These are some of the more common questions that DMB receives on its technical
support line.  
               



Because of the designated hitter rule, some pitchers did not bat in real 
life.  How well do they hit in DMB?

It would be unfair to prevent them from ever getting a hit, so they perform 
as well as the average pitcher who did bat.  This generally means a batting 
average near .150 with very little power and a lot of strikeouts.

-----

How well do players field if they are out of their normal position?

This depends on how far out of position they are.  A player who is in a 
position very different from his normal position, like a catcher playing 
shortstop or in the outfield, will perform very poorly.  The player will 
still make the routine plays, and may even luck into some good plays, but 
will also make a lot of mistakes.  

If a player moves to a similar position, performance will suffer only a 
little.  For example, a center fielder can readily move into left or right 
field, and a shortstop can move to second base with little problem.

-----

Why are some players unrated for a fielding position even though they have 
some fielding statistics there?

If a catcher played two innings in right field because a team ran out of 
players in an extra-inning game, it does not necessarily mean he should be 
rated as a right fielder.  The fact that the catcher has no rating for right 
field does not prevent you from using him there if the same circumstances 
occur in a DMB game.  DMB generates reasonable results for players who are 
out of their normal positions (see the previous question). 

-----

How well do non-pitchers pitch?

It is surprising how often in real life a fielder pitches an inning or two 
of scoreless ball.  In the long run, however, you can expect this player to 
be much worse than any regular pitcher.

-----

What happens if the computer manager cannot find a legal defensive lineup?

During an offensive half-inning, the computer manager has to make several 
moves to create a valid defensive lineup for the next half-inning.  Pinch 
hitting, pinch running, and injuries can leave a few defensive positions 
unoccupied.  While the computer manager successfully handles all known 
situations, there may be circumstances in which it is unable to field a 
legal lineup.

If this happens, DMB automatically shifts into Human manager mode and 
displays the lineup selection screen for that team.  To continue the game:

1.  Correct the lineup using the commands described in Chapter 3, Lineup 
Selection.   Then select Go to return to the game screen.  

2.  Select More choices to display the options menu.  Select Change options 
and change the setting to have the Computer manage this team again.

3.  At the end of games from a schedule, DMB normally updates the statistics 
after the game.  Under these circumstances, it presents the endgame menu to 
give you option of exiting without saving the statistics.

4.  When you exit the endgame menu, DMB continues in the normal fashion.  If 
you were playing a single game, it returns to the game selection screen.  If 
you were playing many games from a schedule, it continues to play these 
games.

In extreme cases, you may find that the game cannot be resumed because there 
are no players available.  This may occur, for example, if you are deep into 
an extra inning game and suddenly experience a rash of injuries.  In this 
case, choose Quit from the lineup selection screen and exit the game.  You 
can replay this game from the beginning.

-----

Why doesn't the game show me the exact odds for success so I can make better 
decisions?

DMB is designed to be a learning experience, as well as an entertaining one.  
As you play more DMB games and as you watch more baseball games, you will 
develop an instinct for baseball that may give you an edge over other 
players.  If the exact odds were displayed on the screen, the advantage 
would be with the player with the best mathematical skills.  DMB wants the 
advantage to be with the player who best knows the game of baseball.
If a player had no home runs in real life, could that player hit one in DMB?
Yes.  If the batter happens to face many pitchers who give up more than the 
average number of home runs, or play in parks that give up many homers, the 
batter may get lucky and hit one or two.  The odds are slim, however.

-----

What does it mean when it says SCORING: after every play?

This line shows the official scoring of the play as it will appear on the 
scoresheet at the end of the game.  Please see the note called Reading the 
Play-by-Play Scoresheet, for details.