Question about HAL and lineups with platoons

[justin5]

I'm mostly wanting to check if I'm missing something or if I'm really just subject to the complete (erroneous) whims of HAL.

I have a lineup with a fair amount of platoons. In one game last night, a lefty was started against me. When the lefty was pulled for a righty reliever, HAL left a lot of my wrong sided platoons to stay in to hit.

I have all of the LHP platoon players tagged to "Avoid RHP". Is there anything else I can do to force HAL's hand to do the right thing? Or am I just subject to the fact that HAL can't understand platoons correctly?

The righty that came in was R 8L so maybe that came into play. Wondering if that was strictly it or what. I'm going to keep a close eye on it and see how it plays out.

[LANCEBOUSLEY]

Hal does not manage platoons very well yoir observation is correct he does not pince hit when opposite p comes in

[justin5]

D'OH! Then a strategy of platoons is a little bit of wasted money. I guess at least the bulk of the game (6 innings or so) will usually always be against the intended side (the starter) and *possibly/probably* some of the relief innings.

All of my platoons are also combined with injury concerns so I guess it's also not completely wasted money in that respect.

Still, it would be nice for HAL to understand platoons better.

[justin5]

Team is here for reference of the platoons used:
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=262610

The ones in question that HAL didn't replace were Shoppach at C, Baker at 1B, and Viciedo in the OF. Not great to leave them in against a righty reliever...

[coyote303]

I believe the "avoid xHP" logic only comes into play when the hitter is being considered for a pinch-hitting situation and has no bearing when he is already in the game.

[Jeepdriver]

Coyote is correct. Avoid RHP/LHP, etc. doesn't apply if you are ahead in the game. Only when a PH is needed for the game situation will the hitter be pinch hit for.

[justin5]

So, the concept of platoons leads to inefficient late inning lineups without any real control? There's no way to force HAL's hand to pinch hit for those guys unless he happens to see fit to do that?

I guess the most I can do is to plug most of the RHP side of the platoons into the defensive subs (since they are better defense options in general anyway) and that should help with any extra inning affairs against RHP bullpen arms.

Bummer. I guess if I had thought about this, it might have led to less reliance on platoons to cover for injury risk guys. I was trying a theory out on the pricing this season. Now, I see the flaws in the plan.

Thanks Jeepdriver and Coyote.

[hallerose]

Hal will basically never pinch hit the first 6 or 7 innings. So if you knock a starter out early and they come in with an opposite handed pitcher you will be stuck with your lineup until late innings. Lefty hitting platoons I'm generally able to get about 90% of their abs against right handers, right hitting platoons I'm generally able to get about 70% of their abs against left hander pitcher -- probably because most relievers are righties. Look at the players' R/L break down from the season with these % in mind -- if a lefty was 70/30 and maybe 5R, you should beat the card by platooning and getting 90% on the strong side, same if a righty was maybe 50/50 and maybe 5L, you can improve stats by getting maybe 70% on the stronger side.

[KEVINEHLE]

Since I consider myself a Platoon junkie, I have noticed that Hal will only start pinch hitting late in the game. I don't disagree with Hal on this game setting as you can't go lefty-righty based on revolving relievers.

For example, if you are facing a righty and you have your LH platoon team in the lineup and knock out the righty in the 4th inning, I don't think it's all that great of an idea to start subbing your righties against a lefty reliever that early.
You have then committed your team too early. The other team pops in a nasty rightie reliever and you can't counter as you are out of players.

Bottom line, I believe Hal does a pretty good job late in games to match up against relievers with the game on the line. I have seen that a prudent platoon team can work. However, just know your 8L and 8R type hitters will be getting some ABs in undesirable matchups over a season due to game situations.

Kev

[The Biomechanical Man]

I think besides the inning, HAL considers the score. If you are winning or are being blown out, HAL won't bother with lefty-righty switches. It seems that HAL does lefty-righty pinch hitting in late innings when you are tied or losing by 1-3 runs.

P.S. You'll notice in those situations that HAL-The-Batting-Manager will make lefty-righty pinch-hitting moves while the opposing HAL-The-Pitching-Manager will make lefty-righty pitching changes. [i:09015dc9a9]Talk about playing with yourself![/i:09015dc9a9] :shock: