HAL Nailed me good!

In a recent finals series (in the Local Franchise League), the injuries to three of my key players was far too extreme to be realistic. I lost Lajoie for several games, Al Simmons the entire series, and then Willie Mays for half of game 6 and all of game 7. When did any team in real life ever lose three key starters to injury in one series? The cherry on the cake was in game 7: the game went extra innings, and I had Eckersley slotted as the first option to go to when the game is tied and late. Guess what? HAL puts in my worst pitcher, Gaylord Perry (he was my one of my mop up pitchers), who promptly gives up 5 runs and there goes the championship. Eckersley didn't pitch since game 4!!!! As a matter of fact, that was the only game he pitched in for the entire 7 game series. What manager in real life would ever put in a guy like Perry with the game on the line and his fully rested ace sitting in the bullpen? HAL got me good in this one!

If this was game 7, how come you left Perry at the mop-up role instead of Eckersley? There is no game left to save Eckersley for...as you say, no manager would do that, but this is sadly the instructions you gave to Hal.

This is why I always set my best relievers to all possible roles (including late & behind and mop-up) when I am playing my last game of the season.

Hi Marc,

I never considered having Eckersley as a mop-up role pitcher, so that is something I'll put to use in any future game 7. However, why would HAL use Perry when the situation was anything but a mop-up role? The game was tied and in the 11th inning.