Infield deep

Humboldt KA · 04-15-2024, 10:20 AM

I have started selecting "infield deep" whenever the batter has speed <40 and the situation does not call for DP depth or corners or infield in. (I do do it in preference to shifts against pull hitters).

After ~700-800 tries* I have only identified 2 cases where I'm fairly sure this caused me to give up a hit and 2 more that I think probably. Basically impossible, AFAIK, to tell when it saves me a hit, but surely it is > 1/2 of 1% of the time.

So my Q is: why aren't we all doing this?

*I've been doing this for ~80 games across 2 seasons, I estimate an average of 9-10 times/game. I get that estimate from the fact that any lineup typically includes 2-4 against whom I can use this, they come to the plate an average of a bit over 4 times each, and nearly 3/4 of situations are eligible. ~3 x ~4 x ~3/4 = ~ 9.

Brad K · 04-16-2024, 09:31 AM

My suspicion is that team strategy barely has an effect in historical game if at all. If it did the game couldn't produce the near historical output some people like to brag about. In any case, the game engine produces hits and outs. What you see in the animation is flavor, not information.

Humboldt KA · 04-16-2024, 10:55 AM

It would indeed be very nice to learn whether shifts matter at all, or if some do and some don't.

I am pretty sure I get worse results when the situation calls for infield in and I push the space bar too soon, but you're right that what with animations for flavor only it is hard to tell about anything else.

Actually I can think of one category where the animation seems to contain information, namely whether balls hit very deep in certain niches in certain ballparks vs. others are more often doubles or triples--but that could be just the ballpark numbers).

04-15-2024, 10:20 AM	#1
Humboldt KA Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 71	Infield deep I have started selecting "infield deep" whenever the batter has speed <40 and the situation does not call for DP depth or corners or infield in. (I do do it in preference to shifts against pull hitters). After ~700-800 tries* I have only identified 2 cases where I'm fairly sure this caused me to give up a hit and 2 more that I think probably. Basically impossible, AFAIK, to tell when it saves me a hit, but surely it is > 1/2 of 1% of the time. So my Q is: why aren't we all doing this? I've been doing this for ~80 games across 2 seasons, I estimate an average of 9-10 times/game. I get that estimate from the fact that any lineup typically includes 2-4 against whom I can use this, they come to the plate an average of a bit over 4 times each, and nearly 3/4 of situations are eligible. ~3 x ~4 x ~3/4 = ~ 9. Last edited by Humboldt KA; 04-15-2024 at 10:21 AM.*

04-16-2024, 09:31 AM	#2
Brad K Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,312	My suspicion is that team strategy barely has an effect in historical game if at all. If it did the game couldn't produce the near historical output some people like to brag about. In any case, the game engine produces hits and outs. What you see in the animation is flavor, not information. __________________ Pirates Play Moneyball 1951 to 2008 46,000 views and counting!... Wow, up to 47,000, thank you. Wow, I hadn't checked for weeks. Oct 9 2024 its 79,561. Why do people use different players, different lineups, different strategy, development, talent change randomness, and the development lab, but judge the game on whether it produces historical statistics? Last edited by Brad K; 04-16-2024 at 09:33 AM.

04-16-2024, 10:55 AM	#3
Humboldt KA Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 71	It would indeed be very nice to learn whether shifts matter at all, or if some do and some don't. I am pretty sure I get worse results when the situation calls for infield in and I push the space bar too soon, but you're right that what with animations for flavor only it is hard to tell about anything else. Actually I can think of one category where the animation seems to contain information, namely whether balls hit very deep in certain niches in certain ballparks vs. others are more often doubles or triples--but that could be just the ballpark numbers).