A question about pinch hitting

[ANDYCOCHRANE]

I just looked at my manager strategy page and have a question about pinch hitting. Usually I pick a couple of bench players and put the one with best hitting against R to pinch hit vs RHP etc. However, should i put a player who I usually platoon, Sizemore, etc down as pinch hitter in games he doesn't start, i.e., putting him as PH vs Righties hoping he will be picked as PH if a right handed reliever comes in?

[markp65]

Shank, I wouldn't use this function just because it's there. I definitely wouldn't "set it and forget it" when it comes to the pinch hitter function. In the example you cite involving Sizemore, what if you set him to come off the bench to face RHP and you end up playing a series or a run of teams with a reverse RH set-up guy or closer? HAL's not smart enough to make the preemptive decision for you.

If you're spending 90% of your payroll on top flight everyday players... If you balance your lineup (L-R-L-R...) Or if you've built your lineup to take advantage of the park you're playing in, why PH at all? (If you platoon, I still wouldn't use the PH function to resolve those conflicts, I'd use the players' individual card settings).

If you're going to set PHs, I'd do it on a series-by-series basis, after a brief analysis of your nightly opponant's bullpen, and I'd make sure I had a quality defensive subs to replace my removable regulars. Even then, there has to be a compelling weakness to exploit (an overbalanced pen, a cheap one-sided closer) for me to want to counter with a pinch hitter.

And let's face it, even if you designate Frank Thomas to come in to meet Billy Wagner, there's no guarantee HAL is going to pull the trigger when logic dictates. Pinch hitting is another function of Strat that works great in face to face play, but can confound you when you're not the one making the in-game moves.

[pedakrla]

I've played the 1969 game only (no DH, pitcher bats), so my experience is not directly transferable, but I've found that if I just leave HAL alone to pick the PH's, he usually does a decent job.

[ANDYCOCHRANE]

Thanks for the info guys. Very useful. I think I will now just leave pinch hitting section blank in Manager Strategy. i just wondered if there was any way of getting the best use out of any players not in lineup later on on the game.