Dodger’s Magic Number Sweeter Than Candy

We’re getting late enough in the season to look at magic numbers. When I hear the term “Magic Number” it inspires images of David Copperfield, and Harry Houdini in my mind. Ok well not really, but it should. The magic number indicates the Dodger’s remaining timetable for clinching the NL West division title and eliminating other team’s chances of magic. I guess you could say the real magic was the Dodgers erasing a 9.5 game deficit earlier in the season to vault themselves into first place. Merlin would be proud. The Dodger’s current magic number to win the NL West is 16. A sweet 16.

Oh Oh Oh it’s magic…..You know!

Kemp and Butera are already ready with the gatorade shower-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

In case some of you don’t exactly know what a magic number is, let me provide you the definition.

"“The elimination number is the combined number of wins (By the first place team) and losses (By the trailing team) that will eliminate the trailing team from winning the division. The elimination number for any team is determined by adding their losses to the number of wins for the team leading the division, and subtracting that total from 163. The elimination number for the trailing team is the magic number for the first place team.”"

There’s the official definition. If the Dodger’s magic number is 16, then it means that the Giant’s elimination number is 16. That means any combination of 16 Dodger wins, and or Giant losses, and the Dodgers are division champions. If the Dodgers and Giants both win on the same night, the magic number decreases by one. If the Dodgers win and the Giant’s lose on the same night, the magic number decreases by two. If the Dodgers lose and the Giants win, then the magic number does not decrease. And if the Dodgers win when the Giants are idle, or the Giants lose when the Dodgers are idle, then the magic number also decreases by one. The more the magic number decreases, the more magic the Dodgers create and the more magic is taken away from other team, or teams.

With 18 games left to play, the Dodger’s magic number is 16. Nothing could be sweeter than that.