Steve Balboni - Catcher?

[Delbird]

I'm curious if anyone has thoughts on why Steve Balboni would have been used defensively at catcher in the following game. He pinch hit for Ernie Whitt, but I had Tim Laudner on the bench available to catch. Of course, the game was lost in the bottom of the 11th, on a passed ball by Balboni - interesting. The only setting on Laudner I have that could restrict his usage is to 'avoid righthanders' - but that shouldn't force the use of a non-catcher defensively, should it? Balboni is also set to 'avoid righthanders'. I'm trying to determine if I need to 'fix' something in my set up.

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/boxscore.html?group_id=61960&g_id=181[/url]

By the way, the same scenario came up two games later and Laudner did come into the game - in both games, the same pitcher (Hume) was on the mound for the opponent.

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/boxscore.html?group_id=61960&g_id=193[/url]

[LMBombers]

I am guessing that Laudner was injured for the first game and was healthy for the 2nd game.

HAL can and will PH or PR for your last healthy C which leaves you with a non catcher behind the plate for the remainder of the game.

[Delbird]

I understand if no catcher is available, a non-catcher may get in a game as a catcher, but this isn't the case - he was not injured (I would not have posted the topic if that was the case) - he was available. Here is his last 10 game appearance chart -

Last 10 games
Game Opp AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS E
Game 33 RED 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Game 29 HOB 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1
Game 27 HEM 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0
Game 25 HEM 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
Game 22 BOM 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Game 14 BIL 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0
Game 12 WON 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Game 11 WON 3 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 1
Game 9 SMO 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1
Game 7 SMO 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0

It shows that he last appeared in game 29 prior to game 31 (the one in question). And if we look at game 29, he appeared with no injury result.

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/boxscore.html?group_id=61960&g_id=174[/url]

It's just very odd that it reacted two different ways to a similar situation in those two games.

[LMBombers]

If you remember what Balboni looked like.....the image of him in catcher's gear behind the plate is kind of funny. :lol:

I'm not sure why Laudner wasn't substitued in to catch your game but Balboni as a catcher? LOL

[Delbird]

I agree, the thought of him behind the plate would be funny - you would think he'd be big enough to prevent a passed ball, but I can't imagine him being very agile. I'm surprised the passed ball was the only problem during those 2 innings. :o The timing of it sure wasn't very convenient for my team though.

[elpasopesos]

But he sounds like a catcher... maybe Hal jusy saw his name lol

[elpasopesos]

My guess that there is a glich in the game when a pinch hitter comes ip in the ninth inning and then the game is extended into extras.

[HIROLLERJR]

BIG BALBONI as a catcher----OUCH!! that look HURTS!

[mightyquinnj]

If I can venture a guess as to why HAL would do what HAL did is this: In the first example, Balboni doubles in the ninth and sets up the inning, your team then ties it and it goes to extra innings, and you have a great shot at winning in the extra frames with Balboni in the lineup as opposed to out of the game. Therefore, HAL keeps his bat in the lineup rather than bring in Launder for defense, probably thinking that Balboni will get another AB and could win the game with his bat and while a defensive liability behind the plate, a passed ball occurence is rare. In other words, HAL takes a chance, probably a calculated chance, since HAL is a computer. However, that move back fires and Steve is the reason why you lose. In the second example, you are 2 runs down and Launder comes in and Balboni is out of the game when you fail to come up with any runs in the inning in which Balboni pinch-hits. HAL figures that Balboni will not get another shot at an AB and puts in Launder to put is best defense on the field. So, in the first example HAL goes with a calculated risk to win the game and in the second, HAL is trying to keep the game close. That is my 2-cents, for what it is worth. MightyQ