Questionable AI Decision

[sudden]

Atlanta is playing my Cincinnati Reds. Atlanta is trailing by one run and if they lose their season is over. Here's what transpired in the eighth inning when Atlanta's best hitters, their 3-4-5 hitters are up.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Jimmy Rollins singled to left. <--1>
Corey Patterson laid down a sacrifice bunt to the catcher. <-2->
Andruw Jones was intentionally walked. <-21>
Owen Prosterman struck out. <-21>
Andy Houston came in to pitch for the Reds. <-21>
Irving Henriquez dribbled weakly to the catcher. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Atlanta trails 4 to 3.

Essentially, the computer manager gave away an out and took the bat out of his #4 and #5 hitters hands. The inning was decided by their much weaker #6 and #7 hitters.

The AI decision to have their cleanup hitter bunt with nobody out is highly questionable. Most managers would letter their big hitters swing away in those situations. The AI might be over managing in these situations and playing too much small ball.

[sunzfan]

Actually, if there is a man on first base with no one out, I'd guesstimate 90% of all managers with their seasons on the line and playing for one run would do just that—bunt. Putting a man in scoring position with 1 out is a likely option for a team with their backs against the wall. We might not agree with it due to the outcome in this specific example, but had one of those 2 hitters poked one through the hole Atlanta would have been right back in it---

[James Grove]

I can see this particular case going either way.

I certainly know that it's always a topic for the commentators to discuss on TV when it happens. "So what will the Atlanta manager call for? Is he going to let Patterson swing away, or will he go for the sacrifice bunt to get Rollins into scoring position?" "Well, Bob, Patterson is only 3 for 10 in his last sacrifice bunt attempts..." and so on and so on.

So I don't think it's a cut-and-dried situation. What do other people think?

-James

[modred]

I think the AI might be a bit too aggressive in sacrifice bunting in this case. Going into the ninth down 6-3, the second batter of the inning lays down a sacrafice bunt.

At the end of the eighth, Boston leads 6 to 3.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Danny Graves came in to pitch for the Green Sox. <--->
Johnny Damon walked. <--1>
Fernando Vina laid down a sacrifice bunt to the catcher. <-2->
Bobby Abreu was intentionally walked. <-21>
Sean Casey doubled down the left field line for two RBIs. <-2->
Ben Grieve was intentionally walked. <-21>
Rich Aurilia grounded to short for a double play. <-2->

[sudden]

Even though we can't seem to be able to agree enough to get a trade done, I agree with Modred that the AI is a little too agressive in using the bunt.

Most managers tend to let their big boppers hit away. For instance:
Sosa: 1 bunt since 1993
Bonds: 2 bunts since 1987
Kent: 1 bunt since 1997 (when he started to be a power hitter)
V. Guerrero: has never bunted in the majors
C. Jones: 1 bunt since 1997
M. Ramirez: 1 bunt since 1996
Griffey: 2 bunts since 1992

I think that the AI should be adjusted to
a) not bunt in the ninth inning when you're down three runs (what was that all about:confused: )
b) bunt very sparingly with the big boppers (3-4-5) as bunting with them usually means that the next batter will be intentionally walked and all you've accomplished is to give away an out and take the bat out of two of your best hitters.

I know that if I had the option, I would tell my manager to never bunt with my 3-4-5 hitters. As Earl Weaver used to say, if you play for one run that's likely all that you get. We live in the era of the three run homer so why doesn't the AI manage that way?

[mikeh5]

What kind of hitters are Prosterman and Henriquez? If neither one (especially Prosterman) offers much, I wouldn't have had Patterson bunt. In that situation it is nice to get the runner into scoring position, but with Jones coming up, you can expect him to be walked with the base open. If Prosterman isn't likely to deliver, I'd be likely to have Patterson and Jones hit away and play for the big inning.

[steven0560]

At the very least it is a RARE exception. Especially in that situation, but there are almost NO major league clean up hitters that would or even could bunt to save their lives. It's just not done anymore. 30 years ago it would be done more often, but nowadays, they don't even practice bunting .
Not that I agree with this one dimensional way of thinking. It's just the way it is.