Pinch hitting?????

[danielz]

Thru 36 games
Platoon at 3rd base
Ray Knight is set as avoid RH pitching
Phil Weintraub is listed as pinch hitter vs. righties

Knight has 21 atbats vs. righties
Weintraub ZERO atbats

What's the deal?

[apolivka]

The "avoid LR/RH pitchers" is used by HAL to pick a pinch hitter, not really to take a starter out. I guess HAL assumes that your opponent might put a lefty in later and then you'd want Knight to stay in the game.

I also find that HAL is very reluctant to pinch hit for someone batting in the 1-5 spots in the order. If you want HAL to pinch hit for Knight I would probably bat him towards the bottom of my order. Having a heavily slanted guy in the middle of your lineup seems (to me) to make HAL think he's a key part of your lineup and he rarely messes with it.

I think the best platoon situation is also to have his platoon mate that faces RHP to be a better fielder. That way in a close game HAL will be OK with pulling a bad defender. You could also list his platoon mate as a defensive replacement that way.