Entering Thursday, the best the Yankees could have hoped for was a tie with the Orioles for the second wild-card spot, as the Blue Jays were already guaranteed to finish with a better record than the Yankees.
Quins were already guaranteed top spot in Pool Three and Montpellier knew they would need a handsome victory to join them in the quarter-finals as one of the three best runners-up.
The union's president, Bob King, said workers were already guaranteed at least a $3,500 profit-sharing check in 2012 based on profits already earned this year at G.M. G.M. executives have declined to comment on the savings the company expects from the new agreement, which was reached on Sept. 16 after marathon negotiations that lasted two days past the expiration of the old contract.
Both sides were already guaranteed a place in this week's semi-finals, but while Australia have been expected to win the World Cup since long before the tournament began, Kenya have shocked the cricketing world - not that too many are noticing in Nairobi.
But the Dragons are formidable opponents in their Perpignan lair, and even with nothing tangible to play for as they were already guaranteed to finish seventh and therefore go to Leeds in the first round of the play-offs next Saturday, they shattered Castleford's dreams on a steamy September night in the south of France.
However, two more Morath penalties meant that by the time France finally mounted a sustained attack in the dying moments of the game, Tonga were already guaranteed victory.
The women were already guaranteed a berth in the semi-finals following earlier victories over Belgium and Germany in Pool B, but were nevertheless expected to beat Ireland, ranked 11 places below them in the world.
The hosts were already guaranteed top spot in Group K, but began with an attacking verve as Soldado headed in Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick before finishing well from Erik Lamela's pass.
The British duo were already guaranteed at least a silver medal and went into the final race needing to beat the Australians with one boat between them to clinch gold.
India were already guaranteed to finish top of Pool B and wrapped up their sixth win from six matches, but defeat for Zimbabwe meant their World Cup campaign concluded with only one win from six.
Commons has been out of the first-team starting line-up in recent weeks, but even a full 90 minutes and a goal was little compensation for defeat in Celtic's final game in a group in which were already guaranteed the runners-up spot.
