Intentional walks

[ClowntimeIsOver]

So far I haven't been very successful at SOM (basically, for every 40 games I win 19 and lose 21), but one area that has worked well for me is IBB. I have two rules:

If you're playing one of the 3 or 4 worst team offenses in the league, click "IBB agressive." Otherwise, click "IBB conservative." Bad hitting teams usually have maybe 3 guys who hit well, and this way you often avoid them in rallies or potential rallies.

Set pitchers with E, 1L, or 1R ratings at "IBB less," and set reverse-pitchers at "IBB less." Set all others with no checkmark. That way you pitch around difficulties with non-reverse pitchers. As for reverse pitchers, if it's on the batters' card the batter is more likely to be at a disadvantage (the exception being reverse batters!), and if it's on the pitchers' card he definitely will be -- hence IBB less.

With those rules, IBB have been successful for me the vast majority of the time.

[ClowntimeIsOver]

Whoops -- phrased that wrong:

"As for reverse pitchers, if it's on the batters' card the batter is more likely to be at a disadvantage (the exception being reverse batters!), and if it's on the pitchers' card he definitely will be "

I meant (with reverse pitchers) if the pitcher is facing an opposite-hand batter, one of the classic places to IBB, then the pitcher's card has an advantage. If it's a same-hand batter, then the batter's card usully has a disadvantage. So I think you can "IBB less" with reverse pitchers, but should not "IBB less" with non-reverse pitchers who are more extreme than 1L or 1R.