Why do people say a team is "X games in back of the loss column"?

[Barnaby Graves]

Is there a reason people don't refer directly to games back and instead use games in the loss column? I don't understand this.

[Can_of_corn]

Is there a reason people don't refer directly to games back and instead use games in the loss column? I don't understand this.

Because a team can always theoretically win out. The ultimate determining factor is the number of losses since that is a set total.

That help?

[crissfan172]

Because a team can always theoretically win out. The ultimate determining factor is the number of losses since that is a set total.

That help?

Exactly. You can't un-lose games to catch up on your own, but you can always win more if you've played less games.

[Barnaby Graves]

Because a team can always theoretically win out. The ultimate determining factor is the number of losses since that is a set total.

That help?

I thought that was kind of the reason but it doesn't seem particularly useful unless there's very few games left. And even then I'd probably use E numbers.

Not that it really matters honestly.