Bullpen Settings
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:01 pmI am a newbie manager and am experiencing frustration in getting HAL to use the bullpen the way I would like it to be used. In particular, I drafted Ken Tatum in a 1969 league because I saw where in the record books he was on a majority of the most successful teams in the history of the game. In most of these teams, he had a huge number of saves. In one league, he had something like 180 innings and won more than 20 games in relief.
I tried several different manager settings to get him in the game as much as possible. I put him as closer right and left, and even put him as the set up man as well as closer. I set my settings to maximize closer use. I tried the "aggressive" setting on reliever use and that resulted in HAL taking him out when the first left handed batter came along.
I made his pitcher settings for "slow hook" and do not use before 6th, 7th, 8th inning -- I tried them all.
I could never get the computer to bring him if the game was tied or we were behind. And when we had a lead, an aggravating percentage of the time, the computer would bring in my weakest left handed SP/RP to blow the save. This was true even though I would set this weakest player to "avoid right handed batters" AND "left handed batters" AND "mop up" AND "quick hook." If there were a setting for "barricade this guy in the locker room until the game is over" I think HAL would still have found a way to get him in with the game on the line to blow the save instead of choosing Tatum! I finally gave up and traded him. I had too much money locked up in a player who I couldn't use to maximum advantage.
In a 70's league, I have had good success in getting Brewer in the game with a lead (never tied or behind) with the same settings so I don't know why it didn't work for Tatum.
Can any of you pros offer a tutorial on the settings to use to maximize the effective use of the bullpen, and especially a great closer? Is there a way to get a closer in with the game tied?
Also, any tips on how to keep your weakest SP/RP from becoming a dominant force (usually a negative force) would be appreciated.
I tried several different manager settings to get him in the game as much as possible. I put him as closer right and left, and even put him as the set up man as well as closer. I set my settings to maximize closer use. I tried the "aggressive" setting on reliever use and that resulted in HAL taking him out when the first left handed batter came along.
I made his pitcher settings for "slow hook" and do not use before 6th, 7th, 8th inning -- I tried them all.
I could never get the computer to bring him if the game was tied or we were behind. And when we had a lead, an aggravating percentage of the time, the computer would bring in my weakest left handed SP/RP to blow the save. This was true even though I would set this weakest player to "avoid right handed batters" AND "left handed batters" AND "mop up" AND "quick hook." If there were a setting for "barricade this guy in the locker room until the game is over" I think HAL would still have found a way to get him in with the game on the line to blow the save instead of choosing Tatum! I finally gave up and traded him. I had too much money locked up in a player who I couldn't use to maximum advantage.
In a 70's league, I have had good success in getting Brewer in the game with a lead (never tied or behind) with the same settings so I don't know why it didn't work for Tatum.
Can any of you pros offer a tutorial on the settings to use to maximize the effective use of the bullpen, and especially a great closer? Is there a way to get a closer in with the game tied?
Also, any tips on how to keep your weakest SP/RP from becoming a dominant force (usually a negative force) would be appreciated.