Lack of Pinch Hitting Bug

[sudden]

Crucial game. Game #4 of the National League Championship Series and the computer pulls this:

TOP OF THE NINTH
Damon Minor pinch hit for Bill Simas.
Damon Minor popped up to third.
Damian Jackson reached second on a fielding error by the center fielder.
Milton Bradley singled through the right side, scoring a run.
Robb Nen came in to pitch for the Titans.
Cliff Floyd doubled down the third base line.
Vladimir Guerrero struck out.
Mike Cameron grounded to the pitcher.
1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Montreal leads 5 to 4.

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Ugueth Urbina came in to pitch for the Expos.
Mike Lowell came in to play Third Baseman.
J.T. Snow walked.
Rich Aurilia lined out to the pitcher.
The Expos guarded the lines.
Robb Nen grounded to the pitcher for a double play.

EXPOS WIN: 5-4

How come with the game tied the Artificial Intelligence is bright enough to pinch hit for the Expos, yet with the Titans trailing by a run and down to their last at bat in the same inning, the computer isn't bright enough to pinch hit for the closer!
:confused:

There were five pinch hitters available on the bench and Dusty Half-Baked, the computer manager, decides to let the relief pitcher who is hitting .142 hit away?

This is a major bug! My team might have lost anyways but I'd at least like to see my team take a legitimate shot at winning!

[sudden]

It happened again. How can I fire my (expletive deleted) manager and get some AI that will use my bench. The manager let the relief pitcher hit away with 2 men left on the bench. This needs to be fixed!

TOP OF THE NINTH
Tom Goodwin walked.
Julio Lugo hit an infield single to the pitcher.
Adrian Beltre laid down a sacrifice bunt to the catcher.
Gary Sheffield struck out.
Shawn Green was intentionally walked.
Pat Burrell doubled over the center fielder for two RBIs.
John Johnstone came in to pitch for the Titans.
Mitch Meluskey walked.
Hideki Tobias grounded to first.
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Los Angeles leads 4 to 3.

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Kazuhiro Sasaki came in to pitch for the Dodgers.
Chris Stynes came in to play Left Fielder.
Dave Hansen came in to play Second Baseman.
Jason Kendall lined out to right.
Rich Aurilia walked.
The Dodgers guarded the lines.
John Johnstone grounded to first for a double play.

[James Grove]

I've passed this thread on to Clay for him to look at.

I know he was going to review bringing in a pinch hitter for the pitcher before he came to bat, rather than letting him swing and then get pulled for a reliever at the top of the next inning.

I imagine this bug could be rolled into the same fix.

Thanks for pointing this out, and we'll try to fix it.

-James

[sudden]

I noticed that my manager pinch hit for the relief pitcher in a road game when we were behind. It seems to only be during a home game. Maybe the code needs to be changed so that if it's the team's last at-bat and they are behind and the pitcher comes up they should be automatically pinch hit for if there's an available hitter on the bench. If the game is tied then I guess the manager might decide to leave the pitcher in to hit and pitch the next inning.

Keep up the great work on trying to make Mogul as great as possible!

[Clay Dreslough]

I just fixed a bug in the code that always pinch hits for the pitcher in the 8th or later when tied or behind.

Also, the AI should ALREADY pinch hit for a pitcher if he's due to be pulled at the end of the inning anyway.

This code may go up Tuesday (11/20) if it passes testing. After then, if you see a violation of either of these AI "rules", let me know.

Thanks,

Clay

P.S. While we're on the subject, was Brenly an idiot to let Schilling hit in the 7th inning of Game 7?

[Cipster]

Oh no! Clay did it! He brought up Bob Brenly's managerial brilliance!
(I'm trying to restrain myself by tying my own hands behind my back). Can't do it I have to type it:
BOB BRENLY IS AN IDIOT AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES. But it's ok he beat the Yankees and that overrides everything.

[sudden]

To not pinch hit for Schilling on three days rest in the 7th inning of the 7th game is a gamble. I'd probably pinch hit for him.

Mind you, in game 7 of my Strat-O-Matic play off this year I pinch hit for my pitcher as I didn't feel that a one run lead was sufficient and that my starter would go all the way. Of course, my bullpen blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth.

Sometimes you make the right call and you still lose. Some times you make a dumb move and you still come out smelling like roses. Brenly is the latter. Not pinch hitting for Schilling was OK; it certainly wasn't his worst move. Bringing Kim back to pitch after throwing 60 pitches and losing the previous nights game was absolutely criminal.:eek: