Question for Bernie -- Guarding Lines?

[jmoore1966]

Hey guys -- I'm trying to figure out what happened in this game:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/boxscore.html?group_id=153909&g_id=98

Game 17 between MacDennis and Furballs -- the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 8th -- Dutch Holland vs. Randy Johnson:

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***
SUBSTITUTE PH- Dutch Holland
0 D.Holland 1-7 Ground Out (3B) b-0 F9


1-7 should be a Double -- but he grounded out to 3B instead. What am I missing?

Thanks!
Jim

[lev.cohen]

im not sure. But in real games, sometimes players play "no doubles defense" or closer to the line near the ends of games.

Could it be that? That it was up the line and since the 3B was playing on the line he got to the ball?

[jmoore1966]

Yeah, I was thinking that may be it. I'm hoping it's something like that rather than a bug.

[jmoore1966]

If it turns out that it is related to guarding the lines, that would make Dutch Holland quite worthless in that situation, as many of the hits on hist card are doubles. There'd have to be a giveback also that would punish guarding the lines -- what would that be?

[padrenurgle1]

Bump.

This seems important...is there a hidden mechanic?

[Ninersphan]

[quote:5f7b4eb505="lev.cohen"]im not sure. But in real games, sometimes players play "no doubles defense" or closer to the line near the ends of games.

Could it be that? That it was up the line and since the 3B was playing on the line he got to the ball?[/quote:5f7b4eb505]

I don't know of, nor can I find in my written rules for the board game(circa 1994) a reference to guarding the lines on defense. There's Infield in and back, corners in, and outfiled in, but all of those are only with a runner on base.

You may want to re-title this thread as a direct question to bernie, as it looks like the card was incorrectly read by the computer, or the dispay for the card is wrong.

[apolivka]

No, I'm pretty sure in the computer game "guarding the lines" is something that can be done in the 8th and 9th inning and on regardless of the number of men on base. When done, certain doubles turn into outs and certain ground balls turn into singles. Whenever this happens, people complain about the "Black Box", or that cards are wrong. One thing to check, did fielding team have the lead at the time, and was the game close? If both were true, I'll bet this is what happened.

I see this in real baseball all time with the 1st and 3rd baseman playing super close to the lines late in games to try and prevent a lead off double.

Now, if I had my druthers, I'm not sure I want any of these non "carded" results happening, but it is the game we have.

[coyote303]

Super advanced SOM has some pretty cool advanced rules that make the game more realistic. However, guarding the lines (IMHO) is NOT one of them. (Clarification: The rule exists but it stinks!)

(The computer game also has a horrible pitch-around option.)

I know guarding the lines (and pitching around hitters) is a part of baseball. However, the game engine isn't conducive to successfully implementing these tactics.

PS. One good thing is when you own the game you can pick and choose which special advanced rules you want. Of course, online we don't have that option.