Anti-pinch running religion

Dyzalot · 04-05-2026, 03:05 PM

Why does the OOTP AI have such a disgust for pinch running that it borders on religious zealotry? I have my strategy setting for pinch running set to max for the 9th inning when the game is close (+/-1 run). Yet my catcher can lead off the top of the ninth when I am down one and the AI refuses to pinch run for him. Every MLB manager in today's game would pinch run in that situation, assuming the catcher is a slow runner. Yet with the AI in OOTP I can watch it go through hundreds of situations like this and see it pinch run maybe 1% of the time. What does OOTP have against pinch running?

FYI - This is a modern sim and I have seen this problem with OOTP for years through several versions.

BaseballATeam · 04-06-2026, 04:28 PM

I hate to ask, but are you sure you're not missing something obvious like your backup catcher is already in the game, or the guy who can pinch run is also your pinch hitter for the next batter?

I have the opposite problem. I don't micromanage the settings to that extent though, so maybe there's a bug in the +/- 1 category or something. My settings are situation agnostic, and I personally manage the 9th inning (when close).

Dyzalot · 04-06-2026, 06:58 PM

No. My bench was full and it is a common problem. I asked chatgpt why its like that and was told that the "heuristic" used by the OOTP AI to determine when to pinch run is heavily biased towards not ending up in extra innings with a depleted bench. This has been a problem through at least ten versions of OOTP now. The devs need to change the AI.

And just think about your own sim and how often the opposing AI manager pinch runs in the ninth when behind against you. They almost never do. Probably in the last 1000 games I've watched, I've seen my own manager pinch run twice.

locuspc · 04-07-2026, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyzalot

No. My bench was full and it is a common problem. I asked chatgpt why its like that and was told that the "heuristic" used by the OOTP AI to determine when to pinch run is heavily biased towards not ending up in extra innings with a depleted bench. This has been a problem through at least ten versions of OOTP now. The devs need to change the AI.

And just think about your own sim and how often the opposing AI manager pinch runs in the ninth when behind against you. They almost never do. Probably in the last 1000 games I've watched, I've seen my own manager pinch run twice.

Why would you expect ChatGPT to know the internal workings of OOTP? It's just pulling something out of its rear end. Try engaging your own brain instead of blindly trusting a large language model's hallucinations.

Dyzalot · 04-07-2026, 06:52 AM

I don't expect chatgpt to know anything. What I do trust is that it is faster and more efficient than I am at searching through the internet for the best available information on a subject. And since the answer it gave me perfectly aligns with the reality I see in front of me, I'm less inclined to reject it simply because it came from an advanced search engine.

WooBallFan43 · 04-07-2026, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyzalot

I don't expect chatgpt to know anything. What I do trust is that it is faster and more efficient than I am at searching through the internet for the best available information on a subject. And since the answer it gave me perfectly aligns with the reality I see in front of me, I'm less inclined to reject it simply because it came from an advanced search engine.

How do you expect chat to give you reliable information if you "don't expect chatgpt to know anything"? Isn't that the whole point of finding info? Chat's wrong about OOTP just as it's wrong about Minecraft. It just doesn't know the inner workings of the game. It's not Google.

If you want an advanced search engine just Google it yourself, it's not that hard. oH BuT My hAnDs aRe tIrEd fRoM TyPiNg fOr sO LoNg. Oh i'm bUsY AnD CaN'T TaKe tEn mInUtEs oUt oF My dAy tO FiNd tHe aNsWeR.

Hey, here's a suggestion. USE THE FORUMS. You know, the site WE ARE ON RIGHT NOW? Don't blindly rely on AI if it fits your worldview. Pathetic.

jofos · 04-07-2026, 09:33 PM

He used ChatGPT to find the answer to a question he asked here, and no one answered. Everyone just wants to focus on him using ChatGPT.

My answer, and this is just what I think, is that the AI for OOTP doesn't feel there is enough gained by running for a player compared to what would be lost. Sure, you may a guy that is faster and a better baserunner but in the case you mentioned, your backup catcher may have more of a negative impact than a faster runner has a positive impact.

redranger · 04-19-2026, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofos

He used ChatGPT to find the answer to a question he asked here, and no one answered. Everyone just wants to focus on him using ChatGPT.

My answer, and this is just what I think, is that the AI for OOTP doesn't feel there is enough gained by running for a player compared to what would be lost. Sure, you may a guy that is faster and a better baserunner but in the case you mentioned, your backup catcher may have more of a negative impact than a faster runner has a positive impact.

While I agree with what you are saying here I also see the OP’s point. Down by 1 run, slow running catcher on 1st….the game should be worried about at minimum tying to get to extra innings at whatever cost available…..the alternative is an unused bench with a loss

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04-05-2026, 03:05 PM	#1
Dyzalot All Star Starter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,740	Anti-pinch running religion Why does the OOTP AI have such a disgust for pinch running that it borders on religious zealotry? I have my strategy setting for pinch running set to max for the 9th inning when the game is close (+/-1 run). Yet my catcher can lead off the top of the ninth when I am down one and the AI refuses to pinch run for him. Every MLB manager in today's game would pinch run in that situation, assuming the catcher is a slow runner. Yet with the AI in OOTP I can watch it go through hundreds of situations like this and see it pinch run maybe 1% of the time. What does OOTP have against pinch running? FYI - This is a modern sim and I have seen this problem with OOTP for years through several versions.

04-06-2026, 04:28 PM	#2
BaseballATeam Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 131	I hate to ask, but are you sure you're not missing something obvious like your backup catcher is already in the game, or the guy who can pinch run is also your pinch hitter for the next batter? I have the opposite problem. I don't micromanage the settings to that extent though, so maybe there's a bug in the +/- 1 category or something. My settings are situation agnostic, and I personally manage the 9th inning (when close).

04-06-2026, 06:58 PM	#3
Dyzalot All Star Starter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,740	No. My bench was full and it is a common problem. I asked chatgpt why its like that and was told that the "heuristic" used by the OOTP AI to determine when to pinch run is heavily biased towards not ending up in extra innings with a depleted bench. This has been a problem through at least ten versions of OOTP now. The devs need to change the AI. And just think about your own sim and how often the opposing AI manager pinch runs in the ninth when behind against you. They almost never do. Probably in the last 1000 games I've watched, I've seen my own manager pinch run twice.

04-07-2026, 06:52 AM	#5
Dyzalot All Star Starter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,740	I don't expect chatgpt to know anything. What I do trust is that it is faster and more efficient than I am at searching through the internet for the best available information on a subject. And since the answer it gave me perfectly aligns with the reality I see in front of me, I'm less inclined to reject it simply because it came from an advanced search engine.

04-07-2026, 09:33 PM	#7
jofos Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 105	He used ChatGPT to find the answer to a question he asked here, and no one answered. Everyone just wants to focus on him using ChatGPT. My answer, and this is just what I think, is that the AI for OOTP doesn't feel there is enough gained by running for a player compared to what would be lost. Sure, you may a guy that is faster and a better baserunner but in the case you mentioned, your backup catcher may have more of a negative impact than a faster runner has a positive impact.