What is pool play in baseball?

Pool play in baseball is a format in which teams are divided into groups, or pools, and compete against each other within their pool. This format is commonly used in tournaments and large events to determine seeding for the elimination rounds.

In pool play, each team plays a set number of games against the other teams in their pool. The results of these games are used to determine the standings within the pool. Teams may earn points based on their wins, losses, and ties, with ties potentially being broken by various tiebreaker criteria such as head-to-head record, run differential, or runs scored.

At the conclusion of pool play, teams are typically ranked based on their performance in the games. The top teams from each pool may then advance to the elimination rounds, where they compete against other top-ranked teams in a bracket-style format to determine the overall winner of the tournament.

Pool play is a popular format in baseball because it allows for more games and competition among teams, while also providing a fair and systematic way to determine the best teams in a tournament. It adds an element of strategy and depth to the event, as teams must not only focus on winning their games but also consider factors such as run differential and tiebreakers in order to advance in the tournament.