Anyone else having problems with their defensive substitions in 6.5?

[Malleus Dei]

Anyone else having problems with their defensive substitions? I have mine set in the depth charts in a 6.5 solo league, and in a simmed blowout where my team had a 13-run lead by the 8th inning the AI never put any of the defensive subs into the game. This is a problem, and not just because my starting first baseman fields like he was using a machete.

Anyone else have this happen to them? I'm hoping it was a fluke, like the 13-run lead.

[mlyons]

I think the AI only uses defensive substitutions when protecting a close lead, which is why your 13-run lead wouldn't trigger it.

[endgame]

I haven't simmed in some time, but that was my thought as well: that the lead was too great to trigger defensive positioning. I don't think there is a "mop up" equivalent in position players. That'd be an interesting feature add though, eh?

[Vizquel13]

I could be wrong, but I don't notice any difference in fatigue whether a player plays an inning or 20 innings in a game. A couple different times, I have sat my tired starting catcher, used him as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning, then replaced him so he never did anything but pinch hit, and he is still tired the next day. It often seems unrealistic since a guy is not going to wear out from taking 2-3 swings in a day.

Anyway, the point of that was to say it doesn't seem to really matter. If guys get just as tired playing 5 innings as they do playing 9, it won't make a difference if the AI yanks them in a blowout.

I've also noticed some interesting fatigue with starters. When my bullpen gets tired, I like to use a minor league starter as big league reliever for a couple days. These starters have endurance in the 70's, but a 12 pitch relief outing sometimes gets them "tired" the next day. Even though the warmup pitches and the difference in roles would add to their fatigue, I can't imagine they'd be tired (and therefore not as effective) the day after a 12 pitch outing.



Kos

[Malleus Dei]

Originally Posted by mlyons

I think the AI only uses defensive substitutions when protecting a close lead, which is why your 13-run lead wouldn't trigger it.

Well, that would explain it. Thanks.

I play out virtually all of my games so this was a new thing to me.

[RonCo]

Defensive replacements have not worked well as far as I can tell since at least V5 onward.

[congobeast]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

This is a problem, and not just because my starting first baseman fields like he was using a machete.

threadjack

LOVE that turn of phrase. Just love it.

/threadjack

[mtw]

If there is a blowout, on occasion it will pinch hit for one or two of the players starting the game, and obviously replace them in the field.

However, I've never seen the AI make a pure "defensive substitution," much less a defensive substitution to protect a lead. I would agree that this has been true since at least v5 and probably before.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by mtw

However, I've never seen the AI make a pure "defensive substitution," much less a defensive substitution to protect a lead. I would agree that this has been true since at least v5 and probably before.

I have seen it. It only happens in very close games, with the AI holding a slim lead, and it doesn't happen every time, but it does happen.

[mtw]

Originally Posted by mlyons

I have seen it. It only happens in very close games, with the AI holding a slim lead, and it doesn't happen every time, but it does happen.

I'll keep watching...

[thbroman]

Originally Posted by RonCo

Defensive replacements have not worked well as far as I can tell since at least V5 onward.

This is true, but I THINK I've seen occasional substitutions in the games I've simmed so far with 6.5(a). At the very least, I see my defensive subs playing innings at a position where the depth chart has them defensive subbing & doesn't have them starting. So it appeasr that they're getting in there somehow!

[Qwerty75]

Does anyone know if how much better the defensive substitute is than the starter comes into play in the AI's decision to make a replacement? E.g., can you expect the AI to make the move if your def. specialist is has a 5 range vs. a 3 range for the starter, etc.?

From what I've observed, I'm not even sure it's worthwhile to carry a defensive specialist on the active roster unless it's to backup a position where the starter is *terrible* ...

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by Qwerty75

Does anyone know if how much better the defensive substitute is than the starter comes into play in the AI's decision to make a replacement? E.g., can you expect the AI to make the move if your def. specialist is has a 5 range vs. a 3 range for the starter, etc.?

From what I've observed, I'm not even sure it's worthwhile to carry a defensive specialist on the active roster unless it's to backup a position where the starter is *terrible* ...

Anecdotally, without any concrete evidence to back this up, I'd say yes, the AI will be much more likely to bring in a defensive substitute if the difference in range between the substitute and the original player is quite large.

[RonCo]

Originally Posted by thbroman

This is true, but I THINK I've seen occasional substitutions in the games I've simmed so far with 6.5(a). At the very least, I see my defensive subs playing innings at a position where the depth chart has them defensive subbing & doesn't have them starting. So it appeasr that they're getting in there somehow!

None of my current leagues play in 6.5, so if I get a chance I'll investigate defensive replacements in 6.5 in a solo league. I certainly hope they work. Per someone else's comments above, carrying a defensive replacement on the roster has been a total waste of a roster slot in every version I've spent substantial time in to date.

[Qwerty75]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Anecdotally, without any concrete evidence to back this up, I'd say yes, the AI will be much more likely to bring in a defensive substitute if the difference in range between the substitute and the original player is quite large.

I'd think so as well, but I went a half-season with a guy in CF with a 2/5 range (probably on the high end of 2) and a backup with 5/5 range (with a .998 Fld.% or something like that, so I think he was on the high end of 5) and he NEVER came in as a defensive replacement despite being listed there in the depth chart. Sort of wondering if anyone has an idea about how large the gap has to be for the AI to enact the strategy ...

Also, maybe the hitting ability of the starter being replaced might affect the decision? The CF I was talking about had a 1.000 OPS, and the defensive specialist was a lightweight with a 4 contact talent/4 eye talent ...

I still wonder if it's worth reserving a spot on your roster for a good-glove no hit guy if he won't ever get in games unless the starter is tired ...

[Malleus Dei]

Originally Posted by Qwerty75

I'd think so as well, but I went a half-season with a guy in CF with a 2/5 range (probably on the high end of 2) and a backup with 5/5 range (with a .998 Fld.% or something like that, so I think he was on the high end of 5) and he NEVER came in as a defensive replacement despite being listed there in the depth chart. Sort of wondering if anyone has an idea about how large the gap has to be for the AI to enact the strategy ...

Also, maybe the hitting ability of the starter being replaced might affect the decision? The CF I was talking about had a 1.000 OPS, and the defensive specialist was a lightweight with a 4 contact talent/4 eye talent ...

I still wonder if it's worth reserving a spot on your roster for a good-glove no hit guy if he won't ever get in games unless the starter is tired ...

I'm thinking it's time to bring this up to Markus.