Infielders Still Not Trying for the Winning Run at the Plate

Tresclub · 05-23-2002, 07:12 PM

Infielders continue to go for the force at second allowing the winning run to score.
This happened in a game in my online League. I am running the latest patch (4.0c).
This is the kind of thing I am talking about:

Score: Springfield 5, Seattle 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batting: Springfield, bottom of 14th.
Pitching: Rawly Eastwick

1B Zeke Bonura:
SINGLES to the gap in left-center.

RF George Watkins:
SINGLES to shallow right-center.
Bonura to second.
Bonura tries to advance to third...
Mays throws to third...
OUT at third base.

LF Showboat Fisher:
SINGLES to shallow right-center.
Watkins to second.
Watkins tries to advance to third...
He reaches third base safely without a throw.

2B Cotton Tierney:
Grounds into fielders choice to the third baseman, Fisher out at 2nd base.
Watkins scores.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game over. Score: Springfield 6, Seattle 5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

blynch10 · 05-24-2002, 02:28 AM

I wonder if the game is trying for a double play but the Play-by-play is not reflecting this? I know the official explanation for alot of things in the play-by-play screen is attributed to the text and not the actual play that is going on; for example when the double play failed text happening so often when it should be a fielders choice.

Interested in how this one is explained.

Tresclub · 05-24-2002, 12:01 PM

In the bottom of an extra inning game, with runners at 1st and 3rd, and the score tied (winning run at 3rd), teams don't just go for the double play. It's too risky, too big a chance the double play will fail, allowing the winning run to score.

Now I can believe this scenario: infielders are in, groundball to an infielder, he looks the runner back to 3rd, then gets the out at first; but the runner at third breaks for the plate on the throw to first, and beats the throw to the plate. This is very believable... I have done this myself (way back in another lifetime).

If this is, in fact, what happens, then the pbp text definitely needs to spell this out.

Halo Fan · 05-24-2002, 01:06 PM

When playing the games out I've noticed this problem, too. The infielders just don't go for home when the winning run is headed there.

mtw · 05-24-2002, 09:22 PM

It's interesting that this is happening in your games. I've played out numerous games since 4.0c and have yet to see the AI try for a DP with the IF in, unless it's the throw home then throw to 1st variety.

Very curious, having different experiences like that.

Tresclub · 05-25-2002, 02:57 PM

I sim a day's worth of games at a time, I don't watch any of them, so I have no idea what the defensive positioning is in any situation. I just copied and pasted that from the game log.

Scott Vibert · 05-26-2002, 04:28 PM

I think this is an AI error in not bringing the infield in...

JML · 05-26-2002, 05:32 PM

I think you're right Scott. I play out all of my solo fictional games, and my infield NEVER goes home unless i bring the infield in.

mtw · 05-26-2002, 08:11 PM

It could be an error in not bringing the IF in, but I've also don't recall seeing the AI not bring the IF with the winning run on 3rd, and it usually brings the IF in when a runner is on third in a close and late situation with less than 2 out. I haven't kept as close a watch for this as stopping the runner at 3rd from scoring with the IF in, so I may have missed a time or two when the IF wasn't brought in.

05-23-2002, 07:12 PM	#1
Tresclub All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: La Mesa, CA USA Posts: 1,908	Infielders Still Not Trying for the Winning Run at the Plate Infielders continue to go for the force at second allowing the winning run to score. This happened in a game in my online League. I am running the latest patch (4.0c). This is the kind of thing I am talking about: Score: Springfield 5, Seattle 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Batting: Springfield, bottom of 14th. Pitching: Rawly Eastwick 1B Zeke Bonura: SINGLES to the gap in left-center. RF George Watkins: SINGLES to shallow right-center. Bonura to second. Bonura tries to advance to third... Mays throws to third... OUT at third base. LF Showboat Fisher: SINGLES to shallow right-center. Watkins to second. Watkins tries to advance to third... He reaches third base safely without a throw. 2B Cotton Tierney: Grounds into fielders choice to the third baseman, Fisher out at 2nd base. Watkins scores. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game over. Score: Springfield 6, Seattle 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

05-24-2002, 09:22 PM	#5
mtw All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 653	It's interesting that this is happening in your games. I've played out numerous games since 4.0c and have yet to see the AI try for a DP with the IF in, unless it's the throw home then throw to 1st variety. Very curious, having different experiences like that. __________________ Over-Zealous Apologist

05-26-2002, 08:11 PM	#9
mtw All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 653	It could be an error in not bringing the IF in, but I've also don't recall seeing the AI not bring the IF with the winning run on 3rd, and it usually brings the IF in when a runner is on third in a close and late situation with less than 2 out. I haven't kept as close a watch for this as stopping the runner at 3rd from scoring with the IF in, so I may have missed a time or two when the IF wasn't brought in. __________________ Over-Zealous Apologist

05-24-2002, 02:28 AM	#2
blynch10 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 273	I wonder if the game is trying for a double play but the Play-by-play is not reflecting this? I know the official explanation for alot of things in the play-by-play screen is attributed to the text and not the actual play that is going on; for example when the double play failed text happening so often when it should be a fielders choice. Interested in how this one is explained.

05-24-2002, 12:01 PM	#3
Tresclub All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: La Mesa, CA USA Posts: 1,908	In the bottom of an extra inning game, with runners at 1st and 3rd, and the score tied (winning run at 3rd), teams don't just go for the double play. It's too risky, too big a chance the double play will fail, allowing the winning run to score. Now I can believe this scenario: infielders are in, groundball to an infielder, he looks the runner back to 3rd, then gets the out at first; but the runner at third breaks for the plate on the throw to first, and beats the throw to the plate. This is very believable... I have done this myself (way back in another lifetime). If this is, in fact, what happens, then the pbp text definitely needs to spell this out.

05-24-2002, 01:06 PM	#4
Halo Fan Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 71	When playing the games out I've noticed this problem, too. The infielders just don't go for home when the winning run is headed there.

05-25-2002, 02:57 PM	#6
Tresclub All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: La Mesa, CA USA Posts: 1,908	I sim a day's worth of games at a time, I don't watch any of them, so I have no idea what the defensive positioning is in any situation. I just copied and pasted that from the game log.

05-26-2002, 04:28 PM	#7
Scott Vibert Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: My Computer Posts: 8,268	I think this is an AI error in not bringing the infield in...

05-26-2002, 05:32 PM	#8
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	I think you're right Scott. I play out all of my solo fictional games, and my infield NEVER goes home unless i bring the infield in.