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Originally Posted by Jpotapoff
We didn't ignore that, we already addressed why we don't agree with that explanation ie. we may have different ideas from the AI on what constitutes the "best hitter", we don't like the AI using our defensive specialists because it decides that player is the best hitter available to pinch hit, don't want a player who we sat on the bench for a specific reason (say want to limit his at bats in a league where we have usage penalties, or sitting him down to avoid an injury, etc.) or for pretty much every single reason people have posted as to why they want that feature back in. Many of us have even specifically mentioned Markus's explanation in our message talking about why we didn't like it. So we have hardly ignored that message.
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I suppose Markus could have elaborated better than this:
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Originally Posted by Markus
No, sorry. This does not make much sense anyway, as the AI ranks available pinch hitters on offensive (vs R/L) value and uses them based on the situation. Having the PH in a depth chart would not change this really.
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I can understand why people would want to use PH for certain situations, but I think that the PH thing could possibly mess around with the AI's algorithm for trying to win games the best way it can.
For instance, if you put that octogenarian with 2999 hits at the top of your PH depth chart, it could be that it could screw up the AI in determining when the proper time to use a PH would be. Putting that octogenarian at the top of a PH DC wouldn't make any sense to the AI, and so would probably ignore putting anyone in to PH when it would be most appropriate.
The AI looks at ratings and game situations to determine when to use a PH, right? Say you are down by a run in the bottom of the 9th with one out, and you have your small little SS whose a great fielder, with a decent OBP up to bat, and happens to be your worst batter in your lineup w/ DH. You also have your 2999-hit guy on the top of your PH DC, and a 1B with good hitter ratings, and a 3/10 for defensive ratings at the SS position below him.
Let's say the SS has say a 3/10 in contact, 1/10 in power, and 5/10 in Eye. The 2999 has a 1/10 in Con, 1/10 in POW, and 1/10 in Eye. The 1b second in line to PH has a 5/10 in Con, 5/10 in Pow, and 5/10 in Eye.
You screw up the logic of the AI algorithm with this set-up. The AI knows this is a situation to PH for your SS, especially considering he has the lowest ratings in your lineup on your team, and is the wrong L/R split. The AI will probably compare the ratings with your SS to your octogenarian who is just.....terrible, and should have retired 4 decades earlier. So the AI will opt to skip the octogenarian and keep the SS in, because it is trying to win the game. Thereby, it effectively negates your depth chart anyway.
I assume, in laymens terms, it would be something like this:
Situation: bottom of the 9th, two outs, bases loaded, down by one.
At the plate: SS, worst hitter in the lineup using a DH.
PH slot #1: Octogenarian who is the worst hitter in the league.
PH slot #2: 1B who is average across the board in ratings.
Checksums:
SS ratings worse than PH #1; if false, do not replace.
SS ratings worse than PH #1; if true, replace SS.
PH #1 already used; if true, use PH #2
PH #1 already used; if false, use before PH #2
Looking at the logic of the checksums, it doesn't make any sense at all to have the Depth chart present. It is basically, a paradox....or rather an oxymoron, if you will.
In other words, you have to provide a compelling enough of a reason for the AI to resort to a PH in the proper situation. Using a depth chart and adding a player that is the worst hitter on your team at the number one slot of the PH DC, will effectively keep the AI from pinch hitting in any situation, no matter what. Because you have limited its options to an either/or situation between the various starters and the player in the PH slot number 1. The player in PH #1 will NEVER be used in a game, because all the starters are rated higher than him, even the sucky SS. If the number one PH on the depth chart is never used, then the player you slipped into the number two slot will never be used either, because the number one has yet to be used first.
As for teams controlled by the AI, the depth chart may or may not get filled out by the AI. If it does, it is also useless, because I don't think the AI from ATL can predict what pitcher the AI from NY will use. He could be either a Righty, or a Lefty. If the ATL AI fills in a depth chart, the ATL AI will be restricted to that depth chart, and will have to ignore L/R splits.
If the AI in general does not fill out the depth chart, and the player uses it, the depth chart is still useless, as stated before the paragraph above this one. It's a terrible oxymoronic paradox that makes no sense whatsoever. So, Markus just ditched the PH Depth Chart, and probably didn't feel like explaining the reasons why, because it's quite complicated and dicey.
On the other hand, perhaps providing a box you can check where you can have the AI skip over certain players to PH, as KC has mentioned, would probably be more effective.