First Baseman not covering bag issue

[countryboy]

https://www.facebook.com/matthew.gan...5535194824943/


This issue is really starting to bug me. On this play Holt had a decent shot at throwing out the runner, at least it would've been close, but the 1B isn't covering the bag. I've had this happen a couple times over the last few days. Latest was a shot in the hole that Simmons snagged, threw to Wong at second for one and we had a shot at a double play but Adams was off the bag.

[thaSLAB]

I saw it for the first time yesterday, on a ball fielded deep in the hole at short. Although, I think the runner would have been easily safe anyway. It definitely seems like the first baseman had conceded the hit.

I'll post a video later.

Edit: here is the 1 time I've seen this in hundreds of games... also, I think the play was going to be a hit all the way, easily. You can see I switched to the SS very late, after I figured the 3B couldn't get there. I also thought I had went into replay and viewed/recorded it, but I guess not...

https://youtu.be/-E5cUJBI1S4

htcONE [M8] 5.0 | Tapatalk

[bcruise]

Anyone have a consensus on what is causing this yet? It can't just randomly be happening, can it?

I think I've seen it twice out of all the games I've played, so I know it's there.

It's tough to patch - fix for next year if the cause can't be nailed down.

[kehlis]

I actually saw it for the first time today.

In my instance it was a short pop up that the pitcher could have caught in the air if he had gotten off the mound quick enough. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

[nomo17k]

My personal guess is that this issue is not specific to the first baseman, but it is somehow caused by the new fielding paradigm which has removed some of the needless haste and urgency that we've observed before in non-urgent situations. That in general is a vast improvement (than seeing fielders always making plays as if they need to get to the nearest bathroom).

What I have been observing at times is that fielders in certain situations assume that a play that needs more urgency would not be made, so they don't make necessary plays to complete some plays. (some of which are archived at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/baseball17k/videos ... sorry that most videos are related to the excessive bunting/squeeze issue.)

One of more prominent examples is the first baseman not covering the bag when a fielder gives (this also happens with other basemen, like 2B/SS).

Another example I often see is that the pitcher not covering the home base on a wild pitch that goes to the backstop.

Also, on bunting, pitcher or catcher sometimes doesn't attempt to get to the ball quickly, as if he was yielding to the other guy who would make the play for him (we don't need the puma-like catcher urgency, but the excessive "pause" by the catcher actually contributes to a higher bunt success rate this year).

I think there are some loose ends in the new fielding AI in certain situations.

[HolyStroke3]

The first time I saw this was on a hard shot to third that one hopped just in front of Sandoval but he never threw the ball, just stood there. I watched replay to see why and the first basemen was just standing there, off the bag. It happened again on a similar play, this time I was in the field. Lowrie fielded a one hop liner, I hit circle, and threw across to Ike Davis who nevered moved on the play. I've seen it maybe 2-3 other time since

[Geolink]

Happened to me as well as I've been playing the game a lot often now.

It's REALLY annoying. Had a runner on first and second and a hard ground ball was hit to my third basemen. I was close to third base to tag the runner there, but at the heat of the moment I threw to first and the first baseman was NOWHERE near the bag.

UGH

[PPerfect_CJ]

I'm seeing it a lot, too. It's really annoying. Probably cost me a few outs.