Semi final/final system of Beijing

[Hirvi]

Hey I´m Mikko from Finland.
Unfortunately I haven´t seen many baseball/softball matches in my life. Only couple of Athens 2004 matches.

Anyway I remember that I wonder in 2004 why that softball´s semi final/final system is so bizarre? Today I noticed that semi final/final system will be as bizarre again in Beijing. Why couldn´t they play "normal" semi finals, bronze medal match and final? Could someone tell me an answer please?

[Skahtboi]

Please elaborate. What is it that you find so bizarre?

[Hirvi]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Please elaborate. What is it that you find so bizarre?

"Page playoff system"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_playoff_system

The winner and runner up of the round robin play against. Winner of that match go to final and loser go to "bronze medal match".
Third and fourth of the round robin play against. Winner go to "bronze medal match".
Loser of that "bronze medal match" get bronze medals and winner go to final.
In my opinion this system is bizarre.

Beijing´s schedule is here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softbal...ummer_Olympics

[kcg NC2Ablu]

Originally Posted by Hirvi

"Page playoff system"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_playoff_system

The winner and runner up of the round robin play against. Winner of that match go to final and loser go to "bronze medal match".
Third and fourth of the round robin play against. Winner go to "bronze medal match".
Loser of that "bronze medal match" get bronze medals and winner go to final.
In my opinion this system is bizarre.

Beijing´s schedule is here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softbal...ummer_Olympics

the first problem is wikkipedia... if you want you can go in and change that system...(wikkipedia is editable by anyone)

[Hirvi]

Originally Posted by kcg NC2Ablu

the first problem is wikkipedia... if you want you can go in and change that system...(wikkipedia is editable by anyone)

Whatever. Wikipedia or appreciated newspaper you always have to think yourself if information is true or not.
This page is from official Beijing site.
http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports...14407542.shtml

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Hirvi

"Page playoff system"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_playoff_system

The winner and runner up of the round robin play against. Winner of that match go to final and loser go to "bronze medal match".
Third and fourth of the round robin play against. Winner go to "bronze medal match".
Loser of that "bronze medal match" get bronze medals and winner go to final.
In my opinion this system is bizarre.

Beijing´s schedule is here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softbal...ummer_Olympics

Don't see anything bizarre. Eight teams play round-robin qualifier to four.

The format they are using has a give and take for the top seed which prevails in the first playoff game. The plus is if you win, you only have one more game to play. The minus is if you win, a loss takes the gold away.

[Dakota]

If, in fact, that is the format, it is a bit screwy. The top four teams from the round robin qualify for the medal round, but they seed the first games of the round as #1 v #2 and #3 v #4, so right off the bat, the seeding is unusual.

Second, the loser of the game between #1 and #2 will be higher seeded out of the preliminaries than the winner of the match between #3 and #4 - guaranteed. So the loser of that game gets screwed - they get the bronze and the #3 or #4 team gets to play for the gold.

It is likely with this system that the silver medal winner will have a worse overall record in the round robin and the same record in the medal round as the bronze.

I'd say that qualifies as bizarre.

Jeez... I had to edit this message 3 times to get this right; and I'm still not sure I have.

Why not a conventionally seeded 1 v 4 and 2 v 3, winners playing for gold, losers playing for bronze?

[IRISHMAFIA]

This format avoids the "if" game. I agree, it is not the norm, but it is the way of the IOC.

The top two seeds play to determine a reseeded #1.

The bottom two play for a medal and reseed at #3. You now have your medal teams. The bottom two play for the right to go for the gold. The loser gets the bronze.

Now it is one game for all the marbles.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Second, the loser of the game between #1 and #2 will be higher seeded out of the preliminaries than the winner of the match between #3 and #4 - guaranteed. So the loser of that game gets screwed - they get the bronze and the #3 or #4 team gets to play for the gold.

The winner of #3 vs #4 gets to play for the gold only if they defeat the loser of #1 vs #2. Assuming #2 loses in Semi-Final #1 and that #3 wins in Semi-Final #2. Then #2 will play #3 to see who gets the bronze. The loser gets the bronze and the winner goes on to play for the Gold and is guaranteed nothing less than a silver medal. If #2 wins, they play #1 again for the Gold. Winner of the Gold Medal game gets the gold. The only way for #3 or #4 to play for the gold is if they defeat the loser of Semi-Final #1.