"Interesting" decision by HAL here...

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BOTTOM OF INNING 10
0 A.Gordon 2-4 Walk b-1 F1
SUBSTITUTION at P: Cody Eppley (role: RH Specialist)
0 1 D.Barney 2-2 Single (RF) 1-2 b-1 F9
0 12 D.Jeter Sac Bunt (3B) 2-3 1-2 b-0 F9
1 23 R.Canzler 4-11 Ground Out (3B) b-0 F9
2 23 S.Perez Int Walk b-1 F9
SUBSTITUTION at P: Clay Rapada (role: LH Specialist)
2 123 T.Snider 2-7 Home Run (CF) 3-H 2-H 1-H b-H F9

code]

INT BB set to conservative.
Epply set to avoid LH's.

Would a manager actually intentionally walk a guy (Perez) in the bottom of the 10th?
Especially when a hard RH'er is on the mound?
So why would HAL do that?

I could see if Epply was tired, but he's not.
HAL did bring in Rapada to face a lefty. So that decision was right.
Unfortunately, Snider is a lefty that kills lefties.

Well, a 2-7 roll wins the game no matter who the pitcher is for Perez too.

The walk to load the bases and create a force out at 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs is a fairly common strategy (that I don't necessarily agree with, but it's common none the less). As your pitcher is a 9R and not tired, if I were playing head-to-head strat I'd leave him in there. But, in HAL's mind he is also a .50 cent reliever and the game is on the line. On the grand scale of HAL bad decision making, this one is somewhere between interesting and small.

Yes I believe most managers would walk the better hitter in this situation remember their are 2 outs it sets a easy force at any base instead of having to throw across the diamond. Perez is a much bigger threat then Snider you set up lefty on lefty managers love that match up no matter if Snider hits lefties better on these cards.


rudy