excited...but..

[WWBL Commissioner]

I've very happy to see that we can have custom playoffs now. I think I will be using that option in my online league, the WWBL. What I still have not seen and am hoping I missed is the return of a pinch hitter depth chart.

Is it there and I missed it, I ask because this is not a new feature, this is something that was around way back when and was taken away, it really added to online league, and I hope it will be brought back.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Well, back then it was mostly cosmetic anyway. The pinch htters listed were chosen by the AI depending on situation and the listed order did not play any role. So now you can basically duplicate this by checking the "prevent from being used as PH" in the player strategy setting of players you don't want as pinch hitters.

[boshk]

would it be possible to have the option to make only 1 depth chart and lineup if your team decides not to use R/L platoons? so that we dont have to set up multiple depth charts and lineups for L/R/LDH/RDH

[kingcharlesxii]

Just copy and paste then, it's pretty fast already.

[WWBL Commissioner]

I don't see it that way at all. the pinch hitter depth chart was great for online play. I could list my top guy off the bench for righties and another for lefties and that's who the game would use first. I love that more and more gets added but I never ever understood why this was taken away.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by WWBL Commissioner

I don't see it that way at all. the pinch hitter depth chart was great for online play. I could list my top guy off the bench for righties and another for lefties and that's who the game would use first.

No, the game used the PH first who made the most sense in the situation. And it still does. Would you want the AI to use your best PH in the 5th inning on a double switch for example? I'd rather use the third best here and save the best for later. The AI understands that, and that's the way it used the PH depth chart back then, it picked all players who were listed and chose the ones it thought would match the situation best.

[WWBL Commissioner]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

No, the game used the PH first who made the most sense in the situation. And it still does. Would you want the AI to use your best PH in the 5th inning on a double switch for example? I'd rather use the third best here and save the best for later. The AI understands that, and that's the way it used the PH depth chart back then, it picked all players who were listed and chose the ones it thought would match the situation best.

First off Markus thanks for participating in this thread, so I ask you is there anyway for me as an online league player, to have a bench player be the "pinch hitter specialist" and get most of those at bats?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by WWBL Commissioner

First off Markus thanks for participating in this thread, so I ask you is there anyway for me as an online league player, to have a bench player be the "pinch hitter specialist" and get most of those at bats?

Well, typically that would be the hitter on the bench with the best offensive ratings, right? Why would you want to choose a inferior one?... The AI already classifies the bench based on offensive value and uses it accordingly in PH situations. So, there is basically no need to tell the AI "Here, this is my best PH." as it already knows who he is.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Well, typically that would be the hitter on the bench with the best offensive ratings, right? Why would you want to choose a inferior one?... The AI already classifies the bench based on offensive value and uses it accordingly in PH situations. So, there is basically no need to tell the AI "Here, this is my best PH." as it already knows who he is.

Well, if one has a backup 1B, then he'll pretty much only be good as a pinch hitter. If he has comparable offensive stats, you'd still want him to be used as a pinch hitter rather than burning someone who could function as a useful pinch runner or defensive sub.

[WWBL Commissioner]

and no offense but the AI doesn't always "pick the best guy" I have had it decide it likes a certain bench play or MR out of the pen and always go to them first, no matter what, I even tested the theory putting all starts on the bench but still the guy the AI likes is the first one in

[bigfatcat]

Originally Posted by boshk

would it be possible to have the option to make only 1 depth chart and lineup if your team decides not to use R/L platoons? so that we dont have to set up multiple depth charts and lineups for L/R/LDH/RDH

kind of along the same lines...
why is it necessary for a player listed as a defensive replacement, who is removed from that role, also automatically removed from a back-up spot in the depth charts. every time i remove a defensive replacement, i have to, if it's the same player, re-instate him in the back-up role in the depth charts. these are two different roles....why are they tied together like they are?

Thanks
MF

[boshk]

Originally Posted by bigfatcat

kind of along the same lines...
why is it necessary for a player listed as a defensive replacement, who is removed from that role, also automatically removed from a back-up spot in the depth charts. every time i remove a defensive replacement, i have to, if it's the same player, re-instate him in the back-up role in the depth charts. these are two different roles....why are they tied together like they are?

Thanks
MF

and along those lines, and lines drawn elsewhere in this thread. why do we need to pick a defensive replacement, if the AI would pick the best player for a situation that requires a defensive replacement?

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

No, the game used the PH first who made the most sense in the situation. And it still does. Would you want the AI to use your best PH in the 5th inning on a double switch for example? I'd rather use the third best here and save the best for later. The AI understands that, and that's the way it used the PH depth chart back then, it picked all players who were listed and chose the ones it thought would match the situation best.

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Well, typically that would be the hitter on the bench with the best offensive ratings, right? Why would you want to choose a inferior one?... The AI already classifies the bench based on offensive value and uses it accordingly in PH situations. So, there is basically no need to tell the AI "Here, this is my best PH." as it already knows who he is.

If we can't get a true PH depth chart, can we at least get some input as to who should be chosen instead of leaving it up to the AI to determine who it thinks has the best offensive ratings?!? Maybe something like the strategy options where you would use a bench player with these ratings in innings 4-6 and those other ratings in innings 8+.

Trust me when I say I don't have a lot of faith in the AI choosing the player with the "best offensive ratings". When I use the auto create depth chart and lineups button, I always have to make changes since the AI does not choose what I consider the best players. Maybe it is looking at a different and/or hidden value, but going by visible ratings alone, there are always two or three players I need to replace since the AI did not choose the best player IMO.

Another reason to allow the user some input into who gets selected as a PH... Maybe I want my fading veteran to get more of the PH ABs to try to get him to a milestone, but don't want to start him. So in this and other cases, I want a player with NOT the "best offensive ratings" (again as determined by the AI) to be the top PH. Maybe I'm just interested in having that 3 Contact 10 Power guy be the top PH on the off chance he'll connect and hit a 3-run HR while striking out every other time (ratings on 1-10 scale).

I understand if it is not possible without major re-coding, but tell me that is the case and it is not a high priority instead of "The AI already classifies the bench based on offensive value and uses it accordingly in PH situations". Why am I allowed at all then to set depth charts and lineups if the AI perfectly knows my tendencies and how I evaluate players and will always use the best players in their correct roles?!? I don't let the AI decide any other part of my depth chart/lineups/pitching staff, why am I forced to let it decide how to use as a PH. Again, if it is due to programming reasons, fine, I can accept it.

I could probably ramble on, but I doubt it would do any good.