If You're the Manager..

[yougo1000]

I had a cool idea for a game where someone lays out a situation and the next poster says what they would do and gives another situation..

I'll start

Runners on First and Third 1 out 8th inning tie game. The runner on third has elite speed but the runner on first is below average. The hitter is a power hitter. As the batting team what would you do. The infield is in DP depth and the Outfield is deep.

You can word these any way you want and don't have to be the hitting team.

[Blzer]

Re: If You're the Manager..

Hit away. No stealing opportunity, and squeezing is out of the question as well (why bunt with a power hitter, especially in a tie ball game?). Hope for the ball to get out of the infield, that's all.

Okay, here's one: 2nd & 3rd, no out. #8 hitter up, infield normal depth. Chopper hit to the first baseman's right, where he can still field it in front of him. Do you send the runner home on contact? (let's assume 2nd inning, 0-0 score, NL matchup)

[Chrisksaint]

Re: If You're the Manager..

I'd send him cause the pitcher is up next and it forces the first baseman to have to make an accurate throw. You may sacrifice an out at home, but the guy at 2nd should be able to move up to third so that the pitcher or lead off guy could then score that run.

Pitching/Defense, something simple I suppose but something that backfires on me in The Show so much:

You're up one with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and there is only a runner at 2nd. The guy batting is a good hitter and the next batter is also a good hitter, but he has a history of struggling against your closer. Do you walk the first guy and put the winning run on base?

[kehlis]

If You're the Manager..

Okay, here's one: 2nd & 3rd, no out. #8 hitter up, infield normal depth. Chopper hit to the first baseman's right, where he can still field it in front of him. Do you send the runner home on contact? (let's assume 2nd inning, 0-0 score, NL matchup)

I would send the runner home every time because worst case scenario you still have a runner on third with two outs.

The problem with the scenario though is that running on contact is called from the dugout before each pitch and relayed as part of the third base coaches sign (usually a simple sign if not verbal) but the runner knows if they are going on contact no matter where the ball is hit.

[Blzer]

Re: If You're the Manager..

I would send the runner home every time because worst case scenario you still have a runner on third with two outs.

The problem with the scenario though is that running on contact is called from the dugout before each pitch and relayed as part of the third base coaches sign (usually a simple sign if not verbal) but the runner knows if they are going on contact no matter where the ball is hit.

That's what I meant to say (because you're the manager), but I didn't just want it to be "any contact." Obviously you don't move on a line drive and you'll always move with it past the pitcher, but not necessarily on the corners. I wanted to know if you guys thought they should still move with a ball hit to first/third or not.

I would've chosen the same as you two, by the way.

Pitching/Defense, something simple I suppose but something that backfires on me in The Show so much:

You're up one with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and there is only a runner at 2nd. The guy batting is a good hitter and the next batter is also a good hitter, but he has a history of struggling against your closer. Do you walk the first guy and put the winning run on base?

I'll defer as far as the next situation goes (and let somebody else answer this as well), but here's my philosophy on that:

Spoiler

If you're the visiting team, you have to avoid automatically putting that winning run on base when they are a serious threat to score from the on-deck batter. So my conditions for the intentional walk would have to be: 1) We're home team; 2) Lefty-lefty match-up coming up (or perhaps righty-righty if the previous match-up was righty-lefty); 3) Our due-up hitters the next half-inning hits one or more of batters 1-4 at some point. I would not play "no doubles defense" either, because I'll still be playing for the win and risking the go-ahead run to come through.

So anyway, there's a good chance I'm not going to walk that guy. I understand he can still homer and end the game though. I want to see what somebody else says.

[cardinalbird5]

Re: If You're the Manager..

I had a cool idea for a game where someone lays out a situation and the next poster says what they would do and gives another situation..

I'll start

Runners on First and Third 1 out 8th inning tie game. The runner on third has elite speed but the runner on first is below average. The hitter is a power hitter. As the batting team what would you do. The infield is in DP depth and the Outfield is deep.

You can word these any way you want and don't have to be the hitting team.

Define power hitter? What his is FB, GB, LD, BB, and SO rates? If is Matt Holliday up (this happened Thursday actually) I'd send the runner, because he walks a lot and/or hits it on the ground a lot. If it is someone like Adam Dunn or Jay Bruce then I don't send the runner due to their high K rate and flyball rate. Who is pitching? Sinker baller or a strikeout guy?

[yougo1000]

Re: If You're the Manager..

Define power hitter? What his is FB, GB, LD, BB, and SO rates? If is Matt Holliday up (this happened Thursday actually) I'd send the runner, because he walks a lot and/or hits it on the ground a lot. If it is someone like Adam Dunn or Jay Bruce then I don't send the runner due to their high K rate and flyball rate. Who is pitching? Sinker baller or a strikeout guy?

Yeah I am talking about someone like Matt Holliday

[memphisonfire]

Re: If You're the Manager..

I'd send him cause the pitcher is up next and it forces the first baseman to have to make an accurate throw. You may sacrifice an out at home, but the guy at 2nd should be able to move up to third so that the pitcher or lead off guy could then score that run.

Pitching/Defense, something simple I suppose but something that backfires on me in The Show so much:

You're up one with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and there is only a runner at 2nd. The guy batting is a good hitter and the next batter is also a good hitter, but he has a history of struggling against your closer. Do you walk the first guy and put the winning run on base?

Well, I hate intentionally walking people but in this situation I'm walking the first hitter. I'm not doing it because of a statistical matchup with the next guy I'm doing it simply to allow my defense to have a force out at every base which makes it easier for them. Think about, now a ball hit deep in the hole with no chance to get the guy at first all the sudden has the option of throwing to second a bit quicker.

Alright so heres another, Top of 8th, 2 outs, and you're up one run. You have your left handed 6th hitter coming up to bat who is 0-3 today and hasn't even made solid contact but he's hitting .280 on the year with 18 home runs. On top of that, he's a below average fielder. The other team brings in a left handed pitcher just to face him. You do have a couple of right handed hitters on the bench that are better fielders but for the most part aren't strong hitters. What do you do?

[CabreraMVP]

Re: If You're the Manager..

Well, I hate intentionally walking people but in this situation I'm walking the first hitter. I'm not doing it because of a statistical matchup with the next guy I'm doing it simply to allow my defense to have a force out at every base which makes it easier for them. Think about, now a ball hit deep in the hole with no chance to get the guy at first all the sudden has the option of throwing to second a bit quicker.

Alright so heres another, Top of 8th, 2 outs, and you're up one run. You have your left handed 6th hitter coming up to bat who is 0-3 today and hasn't even made solid contact but he's hitting .280 on the year with 18 home runs. On top of that, he's a below average fielder. The other team brings in a left handed pitcher just to face him. You do have a couple of right handed hitters on the bench that are better fielders but for the most part aren't strong hitters. What do you do?

Tough to say exactly without the numbers on those right handers, but with a 1 run lead I would want to get the stronger fielders in the game. With 2 outs already and nobody, you probably aren't going to score and you need to prevent runs in the 9th.

If the lefty could hit LHP, then I might let him hit and still sub him out in the 9th. If the LHP struggled vs LHP, then I would defenitely give the right hander an at bat and let him play defense.