Bad AI Logic

Mike Lowe · 08-03-2006, 05:20 PM

This may have been reported already but here goes anyway:

2007 season
White Sox vs. Indians
Top of 5th
3-3 tie
Spring Training game

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Jerry Hariston Jr. breaks for 2nd and steals the bag. Runner on 1st, Jim Thome, stays on 1st. I know it's Thome, but would a team really NOT double steal in this situation?

The very same hitter then, hits a dribbler back to the mound in which the pitcher throws to 2nd, to start a DP, but the hitter (Tejada) beats it out. The run, Hairston Jr., does NOT score. Why would the runner not break for home after the throw goes to 2nd? There is no way they'd come home with it as they are trying to end the inning on a double play. And there's no way of turning a triple play because there is already 1 out.

GoldenGlove · 08-03-2006, 05:31 PM

It happens more than you'd think.

andymac · 08-03-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Jerry Hariston Jr. breaks for 2nd and steals the bag. Runner on 1st, Jim Thome, stays on 1st. I know it's Thome, but would a team really NOT double steal in this situation?

I would actually say that this type of thing happens more often than double steals these days. Teams/catchers tend to make the decision to go ahead and throw out the slower runner at 2nd to get an out, so unless you have two fast runners the double steal has pretty much become dead.

Quote:

The very same hitter then, hits a dribbler back to the mound in which the pitcher throws to 2nd, to start a DP, but the hitter (Tejada) beats it out. The run, Hairston Jr., does NOT score. Why would the runner not break for home after the throw goes to 2nd? There is no way they'd come home with it as they are trying to end the inning on a double play. And there's no way of turning a triple play because there is already 1 out.

I agree with you a bit more in this situation, but this isn't completely unrealistic either. With the ball being hit to the pitcher, the runner's instinct is going to be to go back to the bag...plus the pitcher could very well have had time to look him back and still gotten the out at 2nd (remember we still have Thome running).

I don't really think either of these things are something to label bad AI logic right off the bat from seeing one instance. If they happen too often it could be a problem and wouldn't hurt to be looked into, but it could very well just be the case of a strange inning of bad baserunning.

Mike Lowe · 08-03-2006, 06:54 PM

Ok sure. I should have thrown a question mark in that title. Glad to see some explanations. Thanks.

fauteuil7 · 08-04-2006, 11:23 AM

Plus, you could always chalk it up to Spring Training. If they do that again in July, you could bench 'em.

Marc Duffy · 09-17-2006, 04:34 AM

Mike - Which version is it that you are using?

battists · 10-17-2006, 10:45 PM

We have a rule that states that Tech Support threads wherein we have not received a response within 7 days will be closed.

This one meets this criteria, so I'm closing this.

If you want to discuss it again, just PM me with the thread link, and I'll re-open. (Don't just say "Hey, reopen my thread." I need to know the URL, thanks!)

Steve

08-03-2006, 05:20 PM	#1
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,163	Bad AI Logic This may have been reported already but here goes anyway: 2007 season White Sox vs. Indians Top of 5th 3-3 tie Spring Training game Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Jerry Hariston Jr. breaks for 2nd and steals the bag. Runner on 1st, Jim Thome, stays on 1st. I know it's Thome, but would a team really NOT double steal in this situation? The very same hitter then, hits a dribbler back to the mound in which the pitcher throws to 2nd, to start a DP, but the hitter (Tejada) beats it out. The run, Hairston Jr., does NOT score. Why would the runner not break for home after the throw goes to 2nd? There is no way they'd come home with it as they are trying to end the inning on a double play. And there's no way of turning a triple play because there is already 1 out.

08-03-2006, 05:31 PM	#2
GoldenGlove Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 339	It happens more than you'd think. __________________ ISBL - New York Yankees B.I.G. - Oakland Athletics TheMLB - Cleveland Indians

08-03-2006, 06:54 PM	#4
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,163	Ok sure. I should have thrown a question mark in that title. Glad to see some explanations. Thanks.

08-04-2006, 11:23 AM	#5
fauteuil7 Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 356	Plus, you could always chalk it up to Spring Training. If they do that again in July, you could bench 'em.

09-17-2006, 04:34 AM	#6
Marc Duffy SI Marketing Wizard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Old Street, London Posts: 4,741	Mike - Which version is it that you are using?

10-17-2006, 10:45 PM	#7
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506 Blog Entries: 7	We have a rule that states that Tech Support threads wherein we have not received a response within 7 days will be closed. This one meets this criteria, so I'm closing this. If you want to discuss it again, just PM me with the thread link, and I'll re-open. (Don't just say "Hey, reopen my thread." I need to know the URL, thanks!) Steve