Sacrifice Fly

[luger]

Thoughout my OOTP career, I've generally just played the role of GM and simmed through seasons. I've been trying to actually manage/watch more regular season games and manage playoff games now.

One thing I cannot figure out is how to do a sacrifice fly. I could have sworn I've seen this in the game in the past but maybe not. And, maybe I'm just blind as this seems like a really obvious thing to include in the game.

But, when I get the runner to 3rd with no outs or 1 out, I don't see any option to do a sac fly. My only real option to get that guy home seems to be a suicide squeeze but that's not reliable.

Is this an option that I'm totally just not seeing or is it not included in the game?

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

You can't direct a batter to deliberately attempt a sac fly, they will just occur as they would if the batter ends up hitting a fly ball deep enough. I don't know to what extent the game simulates a batter taking different situational approaches to an at bat in order to increase the odds of something like that.

[luger]

Hmm, thanks for the input. From my experience, it seems like the current logic for determining the situational approach seems somewhat flawed as I never seem to get a sac fly in those situations when I desperately need it (many times I've had tie game in bottom of 9th and a man on third with no outs and they just ground out).

Even if it's not 100% successful, it seems like it should be something the manager should be able to call in those situations. Or, at the very least, be able to control the logic behind the situational hitting given that it's not even a choice within Overall Team Strategy but sacrifice bunt is.

For as frustrating as it has been to me in my short time trying to manage games, I'm surprised others haven't requested it over the years though.

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

Well, in fairness, telling a batter to sac bunt is a little different. God knows I get frustrated enough watching actual MLB games when the team I'm rooting for "only" needs a sac fly and they can't execute. It's not as easy or deliberate as trying to just lay a bunt down.

[luger]

Oh, definitely. It's just that some instances of situational hitting are able to be controlled but not others. One situation may cause for a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second and we can call for that or control the frequency of it. But, in a situation where we want to sacrifice to score the runner from third, there isn't a way to call for that or control it.

[Cinnamon J. Scudworth]

I guess my point is that managers in real life don't get to "call for or control" sac flies either. The player knows the situation, though.

[luger]

Originally Posted by Cinnamon J. Scudworth

God knows I get frustrated enough watching actual MLB games when the team I'm rooting for "only" needs a sac fly and they can't execute.

If I were to call for a sac fly and they failed to execute it, that's certainly understandable. The pitcher could be a groundball pitcher and the batter might just not have the ability to do it well. My main frustration is that I don't even get the chance to call for it. Even if it was only successful 50% of the time, I'd just like to be able to say "go out there and try to hit a sac fly" as opposed to clicking "swing away" as it is my only option to choose.

I just hate when it seems that my players aren't even trying to do it in a situation that obviously calls for it (if they are trying and failing to execute, I wouldn't know though). Even if the PbP gave an indication that he tried, I would be satisfied ("He tries to bring the runner home with a sacrifice but grounds out instead!" would be sufficient). I'd just like to know they're trying, if they are!

Just one of those trivial things that bugs me.

[Bluenoser]

Interesting, because I've never, in all my years of playing or watching baseball, heard of anyone calling for an "intentional" sac fly. Imo it's something that you can't control like you can bunting.

I must ask though, if you have 3 chances to score that runner, why would you be trying for a sac fly? If I were the manager I'd have my best LH contact hitter up there and if nothing else, at least get him to hit it to the right side of the infield. If he hits where the 1b or 2b have to range a fair bit, then the runner will score.

[luger]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Interesting, because I've never, in all my years of playing or watching baseball, heard of anyone calling for an "intentional" sac fly. Imo it's something that you can't control like you can bunting.

Fair enough. As someone who watches baseball every day but has not played it at any competitive level, I just assumed it was something that would be called in from the manager. If that's not common practice, I'm surprised but I stand corrected surely. I think a manager would want to alert a player to try to hit a sac fly but I suppose they just assume the player knows to do it.

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

I must ask though, if you have 3 chances to score that runner, why would you be trying for a sac fly? If I were the manager I'd have my best LH contact hitter up there and if nothing else, at least get him to hit it to the right side of the infield. If he hits where the 1b or 2b have to range a fair bit, then the runner will score.

If the game is tied in the bottom of the 9th, for instance, and I have that runner on third, I'd really just want to try to end the game with a sacrifice of some sort as opposed to telling guys to swing away. Perhaps, it's poor managing on my part as I'm still more of a GM than a manager.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by luger

Fair enough. As someone who watches baseball every day but has not played it at any competitive level, I just assumed it was something that would be called in from the manager. If that's not common practice, I'm surprised but I stand corrected surely. I think a manager would want to alert a player to try to hit a sac fly but I suppose they just assume the player knows to do it.

It's one of those situational things, a basic play that is taught. A player is expected to know when a sac fly will work, and to execute. Kind of like how the pitcher automatically moves to cover first on an ball hit to the right side. The manager doesn't necessarily remind the pitcher everytime the situation comes up, he's expected to do that as one of the basic fundamentals of the game.

By no means am I saying it doesn't happen, it just hasn't happened that I can recall.

Originally Posted by luger

If the game is tied in the bottom of the 9th, for instance, and I have that runner on third, I'd really just want to try to end the game with a sacrifice of some sort as opposed to telling guys to swing away. Perhaps, it's poor managing on my part as I'm still more of a GM than a manager.

Well, with no outs I'd be trying for the hit, using my LH contact guy first.

With one out, I'd likely send up a guy who hits a lot of fly balls.

With two out, well you need a hit, passed ball, or wild pitch, so go with your best hitter if you can. A balk would also work but isn't likely to happen with 2 outs and 1 runner on at 3rd.

Of course everybody manages differently and decisions are certainly subjective, so go with what you feel is your best chance to get the run in.

[luger]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Well, with no outs I'd be trying for the hit, using my LH contact guy first.

With one out, I'd likely send up a guy who hits a lot of fly balls.

With two out, well you need a hit, passed ball, or wild pitch, so go with your best hitter if you can. A balk would also work but isn't likely to happen with 2 outs and 1 runner on at 3rd.

Of course everybody manages differently and decisions are certainly subjective, so go with what you feel is your best chance to get the run in.

Many thanks. That's great advice. Something I'll definitely keep in mind.

[Big T]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

It's one of those situational things, a basic play that is taught. A player is expected to know when a sac fly will work, and to execute. Kind of like how the pitcher automatically moves to cover first on an ball hit to the right side. The manager doesn't necessarily remind the pitcher everytime the situation comes up, he's expected to do that as one of the basic fundamentals of the game.

By no means am I saying it doesn't happen, it just hasn't happened that I can recall.





Well, with no outs I'd be trying for the hit, using my LH contact guy first.

With one out, I'd likely send up a guy who hits a lot of fly balls.

With two out, well you need a hit, passed ball, or wild pitch, so go with your best hitter if you can. A balk would also work but isn't likely to happen with 2 outs and 1 runner on at 3rd.

Of course everybody manages differently and decisions are certainly subjective, so go with what you feel is your best chance to get the run in.

Or click on Option 11- The Sac Fly Button...

[CoachMac]

Originally Posted by luger

Hmm, thanks for the input. From my experience, it seems like the current logic for determining the situational approach seems somewhat flawed as I never seem to get a sac fly in those situations when I desperately need it (many times I've had tie game in bottom of 9th and a man on third with no outs and they just ground out).

Even if it's not 100% successful, it seems like it should be something the manager should be able to call in those situations. Or, at the very least, be able to control the logic behind the situational hitting given that it's not even a choice within Overall Team Strategy but sacrifice bunt is.

For as frustrating as it has been to me in my short time trying to manage games, I'm surprised others haven't requested it over the years though.

Hi guys,

I am having a blast with OOTP26 but i see this old chat which seems still relevant.

How is it even possible to not have a sacrifice fly instruction to a batter with a runner on 3rd base and one out in a close game ?

This seems extremely surprising.
Or am i missing it ?