A MR playing center field?

Spielman · 05-04-2002, 04:53 AM

So, my center fielder, Gabe Kapler, gets a minor injury that'll knock him out for a week.

Not worth sticking him on the DL, so I continue simming, expecting that the backup center fielder would step in.

Then, looking at the box score, I discovered that instead of starting Kapler's backup, the AI chose, for some reason, to start Cliff Politte, a middle reliever! In three straight games!

I immediately assumed that I'd goofed in setting up the depth chart and forgotten to put in a backup center fielder. Nuh-uh. I had a backup set to start 10% of the time.

The backup center fielder was not starting at another position in any of the three games, though he did come in as a defensive replacement for one of the other outfielders. Furthermore, the AI chose a middle reliever who can't hit worth beans when three of the relievers it could have chosen are rated as better hitters. Politte isn't rated for center field, of course, nor does he have an arm rating for the outfield.

Politte went 1/11 with no walks, and made one error in 5 chances.

Why in the heck would the AI make such a completely crazy decision? I've seen guys get replaced properly hundreds of times.

Steve Kuffrey · 05-04-2002, 04:55 AM

I have had a similar event and have reported it, strange...

Spielman · 05-04-2002, 05:15 AM

To add further confusion...

I then editted my depth chart to make my backup CF the starter. Then I simmed another game.

Politte started AGAIN! Despite the fact that the guy now set as the starter was completely healthy.

The computer _did_ pull a double switch late in the game which replaced Politte with the real center fielder. At least that made sense.

The next game, I completely reset my depth chart to the computer's choice. The backup CF was now the only player listed at the position.

Politte started again.

-Spielman

<small>[ 05-04-2002, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Spielman ]</small>

Spielman · 05-04-2002, 05:22 AM

Finally fixed it by sending Politte down to the minors and setting the depth chart while he was in AAA.

The next game, the correct player started. Finally.

Of course, Politte then came into the game as a pitcher and allowed 3 runs in .2 of an inning. He was doing better than that in CF.

Bizarre.

-Spielman

<small>[ 05-04-2002, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: Spielman ]</small>

henry296 · 05-04-2002, 07:48 AM

I have seen this as well, once. Make sure to also adjust the lineups as well as the depth chart. If a player is out then the lineup will show a blank spot, and strange things can happen.

Todd

DarkLight · 05-04-2002, 07:55 AM

What I have seen is that certain pitchers have CF as one of their fielding positions. I am assuming that they were given this because they were used as pinch runners and the lahman data base had to put them somewhere.

Juvydriver · 05-04-2002, 09:08 PM

I had a MR come in and play RF for me. He had 3 hits and 3 RBI. I almost converted him to DH.

Juvy

moss2k · 05-05-2002, 11:09 AM

i had cliff polite play center for me too. kinda wierd...he did he a homer for me though

Sony · 05-05-2002, 12:43 PM

This interestingly enough, has hapenned to me a couple of times. I couldn't figure it out. But now that I know, THANKS!

Dave0 · 05-05-2002, 12:50 PM

I once had my backup SS come in and pitch the top of the 15th inning in one of my games, he got the win too but gave up a run. Perhaps not as strange as a pitcher playing in the field but it surprised me when I looked at the box score.

Steve Strzepek of BTTF · 05-06-2002, 02:51 AM

Happened to me also.......and it was Pollitte playing CF.

henry296 · 05-06-2002, 03:28 AM

Another strange injury related sub happened in a game over the weekend. My catcher was hurt running the basepaths and middlie infielder pinch ran for him. No probelm there, however, in the next half inning the middle infielder stayed in the game. My other catcher was still available.

Todd

sporr · 05-06-2002, 08:17 AM

In our league, the Yankees had suffered several injuries to their starting rotation and who should the computer choose to start a few games? Babe Ruth! He isn't set up as a pitcher for role, but I guess he had good enough pitching ratings that the AI decided he was better than the alternatives. He started 3 games, but only lasted a total of an inning. Must have been because he had no pitching duration.

joshuaaaaaa · 05-06-2002, 12:15 PM

Wow...very first game of a new season in the FBBL, and I get a pitcher in centerfield.

Here's the <a href="http://www.big-baseball.com/fbbl/stats/box3.htm" target="_blank">box score.</a> He went 0-1, and made the catch that ended the game. Fun stuff :-)

05-04-2002, 04:53 AM	#1
Spielman All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,668	A MR playing center field? So, my center fielder, Gabe Kapler, gets a minor injury that'll knock him out for a week. Not worth sticking him on the DL, so I continue simming, expecting that the backup center fielder would step in. Then, looking at the box score, I discovered that instead of starting Kapler's backup, the AI chose, for some reason, to start Cliff Politte, a middle reliever! In three straight games! I immediately assumed that I'd goofed in setting up the depth chart and forgotten to put in a backup center fielder. Nuh-uh. I had a backup set to start 10% of the time. The backup center fielder was not starting at another position in any of the three games, though he did come in as a defensive replacement for one of the other outfielders. Furthermore, the AI chose a middle reliever who can't hit worth beans when three of the relievers it could have chosen are rated as better hitters. Politte isn't rated for center field, of course, nor does he have an arm rating for the outfield. Politte went 1/11 with no walks, and made one error in 5 chances. Why in the heck would the AI make such a completely crazy decision? I've seen guys get replaced properly hundreds of times. __________________ Spielman was at one time the smartest person on these boards. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...martest+Person I don't believe in AnotherAlias.

05-04-2002, 04:55 AM	#2
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	I have had a similar event and have reported it, strange... __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

05-04-2002, 05:15 AM	#3
Spielman All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,668	To add further confusion... I then editted my depth chart to make my backup CF the starter. Then I simmed another game. Politte started AGAIN! Despite the fact that the guy now set as the starter was completely healthy. The computer _did_ pull a double switch late in the game which replaced Politte with the real center fielder. At least that made sense. The next game, I completely reset my depth chart to the computer's choice. The backup CF was now the only player listed at the position. Politte started again. -Spielman <small>[ 05-04-2002, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Spielman ]</small> __________________ Spielman was at one time the smartest person on these boards. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...martest+Person I don't believe in AnotherAlias.

05-04-2002, 05:22 AM	#4
Spielman All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,668	Finally fixed it by sending Politte down to the minors and setting the depth chart while he was in AAA. The next game, the correct player started. Finally. Of course, Politte then came into the game as a pitcher and allowed 3 runs in .2 of an inning. He was doing better than that in CF. Bizarre. -Spielman <small>[ 05-04-2002, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: Spielman ]</small> __________________ Spielman was at one time the smartest person on these boards. http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...martest+Person I don't believe in AnotherAlias.

05-04-2002, 09:08 PM	#7
Juvydriver Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 119	I had a MR come in and play RF for me. He had 3 hits and 3 RBI. I almost converted him to DH. Juvy __________________ E-Mail: jpdavis44@myrailmail.com AIM: JDavis44 Owner/GM of the Roanoke Rampage in the VSBL.

05-04-2002, 07:48 AM	#5
henry296 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 514	I have seen this as well, once. Make sure to also adjust the lineups as well as the depth chart. If a player is out then the lineup will show a blank spot, and strange things can happen. Todd

05-04-2002, 07:55 AM	#6
DarkLight Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: St Louis Posts: 64	What I have seen is that certain pitchers have CF as one of their fielding positions. I am assuming that they were given this because they were used as pinch runners and the lahman data base had to put them somewhere.

05-05-2002, 11:09 AM	#8
moss2k Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: charlotte Posts: 60	i had cliff polite play center for me too. kinda wierd...he did he a homer for me though

05-05-2002, 12:43 PM	#9
Sony Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lafayette. LA Posts: 65	This interestingly enough, has hapenned to me a couple of times. I couldn't figure it out. But now that I know, THANKS!

05-05-2002, 12:50 PM	#10
Dave0 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 3	I once had my backup SS come in and pitch the top of the 15th inning in one of my games, he got the win too but gave up a run. Perhaps not as strange as a pitcher playing in the field but it surprised me when I looked at the box score.

05-06-2002, 02:51 AM	#11
Steve Strzepek of BTTF Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Corning, N.Y. Posts: 171	Happened to me also.......and it was Pollitte playing CF. __________________ Steve Strzepek BTTF Commish <a href="http://www.staudernet.com/bttf" target="_blank">http://www.staudernet.com/bttf</a>

05-06-2002, 03:28 AM	#12
henry296 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 514	Another strange injury related sub happened in a game over the weekend. My catcher was hurt running the basepaths and middlie infielder pinch ran for him. No probelm there, however, in the next half inning the middle infielder stayed in the game. My other catcher was still available. Todd

05-06-2002, 08:17 AM	#13
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	In our league, the Yankees had suffered several injuries to their starting rotation and who should the computer choose to start a few games? Babe Ruth! He isn't set up as a pitcher for role, but I guess he had good enough pitching ratings that the AI decided he was better than the alternatives. He started 3 games, but only lasted a total of an inning. Must have been because he had no pitching duration.

05-06-2002, 12:15 PM	#14
joshuaaaaaa All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 633	Wow...very first game of a new season in the FBBL, and I get a pitcher in centerfield. Here's the <a href="http://www.big-baseball.com/fbbl/stats/box3.htm" target="_blank">box score.</a> He went 0-1, and made the catch that ended the game. Fun stuff :-) __________________ Baltimore Monarchs-GUBA Baltimore Orioles-ORB2 "One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." ~Henry Ford ~