Using the DH?

[jpeters1734]

In all my games I turn the DH off because I hate it. But, I'm thinking of turning it on in one of my leagues like the AL. My question is will aging veterans that have diminishing fielding skills be more apt to sign with an DH team because of the extra lineup slot? Does the AI use logic when signing players for a DH role?

[Carlton]

Don't know if the AI is that developed to see a slugging offensive player with bad fielding ratings and deciding he is a DH, but like you, I never use the DH

[RchW]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

In all my games I turn the DH off because I hate it. But, I'm thinking of turning it on in one of my leagues like the AL. My question is will aging veterans that have diminishing fielding skills be more apt to sign with an DH team because of the extra lineup slot? Does the AI use logic when signing players for a DH role?

The AI will use a poor field good hit player at DH. I can't speak to player logic but the teams will sign such players.

[rjl518]

i dumped the DH in my dynasty...i never liked it...hey pitcher...go grab a stick and step up to the plate and try to help your OWN cause...know what i mean?

[kq76]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

IDoes the AI use logic when signing players for a DH role?

You might want to ask yourself if it's really that logical. Look at the AL IRL. Not that many teams in recent years have actually used an aging veteran as their DH.

[The Wolf]

Carrying extra relievers is killing the aging veteran DH.

Is David Ortiz the last designated hitter? - Beyond the Box Score

[pgjocki]

That's a great article Wolf, thanks for sharing. Additionally, I think Ortiz has used PED's and doesn't deserve to be concerned hall of fame worthy.

[darkcloud4579]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

In all my games I turn the DH off because I hate it. But, I'm thinking of turning it on in one of my leagues like the AL. My question is will aging veterans that have diminishing fielding skills be more apt to sign with an DH team because of the extra lineup slot? Does the AI use logic when signing players for a DH role?

I will go back and forth on this depending on how offense is going in my league. I tend to stick with it because it does extend the careers of guys who'd otherwise not get on the field and as guys decline or get older, I prefer that over say, just seeing pitchers hit.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by pgjocki

That's a great article Wolf, thanks for sharing. Additionally, I think Ortiz has used PED's and doesn't deserve to be concerned hall of fame worthy.

I'm not defending him, but consider this (the whole article is worth reading):

David Ortiz Is Furious About His Failed PED Test Coming Up Again

"Ortiz's name popped up (retroactively, six years later) on 2003 survey testing agreed to by MLB and the union to determine the level of PED use in baseball. The results were supposed to remain confidential, and for most of the names on the list, they did, so Ortiz got screwed there. But more fundamentally, there were no PED penalties for those 2003 tests. If Ortiz was using that year, he was doing so completely legally. He hasn't flunked a test that counts, so he has, both de jure and de facto, done nothing wrong."

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

I will go back and forth on this depending on how offense is going in my league. I tend to stick with it because it does extend the careers of guys who'd otherwise not get on the field and as guys decline or get older, I prefer that over say, just seeing pitchers hit.

My MLB league has the AL with the DH, and I have not seen it doing what you describe much. I do enjoy playing in AL park, because my team has two really good first basemen and I can use the second one as DH (as opposed to my PH), but I don't see it extending any careers unless you count Ortiz.

[Padreman]

People like Chili Davis, Harold Baines, Paul Malitor, Edgar Martinez latter in career Robin Yount and George Brett did benefit from the DH. These are just a few examples

[megamanmatt]

Originally Posted by Padreman

People like Chili Davis, Harold Baines, Paul Malitor, Edgar Martinez latter in career Robin Yount and George Brett did benefit from the DH. These are just a few examples

And honestly if I've ever seen anything like it in OOTP it was by sheer luck. The problem with OOTP is ijust treats the DH spot like an extra at-bat and so just tends to put it's second best offensive position player in. Now for a NL team visiting a AL park that's alright but for an AL team that is just all wrong.

Personally I'd really like to see that addressed. I know there are a lot of baseball purists who are all like "poo poo. DH. poo poo." but speaking for the unclean (ie. those of us born after 1973 in AL towns) it's kind of important.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Padreman

People like Chili Davis, Harold Baines, Paul Malitor, Edgar Martinez latter in career Robin Yount and George Brett did benefit from the DH. These are just a few examples

They did, but these days things have changed. Read that first link I posted. Those days are over

[megamanmatt]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

They did, but these days things have changed. Read that first link I posted. Those days are over

One thing people in this discussion also need to realize, and I'm not targeting you specifically by quoting you Wolf, when having this discussion we need to take ourselves out of the box the MLB puts our minds in by nature. The DH-rule as it pertains to OOTP can apply to current MLB leagues, historical MLB leagues, or fictional leagues so that's how we should be thinking about it.

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by megamanmatt

And honestly if I've ever seen anything like it in OOTP it was by sheer luck. The problem with OOTP is ijust treats the DH spot like an extra at-bat and so just tends to put it's second best offensive position player in. Now for a NL team visiting a AL park that's alright but for an AL team that is just all wrong.

Personally I'd really like to see that addressed. I know there are a lot of baseball purists who are all like "poo poo. DH. poo poo." but speaking for the unclean (ie. those of us born after 1973 in AL towns) it's kind of important.

This is basically what I'm trying to find out. So in ootp the ai doesn't sign a player with the intent of using him as a dh, it just uses the best bench bat. Am I understanding it correctly?

[sprague]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

This is basically what I'm trying to find out. So in ootp the ai doesn't sign a player with the intent of using him as a dh, it just uses the best bench bat. Am I understanding it correctly?

I can't say 100% for sure, but this tends to be a yes in the DH leagues I have run

On a positive note, the AI tends to use the bullpen much better in a DH league when it is choosing relief pitchers and how long to leave them in, as opposed to running through pinch hitters and spot switches. It becomes one of the big advantages a player gets to playing his games out rather than simming in a no-DH league, he will do a better job with bullpen management and pick up a few wins a year that way.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

In all my games I turn the DH off because I hate it. But, I'm thinking of turning it on in one of my leagues like the AL. My question is will aging veterans that have diminishing fielding skills be more apt to sign with an DH team because of the extra lineup slot? Does the AI use logic when signing players for a DH role?

From my experience, no the AI does not seem to always sign players to be DH only. I have had the DH in the AL for the last 6 seasons and now 2 seasons in the NL in my EBL league. Miguel Cabera signed with the Paradise City Roses and is about 2's across the board on D but 7's on offense. Instead of having be the DH they sent him to AAA when they still had a chance at winning the NL West. They have a quality 1B in Axl Rose and Miggy would have helped that team as the DH.
I edited one player so he sucked on D and the AI sat him as the backup C despite the fact that he was edited to be able to hit .280 35. I gave him just enough rating as a C to become a starter again.

[Padreman]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Carrying extra relievers is killing the aging veteran DH.

Is David Ortiz the last designated hitter? - Beyond the Box Score

Very true. Things are changing. In my fictional league I carry 28 man roster since I only have one level of minor leagues 3 players. So with minor injuries I don't have to call anybody up and I have a couple of backups. So I still have the luxury to use an older guy as my DH. That way I extend the players career but I don't have to worry about carrying only utility players

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

This is basically what I'm trying to find out. So in ootp the ai doesn't sign a player with the intent of using him as a dh, it just uses the best bench bat. Am I understanding it correctly?

Yes. That is what I have seen.