A lot of that is set pregame using the stats/metrics. The players might not be wearing wristbands, but they have cards in their pocket (or in their hat) that tell them where to play each hitter.You're claiming that, in playoff games, the manager doesn't get to decide how to set his defense???
Don't get to see it on TV, because they go to commercials, but at a game when a pitching change is made, you'll often see a batboy run out to the OF and give them updated cards. I don't know if the infield uses the cards as much? Maybe it's easier to move them around from the dugout? But in most cases, it's definitely not the manager just deciding randomly to shift people around.
Last edited: