Quote:
Originally Posted by Anyone
The pinch hitting issue you describe is a different issue with the game, which is that it doesn't recognize strict platoon partners in general, that if you have a lefty and a righty platoon at 3B, a lefty started (so your righty started) and is replaced by a righty, it won't bring in the platoon partner to pinch hit. Regardless, it should bring in the platoon partner there, unless it's a very high leverage situation and the pinch hitter it uses is a lot better.
It might also decide in a bubble in general, that it had to pinch run so it picked the best pinch runner and saving players isn't in the calculus or too low in it: That may be what happened in the OP's spot. But I just don't think that particular move is that bad. I don't think I'd have done it if managing the game because the runner was on 3rd, so his speed was very unlikely to affect whether he scored or not. But with a runner on 1st and no outs, if I have to pinch run anyway I'll use the better runner and burn him, because even if he's not good enough to steal second with there are a lot of cases he'll advance extra bases and eventually score where the backup catcher wouldn't.
I wouldn't pinch run for the catcher at all of course if he wasn't injured; that would be burning two players, and the starting catcher was probably a better overall player than the backup. But a practice of, if you have to pinch run, using someone fast, isn't a bad idea in general.
I know I don't like managers who rarely go through almost all their position players in a game. Many real life managers avoid burning players to the point that they waste them.
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I wasn't talking about a "strict platoon". I was talking about an instance where you have two reasonably equal choices to pinch hit and the AI uses the guy that will cause you to then replace him with another sub in the field. Platoon situations aren't the only time this happens.
As for pinch hitting for a catcher on first base with no outs because of injury, for me it would depend on the situation. Early in a game then I probably just use the backup catcher. Later in a close game then I would be more willing to burn an extra guy for the advantage on the bases.