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mtw · 05-05-2003, 09:48 PM

2nd Major Area of Improvement Wished For...Improved AI Roster Management

In no particular order...

1) September Callup AI, as discussed here: September Callup AI

2) Reduce the AI emphasis on platoons. Basically if the AI has a quality 3 star player at a position, I would prefer he be a full-time player, not a platoon player. In fact, much like starting pitchers who are put in the pen, quality position players who are not starting full-time should get irked as well and send mean messages demanding trades or that they are taking the day off to attend a poker tournament.

3) AI needs to keep a backup at every position, or in the alternative recognize when a player is fatigued and start a logical available player in his place out of position. This apparently happens in the minors; it should happen in the majors too. The AI is killing some the best 1B and 3B right now. Of course, this is after fatigue has been revamped so that players aren't tired 12 games and 13 days into the season.

4) When evaluating Free Agents and Trades, AI needs to scan all positions the player plays to determine how the player could fit into its team. If a player plays LF and RF, but is listed as a LF, the AI should be able to see the player as a RF if it needs one, and evaluate him appropriately.

5) For game-day substiutions for fatigued or injured players, AI should always rework batting order. Currently, it appears to in some games, and definitely does not in others.

6) If the AI has two talented prospects at one position, or even two talented established players, it should "look to the future" and try to teach one of the two players/prospects a new position most similar to the one they have. Right now, the AI only teaches new positions out of necessity (i.e. where there is a hole). An example of this would be: AI has a 4* LF and 4*CF in the majors, and a 2* 1B and 2* RF. It has a 5* prospect in AAA at LF and CF. It should begin teaching the prospects new positions RF and 1B, to prepare itself in the event these guys reach the majors. There is obviously a lot more that could go into the thought process, but that would be pretty basic. Looking at trades is also a possibility, but that should be in addition to and not in place of teaching new positions. This also holds true for SP's/RP's, if an open roster slot is available, the pitcher should pitch at his appropriate minor league level in the available slot, rather than being kicked up a level or kept down a level.

7) The Start Highest Rested Pitcher option needs to be fixed. This may be an issue with 3 and 4 man rotations, as I ahve not tried it with a 5-man. Currently, the AI starts the highest rested pitcher who has not pitched in the previous four days, even though a higher rested pitcher is available. In other words, in a 4-man rotation, a pitcher will pitch every fourth day only if he is the most rested of the other pitchers in the rotation. If the number 4 starter is spot-started for, the number four starters turn will come up again unless the #1 (or 2 or 3) has had four full days off (i.e. no pitches thrown on days 1-4 in his Pitches Thrown Last 5 days box.

The rotation also defaults sometimes to the #4 starter when he is tired if the next pitcher listed in the rotation is tired, even if there is a pitcher above him in the rotation who is rested. Example: #2 starter pitches, #3 & 4 starters are tired for the next day, #1 starter is rested. Game goes to number 4 starter if number one had pitched in previous 4 days. This is not consistent, and the AI sometimes appropriately goes to the number one, but not always.

8) Use stats to distinguish among similarly valued players (players within .5 star of each other). Too often I see the AI playing a guy who is batting .175 with little power over another guy who is hitting .300 because the .175 is however insignifcantly better rated. I don't want to see 2 stars playing over 3 stars necessarily, but if 2 players are within a half star of each other, I'd like to see the AI play the guy swinging the better bat if there is a big difference in performance or if the better rated player is performing significantly below where he should be.

9) The AI is still suspect at generating lineups, often putting players clearly out of position in the batting order. Believe me, I can see the various difficulties in trying to program this, but there are some basics that aren't consistently evident in OOTP. I think the game does a good job of finding the #3 and 4, hitters, and not so good a job of identifying the #1 and #2 hitters or #5 hitters. I see a lot of guys shuffling between different spots in the batting order, when clearly they should be in one place and not another. For instance, I have a guy who is a prototypical leadoff hitter (.300, 90-100 walks, B/B speed/steal) with a 4 power rating whom the AI seems to think should bat 5th, while it bats a .310-.320, 3 power, 60-70 walks, C/C hitter leadoff and a .270-.280, 5 power, 50-60 walks, C/E hitter in the second spot. The would-be AI #2 hitter has an A bunting rating, which may explain a little, but bunting should be a distant second to high speed/steal among similar hitters, which the two players in my example actually are not.

I would like to see hitters have a "preferred slot in batting order" as part of their character makeup, including Leadoff, #2-#5, and "anywhere in lineup", which can change with age and development. I would like to see this impact their happiness as well, as someone who is a #3 type hitter should get angry if he is batting 8th, and a Leadoff hitter should be unhappy if he is hitting cleanup. Their unhappiness should impact their performance. The AI should hit players in their preferred slot when possible.

10) Indirectly related to roster management, during free agency and contract extension talks, I'd like to see a significant amount of weight given in a player's decision for the opportunity to start given a team's current roster and a little for where the player fits into lineup versus his "preferred" position in the lineup. Most players should want the opportunity to excel for personal glory and riches. There should be very few guys who are happy merely for being on a winning team.

A couple more major topics left to cover...later.

05-05-2003, 09:48 PM	#72 (permalink)
mtw All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 628	2nd Major Area of Improvement Wished For...Improved AI Roster Management In no particular order... 1) September Callup AI, as discussed here: September Callup AI 2) Reduce the AI emphasis on platoons. Basically if the AI has a quality 3 star player at a position, I would prefer he be a full-time player, not a platoon player. In fact, much like starting pitchers who are put in the pen, quality position players who are not starting full-time should get irked as well and send mean messages demanding trades or that they are taking the day off to attend a poker tournament. 3) AI needs to keep a backup at every position, or in the alternative recognize when a player is fatigued and start a logical available player in his place out of position. This apparently happens in the minors; it should happen in the majors too. The AI is killing some the best 1B and 3B right now. Of course, this is after fatigue has been revamped so that players aren't tired 12 games and 13 days into the season. 4) When evaluating Free Agents and Trades, AI needs to scan all positions the player plays to determine how the player could fit into its team. If a player plays LF and RF, but is listed as a LF, the AI should be able to see the player as a RF if it needs one, and evaluate him appropriately. 5) For game-day substiutions for fatigued or injured players, AI should always rework batting order. Currently, it appears to in some games, and definitely does not in others. 6) If the AI has two talented prospects at one position, or even two talented established players, it should "look to the future" and try to teach one of the two players/prospects a new position most similar to the one they have. Right now, the AI only teaches new positions out of necessity (i.e. where there is a hole). An example of this would be: AI has a 4* LF and 4CF in the majors, and a 2 1B and 2* RF. It has a 5* prospect in AAA at LF and CF. It should begin teaching the prospects new positions RF and 1B, to prepare itself in the event these guys reach the majors. There is obviously a lot more that could go into the thought process, but that would be pretty basic. Looking at trades is also a possibility, but that should be in addition to and not in place of teaching new positions. This also holds true for SP's/RP's, if an open roster slot is available, the pitcher should pitch at his appropriate minor league level in the available slot, rather than being kicked up a level or kept down a level. 7) The Start Highest Rested Pitcher option needs to be fixed. This may be an issue with 3 and 4 man rotations, as I ahve not tried it with a 5-man. Currently, the AI starts the highest rested pitcher who has not pitched in the previous four days, even though a higher rested pitcher is available. In other words, in a 4-man rotation, a pitcher will pitch every fourth day only if he is the most rested of the other pitchers in the rotation. If the number 4 starter is spot-started for, the number four starters turn will come up again unless the #1 (or 2 or 3) has had four full days off (i.e. no pitches thrown on days 1-4 in his Pitches Thrown Last 5 days box. The rotation also defaults sometimes to the #4 starter when he is tired if the next pitcher listed in the rotation is tired, even if there is a pitcher above him in the rotation who is rested. Example: #2 starter pitches, #3 & 4 starters are tired for the next day, #1 starter is rested. Game goes to number 4 starter if number one had pitched in previous 4 days. This is not consistent, and the AI sometimes appropriately goes to the number one, but not always. 8) Use stats to distinguish among similarly valued players (players within .5 star of each other). Too often I see the AI playing a guy who is batting .175 with little power over another guy who is hitting .300 because the .175 is however insignifcantly better rated. I don't want to see 2 stars playing over 3 stars necessarily, but if 2 players are within a half star of each other, I'd like to see the AI play the guy swinging the better bat if there is a big difference in performance or if the better rated player is performing significantly below where he should be. 9) The AI is still suspect at generating lineups, often putting players clearly out of position in the batting order. Believe me, I can see the various difficulties in trying to program this, but there are some basics that aren't consistently evident in OOTP. I think the game does a good job of finding the #3 and 4, hitters, and not so good a job of identifying the #1 and #2 hitters or #5 hitters. I see a lot of guys shuffling between different spots in the batting order, when clearly they should be in one place and not another. For instance, I have a guy who is a prototypical leadoff hitter (.300, 90-100 walks, B/B speed/steal) with a 4 power rating whom the AI seems to think should bat 5th, while it bats a .310-.320, 3 power, 60-70 walks, C/C hitter leadoff and a .270-.280, 5 power, 50-60 walks, C/E hitter in the second spot. The would-be AI #2 hitter has an A bunting rating, which may explain a little, but bunting should be a distant second to high speed/steal among similar hitters, which the two players in my example actually are not. I would like to see hitters have a "preferred slot in batting order" as part of their character makeup, including Leadoff, #2-#5, and "anywhere in lineup", which can change with age and development. I would like to see this impact their happiness as well, as someone who is a #3 type hitter should get angry if he is batting 8th, and a Leadoff hitter should be unhappy if he is hitting cleanup. Their unhappiness should impact their performance. The AI should hit players in their preferred slot when possible. 10) Indirectly related to roster management, during free agency and contract extension talks, I'd like to see a significant amount of weight given in a player's decision for the opportunity to start given a team's current roster and a little for where the player fits into lineup versus his "preferred" position in the lineup. Most players should want the opportunity to excel for personal glory and riches. There should be very few guys who are happy merely for being on a winning team. A couple more major topics left to cover...later. __________________ Over-Zealous Apologist Last edited by mtw : 05-05-2003 at 09:52 PM.