The 2013 Table - Magic Numbers, Tragic Numbers & Other Fishy Figures [R]

I don't know what the Knave Bowl is. But perhaps it become clear in the fullness of time.

 

DC v Chivas - the two teams Knave unfalteringly supports, even when they aren't bottom of their respective tables

 

If United weren't distracted by that pesky USOC (and possible/likely CCL berth), I'm sure they'd be able to give CUSA a better effort and game this weekend.

Oh, a bilingual mistress. You lucky guy. (Even if she is kinda fugly.)

 

Using google translate doesn't make you bilingual . . .

 

That you fell in love with due to your feelings of inadequacy towards your stunningly beautiful neighbor (LAG).

 

Exactly. So maybe Impact de Montreal would make a better mistress option.

 

What mistresses are uglier Italian or Mexican?

 

Goats

 

This thread got weird.

 

Got?

 

So... If NYR and SKC have identical records, how is NYR mobility number 1.70 when both teams are at 1.56? If Kansas City maintains their 1.56 pace, wouldn't New York just need to average 1.57 (give or take)? to pass them? I understand the granularity issues with the limited number of games and points remaining, but since both teams have absolutely identical records, the mobility number of the team listed lower should basically match their current rate.

Or am I missing something.

 

I think you provide an excellent service that is very well done. You have perspectives on these numbers that I really enjoy.

Seems to me that a factor missing from the MB# calculation is how much of a reach it is from the team's established PPG. Essentially it quantifies what you are describing above. Mobility Difficulty# I'll call it, MD#... It is the difference between their season-long PPG and the MB#. The larger the difference, the taller the order it is for the team to find that extra gear to move up.

Code:

EAST
Team          MD#
SKC          0.74
NYR          0.14
PHI          0.69
HOU          0.22
NER          0.13
CHI          0.20
CLB          1.18
TFC          1.56
DCU          1.43

WEST
Team          MD#
RSL          0.20
LAG          0.39
POR          0.78
COL          0.42
VAN          0.22
FCD          0.13
SJE          0.94
CHI          2.31

 

Because nothing says having a soul like being a brand extension of a foreign club with dubious hiring practices...

 

On the RSL boards we have a thread called "The Chase" which is our discussion on the various cup competitions and RSL's position in them. RSL has a bye week this weekend which means two things: 1) they get rest and 2) they don't play any games missing players on national team duty. I calculated a quantification of rest that I called the Schedule Congestion Quotient (SCQ). It is the average number of days between matches (including USOC and CCL matches), calculated prior to the midweek matches of a few days ago. This is the result of that calculation with the MD# from above added. Teams with lots of rest and low MD# should have the best chance of moving up.

Code:

EAST
Team         MD#    SCQ
MON          --      4.45
SKC          0.74    5.56
NYR          0.14    7.14
PHI          0.69    7.00
HOU          0.22    4.91
NER          0.13    6.25
CHI          0.20    5.67
CLB          1.18    not calc.
TFC          1.56    not calc.
DCU          1.43    not calc.

WEST
Team          MD#    SCQ
SEA          --      5.40
RSL          0.20    6.71
LAG          0.39    4.63
POR          0.78    6.25
COL          0.42    7.28
VAN          0.22    6.38
FCD          0.13    6.25
SJE          0.94    5.44
CHI          2.31    5.67

The first thing that jumps out is that even though LAG has a modest MD# to attain, they have less rest on which to build it, particularly compared to the team above them in the standings. RSL also has more rest on which to build their needed change in gear. Vancouver, even with a low MD# is below a team with comparable to more rest available. New England with low MD# and high rest is likely to overtake Houston who has much less rest. Etc.

 

The mistress must suck a mean...

 

All of this is BS pushing numbers around. Squad depth? Sure, if you can quantify it... How about remaining schedule difficulty? How about miles traveled? While most teams have games only within one time zone away within MLS, some have matches across country and some have matches in Central America. Go nuts, if you like.

 

Here are 4 quick measures of squad depth based on minutes played for LAG and RSL's top 25 contributing players. All of them favor RSL, in my opinion, because they indicate fewer players dominating playing time at the top and more players at the bottom contributing. If you want to begin analyzing individual player's contributions, etc... that's more than I have time for.

Code:

          LAG    RSL
Mean      1026  1101
Median     795   940
Std Dev    749   622
Range     2179  2040
Max       2307  2220
Min        128   180