Any explanation ?

Top of 7 leading 2 - 1, 2 out, runner on 2nd. HAL leaves Machi in to bat but replaces him with Sanchez to start the next inning.

Top of 9 leading 3 - 1, 1 out ,runners on 1st and 2nd, HAL leaves Sanchez in to bat but replaces him with Putnam to start the next inning

In both instances I had a full bench available to pinch hit.

I contacted Strat but no answer yet

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/ga ... 426232/850

I've seen this happen pretty often when the team has a lead. I'm sure that it doesn't have anything to do with the pitcher preferences setttings, but it might have to do with team strategy settings. I think HAL could be leaving hitters on the bench in case they're needed in extra innings but it is a bad coaching decision.

weak. you'd think in no dh leagues there would be a setting for individual relief pitchers to never bat, at least in the 1st innings.

Yeah, the "never to hit" option would be nice.

My own explanation: when the pitcher comes to bat, I think that the only information Hal weighs in from the pitcher's side is the F-Rating and the availability of other relievers. Hal also weighs in of course the baseball situation (score, base situation, etc). When the team is leading, Hal doesn't feel the same pressure to use a ph than when the team is trailing.

But when the pitcher gets back to the mound, Hal looks at all the pitching instructions and will follow those instructions.

So to come back to Machi, Hal weighs in that he is still fresh. Bunting would be a good option. So he keeps Machi in there.

But Machi goes to the mound, he sees that you have instructed Hal to use Sanchez as a set-up man, and the situation does match the definition of "set-up situation" (leading by 2 runs, in the 7th), so Hal removes Machi for Sanchez.

A similar instruction probably explained Sanchez removal as well.

The worst aspect (to me) of the HAL manager is that it will not press for more runs with the lead---HAL seems to give the trailing team an advantage offensively in the last 3rd of the game---HAL will not pinch hit with the lead when you have a platoon and the other team brings in a match-up pitcher, even when the fielding would be improved afterwards.

HAL will pinch hit more often when trailing or tied, but not a guarantee there either.

If I have the bases loaded in the bottom of the eight, and a poor hitter up, I want to pinch hit, especially with just a 1 or 2 run lead--HAL never does.

It is the biggest programming issue that the online game has.