with the extra game.

[Redneck Socialist]

2. Ahhh, OK. Thanks.

Doesn't seem right somehow, but this is coming from a guy who still isn't crazy about the wildcard. :-(

[mduffy31]

3. ESPN

They said because the divisional record for the Yankees is better, that is why they would win the division. It is like the NFL, you have to not only win a number of games, you have to beat your division opponents to get the better seeding. If the Red Sox had swept they would have had a better record overall.

[DaveinMD]

4. its because

of head to head record, not divisional records.

[mduffy31]

5. Got ya

I knew it was one of them.