Bench Player not getting playing time

[malpits]

Frank Catalanotto is in number 2 on my bench but he has only played 2 games in the OF but not 1 at bat while other rubish players below him have been playing more than him, why has this happened?

[takaplan]

There are a few reasons that could explain why he isn't getting any playing time.

Generally, unless your players are injured, the bench is used for pinch hitting (usually for the pitcher) and for defensive replacements.

Are you in the American League? If so, that explains why he isn't doing too much pinch hitting, because if a pinch hitter was needed, it would be the guy in the #1 slot.

How many outfielders do you have on your bench? Frank Catalanotto is a LF, so he would be used as a defensive replacement for LF. There is a chance that the AI, using your scouting, thinks another player on your roster is a better defensive LF than Catalanotto, and using them instead. Also, if you have a great defensive starting LF, that would explain why he isn't getting much defensive replacement playing time.

I recommend that you take a look through your box scores, and look how your substiutes are being used. See if someone else is going in to LF instead of Catalanotto, and how players are being used to pinch hit.

[takaplan]

I just took a look at your team. You are in the AL, so you don't use too many pinch hitters. That explains that.

Your starting LF has played started 87 of your 94 games so far. In those 7 other games, your other LF on the bench, who has superior defense in the AI's eyes, is starting.

You spend nothing on scouting. So, doing an auto-sort or having the AI choose the best player to play during an injury is affected by your scouting.

So, in conclusion, since the other players have played mostly for injury replacements, and your LF hasn't been hurt much, and their is a defensively superior LF to replace him ahead of Catalanotto, that is probably why he isn't playing too much.

It would be a whole different story in the NL, where pinch hitting occurs so much more.

Hope this helps!

Tom

[malpits]

Oh I see now. Thank you for clearing that up for me and I guess I will leave it the way it is then since I am doing well with it. Thanks for your help.