Many times when I don't pinch hit for the pitcher I find myself feeling vindicated even if things don't turn out the way I wanted them to. What does this mean? Let's say I keep a pitcher in to bat and he makes an out. I feel much better when that out comes on the opposing team's pitcher's card because I do not feel like I wasted a hitter. However, real life does not allow for such vindication. Then let's say the wheels fall off for that pitcher in the very next half inning when he takes the mound. I find myself looking at other pitching cards checking those results to see if things would have mattered or not? There is a term false hope, is this phenomena that I am experiencing false validation?
Baseball is a game of what ifs????? Often, when I select a pinch hitter and roll the dice, i always check the other potential pinch hitters to see how they would have fared. Go back to '88. If Lasorda had selected Mike Sharperson instead of Gibson........similar to when u leavce a tiring pitcher in to face one more batter, i call it the Grady Little Effect...
I bet all of us do the same thing. I have been trying to avoid comparing pinch hitter cards once a result goes bad...what I don;t know, won;t bother me!
Since I use the DH pinch hitting isn't as much a problem for me as when I bring in a relief pitcher to face a particular batter only to have the roll go on the hitter's card and the result being the same no matter which pitcher was on the mound. I guess its just the way the game plays out sometimes. But I totally understand where you are coming from here.
Happens (too often
) with me, too. I do find myself thinking, "Well, so-and-so wouldn't have gotten a hit either" with that roll.
That's life managing in the Strat Leagues. In real life, you'd never know.
Also, what about staying with the hurler, trying to get to his at-bat when he's due up the next inning? How often does it happen that he'll get hammered, and trying to get out of the inning without burning a reliever looks like another big mistake?
Thanks for all the replies guys. Moose Haas I like the Metaphor, GW perhaps I should try and abstain from looking, Coach, I too get it with the relief pitcher, and seajaw yes, many times knowing that pitcher is up next inning has turned into offensive fireworks for the wrong reasons.
Hi Guys,
A lot of times when I get to the pitchers spot in the line up what I decide to do is determined by the game situation & inning. If I have runners on 1st or 1st & 2nd with no outs then I'll sac the runners over. If it's late in the game I may PH for him or if he is one of my stud pitchers then I may just let him bat and take my chances. I have hit and run sometimes if he is a good hitter or contact guy to try and stay away from the DP. Or if he isn't then I will look to steal a base or do a double steal if my lead guy is fast. Either way when the pitcher has to hit it does make for some very interesting decisions as a manager,and for me it gives that feeling of being in the dugout with my foot on the top step. And isn't that what we all enjoy about Strat? It gives us that oppertunity to put our foot on the top step of any major league team dugout in any era. Does it get any better then that?
I think it's too painful to Monday morning quarterback myself, and I don't go back to check the 'what-coulda-beens'. As long as I make the right moves in the right situations, I'm OK with whatever happens.
I'm a percentages guy (graduated from the Weaver Scool of Management, summa cum percenticus!); I beat myself up when I miss the best move at the time. I don't worry about the dice roll, which I have no control over. If I had a reasonably good chance to score and win the game in the 6th or 7th inning and I decided against pinch hitting for a weak hitter that early, I find myself thinking about what I should have done.
I guess these pich hit for the pitcher decisions are part of why I like non-DH games. I can completely identify with trying to keep the pitcher in because you know he will come up in the nexxt inning so why waste a relief pitcher. That's pretty realistic in that happens in real baseball too. We just get paid less to make these decisions!
Hi Chisox, hey Guys!
Have had all those situations/results posted......sure makes for a great game!
Once in awhile I'll check'n see what would have hapn'd but I try not to.
Jim
It's so easy to second guess the decsions that are made in the heat of a game. So I usually tried not to look at what might have been, nothing good ever comes from that.
strfan '70, I totally understand. In fact sometimes when you are wrong and then go check another card you find out you were reealllllyyyyy wrong!
Hi Fellas!!!
Oh man, I thought of this thread last night!LOL!!...had a game in my 1957 LWD between the Phils and the Cubbies.
Anyway, Robin Roberts has a 1-0 lead bottom of the 9th, in Philly.
Robbie, who has already allowed a new house record 42 slammers in just 145.1 innings tossed,but has rebounded lately to go t'8-12, allows a single to Ernie, fans 1998 Sosa, but gives up a baser to 1979 Kong, now first and third occupation.
In comes RP Jim Hearn, Phils IF is in.
Moose Moryn grounds to first, runners now second/third.
Slugging Dale Long walks!
Now, for the V!
Bobby Adams due up....but there's Jim "Ray" Bolger grabbin' a caber, and heading toward,and steppin' in the chalked rectangle!!!hahaha!!!
Anyway guys, next roll izza 1-5 for a game ending K-O!!!hahahah!!!
Bobby Adams, the forgotten one???...he woulda single**!!!!!!!
Vailidation...MAXED!!!hahah!!!
LP was Three Finger who allowed just three hits...the death shot was 1983 Joe Morgan's HR.
Three fell t'12-13. On the Cubbies, that's pretty good actually!
Jim
At least those of us who do make the worng choice in SOM don't have to worry about our job security!
Imagine if the computer game had a fire-the-manager option!
How long would you last...?
Hi Seaj!.....maybe five rolls!hahahah!!
Jim
Nice post Jim, man it never stops does it? Great card photos as well.
Thanks Chi!
Man, does it ever,never!hhahaah!!!...that's what keeps me never bored in any game!hahaha!!!
Jim
I always try to assign each pinch-hitter as specific a role as possible. If he fails in his task I never have to look at other cards to see what they would have done-they weren't going to bat in that situation anyway. If I do have to pick and there are more than one who might help I make my choice and after 39 years of Strat that kind of thing going wrong just doesn't faze me anymore.
