For the moment, let's accept the proposition that Delluci is better than Vlad in the field (somewhat subjective, I'd come down on the Vlad side, but that's beside the point here). The decision is still flawed...
[quote:67b93c90a8="bernieh"]Dellucci, a lefty, has a better card vs. righties than Vlad...[/quote:67b93c90a8]
Okay, fine, we'll agree to disagree on that one, but even if I grant you that point, then it should be a pinch hit situation. If that's a determining factor, then Delluci should pinch hit for Vlad if the situation still calls for it. HAL should not presume that the pitcher will remain in the game, because that's really not very likely.
[quote:67b93c90a8="bernieh"]Add that to the fact that the computer regards Dellucci's 4e3 as much less of a liability in RF than Vlad's 4e15 [/quote:67b93c90a8]
Jeep is trailing in the game. Why would HAL think that a defensive substitution was ever warranted in that situation? It's possible that there might be a very limited number of circumstances that this would make sense, but they are rare. How many major league managers make a defensive substitution when trailing? I can't recall ever seeing it happen.
Even allowing that HAL's judgements about player values are correct, this is still the wrong move, especially if a manager hasn't asked for it.