Why would HAL voluntarily insert Dave Concepcion at Catcher?

So this is a 1986 season, but goes to some kind of bizarre auto-manager behavior.

My starting C is Lance Parrish and was hurt.

My backup is Rick Dempsey who is perfectly OK, 2 defense, zero arm, draws some walks.

With my starter tossing a shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning, computer manager opted to insert Concepcion, who is definitely NOT a catcher, at catcher.

There was no pinch running. There was no injury. There was no platoon situation. It was just a DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION!!!!!

My daughter would say, whiskey tango foxtrot?

https://365.strat-o-matic.com/game/play ... 449156/316

I've had a similar situation with ATG9 in that I have a batter who has a .380 batting average facing a right handed pitcher which he can hit over .400 against. Late in the game, he is replaced by a Pinch Hitter who bats .235 by the Auto Manager.
Why? He's still facing a right-handed pitcher.

I would like to hear their explanation.

Is your manager named Pete Rose?

My guess is that you have Dempsey set on "remove 4 def. sub"... He'll come out even if there's no better replacement available.

My guess is that you have Dempsey set on "remove 4 def. sub"... He'll come out even if there's no better replacement available.

My usual hurt catcher is better than Dempsey, who himself if pretty good, which is why that is set.

It seems highly bizarre that “remove for def sub” actually would mean “replace with anybody who happens to be on hand whether they are a defensive upgrade or even play the position”.

More submitted in the spirit of shared suffering and the hope of a fix by the powers that be.

My guess is that you have Dempsey set on "remove 4 def. sub"... He'll come out even if there's no better replacement available.

My usual hurt catcher is better than Dempsey, who himself if pretty good, which is why that is set.

It seems highly bizarre that “remove for def sub” actually would mean “replace with anybody who happens to be on hand whether they are a defensive upgrade or even play the position”.

More submitted in the spirit of shared suffering and the hope of a fix by the powers that be.

My guess is that you have Dempsey set on "remove 4 def. sub"... He'll come out even if there's no better replacement available.

My usual hurt catcher is better than Dempsey, who himself if pretty good, which is why that is set.

It seems highly bizarre that “remove for def sub” actually would mean “replace with anybody who happens to be on hand whether they are a defensive upgrade or even play the position”.

More submitted in the spirit of shared suffering and the hope of a fix by the powers that be.

My guess is that you have Dempsey set on "remove 4 def. sub"... He'll come out even if there's no better replacement available.

My usual hurt catcher is better than Dempsey, who himself if pretty good, which is why that is set.

It seems highly bizarre that “remove for def sub” actually would mean “replace with anybody who happens to be on hand whether they are a defensive upgrade or even play the position”.

More submitted in the spirit of shared suffering and the hope of a fix by the powers that be.

I believe you should put Parrish at C under "Defensive Subs" and not check the "remove 4 def. sub" for Dempsey. I have never used that setting, only specific Defensive Subs so I could be wrong.

The cool thing that has happened now, my starting SS, Trammell, has proven injury prone and Concepcion is his backup.

HAL has taken to removing Concepcion in the late innings and replacing him with Devon White.

Yes, the same Devon White who was a multi gold glove CF and never once appeared in the IF in seventeen seasons.

The remove 4 def sub is garbage. It will always remove the player if you have the lead no matter if you have a suitable replacement or not. With Parrish out and Dempsey set to that mode, you had no other catchers and you seen what Hal did. Do you have Concepcion checked for remove 4 def sub as well? That might explain the White substitution. Surfdoc just uncheck all players you have set to remove 4 def sub and then use the team strategy -- defensive subs to designate up to 4 players you would like to come in as defensive replacements. This method will not always trigger the substitution but the closer the game the more likely the sub will be made. You are right to say that it's highly bizarre that it works this way but good luck getting the powers that be to come up with a fix.