Backup catcher is best DH

jmknpk2 · 07-01-2010, 08:03 PM

In several online DH leagues, I have had teams, where my best batter off the bench is my backup catcher. So it would be nice to use the backup catcher as the DH. But that would take some intelligence and planning to give the backup catcher some days off as DH, with timing so that the backup wouldn't be tired, and could fill in for the starting catcher on the starter's days off.

So far I have not tried to use the backup catcher as DH. I just play my second best guy at DH. I have been too afraid of trying the experiment, assuming the AI is not smart enough to do what I want. I don't want to hurt my online league teams by trying.

Has anyone successfully employed this idea? Can anyone give me tips on how to manage this?

I guess I could start a temp league and run some experiments. But maybe someone already has some answers.

Reikazawa · 07-01-2010, 08:09 PM

I guess related to this is that I've observed that when I let the AI manage the lineups and depth charts, the backup catcher is always set as the backup 1B. This has been the case for several versions now.

RchW · 07-01-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmknpk2

In several online DH leagues, I have had teams, where my best batter off the bench is my backup catcher. So it would be nice to use the backup catcher as the DH. But that would take some intelligence and planning to give the backup catcher some days off as DH, with timing so that the backup wouldn't be tired, and could fill in for the starting catcher on the starter's days off.

So far I have not tried to use the backup catcher as DH. I just play my second best guy at DH. I have been too afraid of trying the experiment, assuming the AI is not smart enough to do what I want. I don't want to hurt my online league teams by trying.

Has anyone successfully employed this idea? Can anyone give me tips on how to manage this?

I guess I could start a temp league and run some experiments. But maybe someone already has some answers.

Use 3 catchers.

Nutlaw · 07-01-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Use 3 catchers.

That or trade one of your catchers for an even better hitting and poorer fielding replacement to use at DH.

Killing Time · 07-02-2010, 12:43 AM

Change your league to a thirty-man roster and carry three catchers and an LHDH and an RHDH.

Biggio509 · 07-02-2010, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmknpk2

In several online DH leagues, I have had teams, where my best batter off the bench is my backup catcher. So it would be nice to use the backup catcher as the DH. But that would take some intelligence and planning to give the backup catcher some days off as DH, with timing so that the backup wouldn't be tired, and could fill in for the starting catcher on the starter's days off.

Has anyone successfully employed this idea? Can anyone give me tips on how to manage this?

If you set your own lineups this isn't much of a problem. I usually sim a week at time so this would be easy if you do the same. That is just set your seven day lineups every monday. Have your backup catcher in at catcher ever 5 game if that is what you want. I am not sure if you get full rest if a catcher moves to DH but you could experiment with just switching them in the 7 day lineup.

I will admit for my minor leagues, I usually play NL in the majors, I have at times not put the backup catcher at DH because I did not want 3 catchers and didn't know how the AI would handle the rest issue. I don't think the AI will switch your backup to C if the starter is tired and sub a new DH but I could be wrong.

If you don't mind setting lineups though you can control rest rust for all your players. Although the start every X games should be fine in most cases. Even then there are some problems if the guy you want to spell say your 3B is your DH.

I would assume DH accumulates less fatigue but I would I have to look it up in the manual to see if that is true.

TribeFanInNC · 07-02-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmknpk2

In several online DH leagues, I have had teams, where my best batter off the bench is my backup catcher. So it would be nice to use the backup catcher as the DH. But that would take some intelligence and planning to give the backup catcher some days off as DH, with timing so that the backup wouldn't be tired, and could fill in for the starting catcher on the starter's days off.

So far I have not tried to use the backup catcher as DH. I just play my second best guy at DH. I have been too afraid of trying the experiment, assuming the AI is not smart enough to do what I want. I don't want to hurt my online league teams by trying.

Has anyone successfully employed this idea? Can anyone give me tips on how to manage this?

I guess I could start a temp league and run some experiments. But maybe someone already has some answers.

Some of this may be redundant...

If you play your backup C at DH, effectively you will not have a backup C. The AI will not move your DH to C for injury or other reason. Also, if your backup C is the starting DH, the AI will never spell your starting catcher by removing the backup C out of the DH spot to start at C. Basically, you just have a DH at that point.

Your two options are to carry a 3rd catcher or manage your lineups through the 7-Day Lineup feature (as suggested above).

CBL-Commish · 07-02-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

Some of this may be redundant...

If you play your backup C at DH, effectively you will not have a backup C. The AI will not move your DH to C for injury or other reason. Also, if your backup C is the starting DH, the AI will never spell your starting catcher by removing the backup C out of the DH spot to start at C. Basically, you just have a DH at that point.

Your two options are to carry a 3rd catcher or manage your lineups through the 7-Day Lineup feature (as suggested above).

If you set the backup to play every X days at catcher and DH the rest of the time I think the AI will do that.

The big problem here is that OOTP doesn't allow a DH to take the field in mid-game (losing the DH as per the rules). So you'll pretty regularly have a utility infielder or even outfielder playing a few innings at catcher when something happens that necessitates taking out the starter.

GMLoophole · 07-02-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBL-Commish

If you set the backup to play every X days at catcher and DH the rest of the time I think the AI will do that.

The big problem here is that OOTP doesn't allow a DH to take the field in mid-game (losing the DH as per the rules).

It's not a "problem", that's how the DH works, and is indeed the major downside to using the backup C in that role.

The answer to this is (a) make sure you can't find a better DH to add to your roster or (b) find a utility player (Robby Hammock is the prime example but there are others; maybe a crummy 3B could learn to do it) with some kind of catching aptitude that can be an emergency C as well as your backup IF.

Curtis · 07-02-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMLoophole

It's not a "problem", that's how the DH works…

The 'problem' is, that's not how the DH works in real life.

CBL-Commish · 07-02-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis

The 'problem' is, that's not how the DH works in real life.

Right. The DH can take the field in real life, just not in OOTP.

From the official MLB rules, section 6.10b:

Quote:

The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.

DH can go into the field, but the pitcher then has to bat in the spot of the substituted defensive player for the remainder of the game.

Cryomaniac · 07-02-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis

The 'problem' is, that's not how the DH works in real life.

In some ways though the OOTP rule makes more sense. I'm not saying that the actual rule shouldn't be in OOTP, just that if you were inventing the rule from scratch and were given the choice, you'd probably choose the OOTP rule.

CBL-Commish · 07-02-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

In some ways though the OOTP rule makes more sense. I'm not saying that the actual rule shouldn't be in OOTP, just that if you were inventing the rule from scratch and were given the choice, you'd probably choose the OOTP rule.

If I were making the rule from scratch I'd probably make the DH just another player, freely able to move back and forth from the field to DH without restrictions.

Tram2Whitaker · 07-03-2010, 12:24 AM

Ban the DH.

jmknpk2 · 07-08-2010, 10:55 PM

thanks for all the discussion guys. This helps me.

Curtis · 07-14-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tram2Whitaker

Ban the DH.

If I were making the rule from scratch, that's what I'd do.

If someone held a gun to my head and told me there HAD to be a DH, I'd say that having one was illogical, and allow as many in the game at once as a team had roster space for (24 man rosters). That would increase the number of players employed just because they were good defensively AND make two-way players much more valuable. It might even reduce (maybe by one) the number of pitchers carried on the roster, since with better defense and no need to pinch-hit for pitchers, managers might not feel it necessary to switch them as often.

07-01-2010, 08:03 PM	#1
jmknpk2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 982	Backup catcher is best DH In several online DH leagues, I have had teams, where my best batter off the bench is my backup catcher. So it would be nice to use the backup catcher as the DH. But that would take some intelligence and planning to give the backup catcher some days off as DH, with timing so that the backup wouldn't be tired, and could fill in for the starting catcher on the starter's days off. So far I have not tried to use the backup catcher as DH. I just play my second best guy at DH. I have been too afraid of trying the experiment, assuming the AI is not smart enough to do what I want. I don't want to hurt my online league teams by trying. Has anyone successfully employed this idea? Can anyone give me tips on how to manage this? I guess I could start a temp league and run some experiments. But maybe someone already has some answers. Last edited by jmknpk2; 07-01-2010 at 08:04 PM.

07-01-2010, 08:09 PM	#2
Reikazawa Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 261	I guess related to this is that I've observed that when I let the AI manage the lineups and depth charts, the backup catcher is always set as the backup 1B. This has been the case for several versions now.

07-03-2010, 12:24 AM	#14
Tram2Whitaker All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 619	Ban the DH.

07-08-2010, 10:55 PM	#15
jmknpk2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 982	thanks for all the discussion guys. This helps me.