leaving lineup positions blank..70s question

[bark123]

I'm 78 games into a 1970s season. Just picked up claudell Washington. Bob Bailor is raking RHPs (.347 avg in 72 at bats, compared to .167 in 24 abs vs. lhps.)

I left LF position blank vs. rhp. Bailor started. I'm guessing I have 1977 Bailor. So, what does that tell me about washington? Does HAL base his starting lineups on at bats? Balances? OPS? Defence?

[The Senators]

Sometimes I think it's defense first although I'm not really sure. If I attempt to use the "Hal influence", I try to make it the DH spot I keep open so that defensive ratings don't figure in. But on the other hand, there have been times when I leave the DH spot open and the computer puts someone already in the starting lineup in that spot and puts a bench player into one of the positional spots, in which case now I'm back to square one and confusion ensues. This was a long winded way of saying, "I don't really know"...In a way, I'm glad I don't because it keeps it more fun.

[bark123]

I hear you. I like the guessing too. I'm not a fan of the injury-reveal, that's for sure.

[voovits]

The batting order HAL uses is much more telling as opposed to his choice of players.

[bark123]

update: Overriding HAL's judgment, I started Claudell over Bailor for the second series. He went 2 for 4, with a double and 2 runs scored.