I'm Kansas City born and bred. The Royals and Chiefs are what we're used to. I actually remember both George Brett and Len Dawson, but decades of futility and frustration are the norm for Kansas City sportsball fans. This high living #paintthewall decade of Sporting glory is definitely not what we expect.
In the 8/26 version of Toastiness, the Rapids were 7-6-14 for 27 points with 7 matches remaining. The Despair values were 3.07/3.22. Since that day and the coming of The Most Successful Manager in Rapids History, Robin Fraser, with 3 straight wins, we're now 10-6-14 for 36 points with 4 matches remaining. So it's tempting to think - we're playing better - maybe we sneak into the playoffs somehow and become the first Lazarus team??? Nope. Because of how other teams are playing (like some of them are winning their matches, too), our Despair values are now 3.48/3.85. Worse. There are now 8 teams whose Projected point totals are higher than our Maximum point total (48). Yet another situation where how something feels is not how it actually is. Math is cool, if sometimes discouraging.
Actually the great thing about having your team be toast is that it is freeing. There is no despair because there is no false hope. I'm enjoying the dregs of SKC's season because I'm not particularly concerned about their chances at winning any trophies. They're not going to do it. I thought that was the whole point of quantifying when teams are toast - to free their fans from any faint hopes - which is the source from whence despair springs.
[Insert hyperbolic statement about Don's flirtations with right-wing extremists] But seriously, do we care about tiebreakers just yet? I wont really care until the last matchday.
This. My Rapids-specific version of Toast is when the PPG they would need to average to reach the average number of points for the last playoff team (43 for the 7th placed team in a 34 game season) is higher than the PPG they averaged in 2016 (their best ever season). We hit that point after the first weekend of May this season. Since then I haven't concerned myself with the standings, the playoff races, or our chances. The season was over after two months, after that its just enjoy the ride.
The Toast Thread cares not for your tie-breaker pedantry. At least not until the final week or two. Viva The SRFC To MLS Revolution! False.
It might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but to some of us, any day that Seattle is eating our dust is a good day. Ditto for LAFC, LAG, SKC, Minnesota, San Jose, FC Dallas, Houston, Colorado, Vancouver or Portland.
MLS and MLB could both have NY vs. LA finals. Hopefully not with NYCFC. MLS Cup will be 11 to 15 days after the last game of the World Series. Wikipedia gives two dates for the MLS Conference Finals, so I'm assuming one will be Tuesday and one will be Wednesday. Those will compete with Games 6 and 7 of the World Series if it goes that many games. I understand MLS wanting over a week before MLS Cup for the host to be known and sell tickets, but maybe MLS should have made the Conference Finals Thursday and Friday that will be 9 and 10 days before MLS Cup.
Nah, won't happen. It will be a RSL vs. NY final. RSL will play Jack the Giant Killer and take down LAFC at home (again!) in the playoffs.