P.S. ...and uncheck the 'Def Rep' in Advanced Hitting Settings for your best hitters, so they'll stay in...

I hear all that inkdskn, but what I am trying to get to happen is to have Elton enter the game in the 7th or 8th inning in a singular Double Switch. This would allow him to throw as many pitches as possible and have as few PA's as possible (much like a real game). The 7th inning is a bit of a stretch for this unless I am the home team where I would have only 2 more At Bats.

This should not enter into the discussion of defensive replacements. I know you are following this thread, so you know that I am not worried about replacing my "best hitters" as I have defense and Batting Average on the bench. I will be willing to sacrifice .20 or .30 points of RL Average for superior defense and having my Ace closer in to give me the best chance to win.

GAME 21 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

Up 3-2 in the 7th Inning instead of using my closer, Sparky brings in LH Specialist Vida Blue to get Mickey Cochrane. Then to finish the inning, still in a save situation Sparky brings in Set Up B Rob Dibble instead of Elton. Dibble retires all 5 batters he faces. In the meantime my team scores 3 more runs to make 6-2 and take away the save situation. Sparky makes wholesale Defensive changes to start the 9th and brings in my Long A Charlie Ferguson (spot filling in this game in the Bullpen). Sparky Double Switches. Of course it is the wrong move. The pitchers spot was the last AB in the 8th. Instead of putting Ferguson in the pitchers spot (thus due up 9th), Sparky puts him in the #4 spot. Ferguson gives up two quick hits and get no one out. Elton comes in what is now a save situation. Elton gets a FC that allows a run and then a OF error allows another. Before Elton closes out the game for a save.

APPEARANCES: 12
SAVES: 8
BLOWN SAVES: 0
WINS: 2
LOSSES: 0
IP: 18
ERA: 0.00
WHIP: .72
OAV: .143

BOXSCORE

I think that I am proving that the Double switch function is useless. It seems to only work to leave in a PH in the Pitchers slot and keep them in the field when the Defensive Replacement Setting is triggered.. The logic is not based in what is the best "baseball move" but a cookie cutter formula.

ie:Hitter(A) Pinch hits then Hitter(A) stays in the Game and Pitcher(B) goes in to the line-up to replace whichever position Hitter (A) is in the Defensive Hierarchy Tree to replace.

For my purposes, this is pretty useless. Bummer. I guess I will shut the Double Switch Function off.

Replied to your other thread before getting the latest in this one. You're clearly right.

It'll probably wait until the next major-ish update, but I'd be surprised if they didn't address a support ticket (followed up on) based on this. tzent, you around?

I have at least a little faith on this because I once submitted a ticket after I lost a playoff game when a catcher tried to pick a runner off 3B with two outs in the bottom of the 9th and threw the ball into field.

After a short back and forth, I got this response:

This is the baseball developer at this point. We'll be reviewing this logic and making some adjustments. We agree that it would be an absurd thing for a catcher to attempt this in this situation. The pitcher, perhaps, but a very small percentage of the time. I'd hate to be that catcher walking into the dugout after that inning half. Thanks

Pretty good. Of course, if the fix is difficult, you're screwed.

Cheers!

GAME 22 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

Up 5-2 Sparky Pinch Hits for Pedro Martinez who throws 7 solid innings. Elton pitches a perfect 8th and gives up a single hit in the 9th to earn the save. First the first time this Season, Elton is under 100%. He is 94% and not available for the next game.

APPEARANCES: 13
SAVES: 9
BLOWN SAVES: 0
WINS: 2
LOSSES: 0
IP: 20
ERA: 0.00
WHIP: .70
OAV: .143

BOXSCORE

GAME 26 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

Elton finally gets roughed up, but comes out ahead. Up 6-4 Elton enters in the 8th inning. Due up 2nd in the bottom of the 8th Inning the is NO Double Switch. This seems to be the perfect situation for a Double Switch if it worked properly (even on Infrequent). Elton gives up a walk in the top 8th inning, he hits for himself in the bottom of the 8th. Elton gives up a single-walk-single-Double Play-out to give up 2 runs in top of the 9th for his first blown save of the season. With out out and an error by A-Rod, Freddy Lindstrom hits a walk off Home Run in the bottom of the 9th (in a -2 HR Park). Elton earns the win.

APPEARANCES: 14
SAVES: 9
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 3
LOSSES: 0
IP: 22
ERA: 0.82
WHIP: .82
OAV: .156

BOXSCORE

GAME 27 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

Elton gets tagged again. With no opportunity until the 8th, Elton enters the game with no Double Switch, he bats 5th in the 8th inning. After retiring the side in order in the Eighth Elton gives up a walk-single-FC-FC-GO giving up one run in the 9th to record the save.

APPEARANCES: 15
SAVES: 10
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 3
LOSSES: 0
IP: 24
ERA: 1.13
WHIP: .83
OAV: .155

BOXSCORE

GAME 28 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

After getting 2 runs to tie it in the Bottom of the 9th, Elton does not enter with the game tied in the 10th. Strange considering I do not have the box checked "Use Closer in Save Situations Only." Elton gives up a single and then gets out of the inning. My team goes on to score in the Bottom of the 10th to give Elton his 4th win. He is now 91(100) and will not play in our next game.

APPEARANCES: 16
SAVES: 10
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 4
LOSSES: 0
IP: 25
ERA: 1.08
WHIP: .84
OAV: .159

BOXSCORE

GAME 31 (HOME: Jefferson Street Ground)

Sparky uses Elton perfectly, and he blows it. Elton enters the game in the 8th inning of a 0-0 game. Elton gives up three singles in the 8th to give up the run and the lead. My team comes back in the bottom of the 9th to tie it up. Elton's spot in the line-up does not come up in the 9th or 10th so Elton stays in the game and disaster strikes in the top of the 11th. Elton gives up 4 hits and 2 more runs. He is lifted in the bottom of the 11th for a PH and my team loses. THis is Elton's first lose of the season. He is now tired and unavailable for the next game.

APPEARANCES: 17
SAVES: 10
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 4
LOSSES: 1
IP: 28
ERA: 1.93
WHIP:
OAV:

BOXSCORE

GAME 32 (AWAY: Kingdome)

Elton is tired and unavailable to pitch until my team score three runs in the top of the 15th inning. Sparky has burned through my entire bullpen and Elton is the only man . Sparky makes the right decision to being Elton in for the save. Elton gives up one hit and quietly retires the side for the save. I have put him on rest for the next game as he is at 82(100).


APPEARANCES: 18
SAVES: 11
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 4
LOSSES: 1
IP: 29
ERA: 1.86
WHIP: 1.03
OAV: .209

BOXSCORE

GAME 32 (AWAY: Memorial Stadium)

Up 96 Elton does not enter the game to start the bottom of the 7th or 8th. Not sure why Sparky makes that decision as he is set to enter in the 7th. After Red Ruffing allows a run in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly Elton enters the game to get the final out. Due up 7th in the top of the 9th, the is no double switch. Elton again gives up a run in the bottom of the 9th giving up three singles before he gets Bobby Murcer to fly out to secure the save. After a long run of being nearly unhittable, Elton is in a bit of a rut.

APPEARANCES: 19
SAVES: 12
BLOWN SAVES: 1
WINS: 4
LOSSES: 1
IP: 29
ERA: 2.08
WHIP: 1.09
OAV: .224BOXSCORE

Bilfert -- I was really enjoying this thread and was following your Elton Chamberlain 2-to-3 inning closer experiment closely.  I miss the updates.  How is it going?  Is your season over yet?

Hey, I got really busy with work and it seemed that the Double Switch thing was not working.  I kinda gave up on the thread as I figured I had learned all I could.  My team has been in a rut lately and fallen into 2nd place.  Elton is third in the CY Young and 1st in the Fireman Awards.

Here's the latest.

APPEARANCES: 49
SAVES: 31
BLOWN SAVES: 4
WINS: 10
LOSSES: 4
IP: 81.0
ERA: 1.33
WHIP: .90
OAV: 1.72

Thanks for the update.  10 wins and 31 saves compared to 4 losses and 4 blown saves (I realize a couple of those blown saves may also be wins or losses) seems pretty good, even if Sparky couldn't master the Double Switch.  If 81 IP relative to his total season of 135 IP is indicative of where you stand in the season, he seems on track for 15+ wins and 45-50 saves (unless you're saving him to be a starter in the playoffs).  Seems that having a pitcher who can play an important role in 60-65 wins for $6 MM is pretty good.