Minnesota’s Last Four Postseasons All Changed in an 82-Game Season

Since we are playing the second half of the season this year - how would those teams of the past finished using second half records?

First, following the thought, Nationals would not have made the playoffs and would not have won the WS had the first 82 games record been the deciding factor. 

However, the flaw in this is knowing a season ends at 82 verses playing another 80 makes teams play games different.  One, you would be less likely to try and stick through a prolonged slump of someone.  Also, managers will make different in game decisions to win that particular game, as now it has more important roll.  Instead saying I can give this game up to give my better players some rest, there would be more we need to win situation.  How different were the schedules at the time of the 82 game compared to others.  Yes, timing of when you play teams can be a huge thing, based on injuries, hot streaks, ect.  But, when in a 162 game season Twins may have played a tougher first half schedule than whoever was ahead of them, but in a 82 game schedule each team will have same schedule.

Think about it, some years the Twins have played several non division teams in the first half and will be done with them, while they may not have played others.  So for example, say Twins played Yankees, Boston, Oakland, Houston in the first half and finished with them, while Cleveland played Baltimore, Seattle, Rangers, Toronto, and then you stop at 82 games, there are much better chance Cleveland will have easier schedule for first half, but much harder second half, where Twins would have reverse.  After a 162 game schedule they will have played each team nearly equal amount of times for much more balanced strength of schedule. 

So as it is nice to look at how things could have been different, there are many flaws to just  look at record at 82 games, when a team knew 80 more were going to be played.  If you wanted to take the time to set a strength of schedule modifier to even that out, it would be a little better, but still does not factor in how decisions would have changed in a known shorter season.