Two AI team management suggestions

cbbl · 01-18-2008, 07:45 PM

Throwing out a couple of suggestions for future versions of OOTP from what I've seen.

One - Backup catchers are there to support the primary catcher when he gets tired. If the AI uses my backup catcher as a pinch hitter all the time, then I have no catcher on my bench. Backup catchers aren't normally pinch hitters, unless they are coming in for the starting catcher.

OOTP seems to treat backup catchers like any other player on the bench. It shouldn't, IMHO.

Two - when you're down by 1 or 2 runs in the late innings (particularly the ninth, and even more so the bottom of the ninth, and your pitcher comes up to bat, you pinch hit for him -- always (unless he's a .300 hitter or something). It doesn't matter if he just came in to get the last guy out in the 8th inning and has only thrown 4 pitches.

I suppose I need to modify the strategy settings, so I'll investigate that, but I suggest the AI logic should incorporate these things by default.

pstrickert · 01-18-2008, 07:53 PM

I heartily agree. May I add another suggestion? I think the AI should more liberally use late-season callups for teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. Why not replace a starter with a 9-19 record with the young stud from AAA? The AI should give the rookie a couple of starts before the season ends. The same goes for young players at other positions, too. Most of the time, the AI sticks with the same lineups, despite being 25 games out of first in September.

bailey · 01-19-2008, 01:13 AM

I'd also like to tell the AI to be able to bring in a defensive replacement while removing a player from a different position. Like the defensive sub goes to CF while the playing CF moves to LF where is he also excellent, in the case where your defensive sub is poor at LF and the playing LF is weak defensively as well.

wlight1 · 01-19-2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbl

If the AI uses my backup catcher as a pinch hitter all the time, then I have no catcher on my bench. Backup catchers aren't normally pinch hitters, unless they are coming in for the starting catcher.

OOTP seems to treat backup catchers like any other player on the bench. It shouldn't

My goodness, OOTP has been doing this for as long as I've played it. I always figured that it looked for the first available batter to use as a PH and just saw the catcher first. It will also use your backup catcher defensively if it can't find another player that can play the position in question -- which is actually related to bailey's complaint as well. The defensive assignment AI could use a lot of help.

The Wolf · 01-19-2008, 08:25 AM

The first three posts all pointed out spots where the boneheaded AI seriously needs help.

cbbl · 01-19-2008, 11:41 AM

Yes, the defensive one is a good suggestion. I certainly see it a lot when, for example, the RF is pinch hit for and the pinch hitter takes over the fielding role in RF -- with a low rating in RF, but a high rating in LF, while my LFer, who's plays there normally, has solid ratings in RF as well.

BTW, on the issues I suggested, I was able to get the pitcher hook by modifying strategy settings, but there's nothing I can do about not using the backup catcher as a universal PH.

lynchjm24 · 01-19-2008, 05:47 PM

It's right in the depth charts when it builds them. My backup catcher gets listed as the backup 1st baseman plenty if he has a rating.

cbbl · 01-21-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynchjm24

It's right in the depth charts when it builds them. My backup catcher gets listed as the backup 1st baseman plenty if he has a rating.

Yes, but what I'm talking about is two guys who are capable of playing a position, but one is more capable than the other (higher rating) -- or, when the entire bench has been used and a guy not in the depth chart has to play a position.

With the AI in control, its not always "best fielder" at each position. Sometimes there are better defensive combinations.

01-18-2008, 07:45 PM	#1
cbbl All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,179	Two AI team management suggestions Throwing out a couple of suggestions for future versions of OOTP from what I've seen. One - Backup catchers are there to support the primary catcher when he gets tired. If the AI uses my backup catcher as a pinch hitter all the time, then I have no catcher on my bench. Backup catchers aren't normally pinch hitters, unless they are coming in for the starting catcher. OOTP seems to treat backup catchers like any other player on the bench. It shouldn't, IMHO. Two - when you're down by 1 or 2 runs in the late innings (particularly the ninth, and even more so the bottom of the ninth, and your pitcher comes up to bat, you pinch hit for him -- always (unless he's a .300 hitter or something). It doesn't matter if he just came in to get the last guy out in the 8th inning and has only thrown 4 pitches. I suppose I need to modify the strategy settings, so I'll investigate that, but I suggest the AI logic should incorporate these things by default.

01-18-2008, 07:53 PM	#2
pstrickert Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 17,026	I heartily agree. May I add another suggestion? I think the AI should more liberally use late-season callups for teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. Why not replace a starter with a 9-19 record with the young stud from AAA? The AI should give the rookie a couple of starts before the season ends. The same goes for young players at other positions, too. Most of the time, the AI sticks with the same lineups, despite being 25 games out of first in September.

01-19-2008, 01:13 AM	#3
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,424	I'd also like to tell the AI to be able to bring in a defensive replacement while removing a player from a different position. Like the defensive sub goes to CF while the playing CF moves to LF where is he also excellent, in the case where your defensive sub is poor at LF and the playing LF is weak defensively as well.

01-19-2008, 11:41 AM	#6
cbbl All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,179	Yes, the defensive one is a good suggestion. I certainly see it a lot when, for example, the RF is pinch hit for and the pinch hitter takes over the fielding role in RF -- with a low rating in RF, but a high rating in LF, while my LFer, who's plays there normally, has solid ratings in RF as well. BTW, on the issues I suggested, I was able to get the pitcher hook by modifying strategy settings, but there's nothing I can do about not using the backup catcher as a universal PH.

01-19-2008, 05:47 PM	#7
lynchjm24 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hartford Posts: 978 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	It's right in the depth charts when it builds them. My backup catcher gets listed as the backup 1st baseman plenty if he has a rating.