Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=55702

Can anyone advise me as to why Izzy has only got 2 saves on this team? Pen is set to normal and closer on regular. I don't have Izzy on as closer in manager settings (following some advice from this forum) but I would still expect him to have the bulk of the closes.

I have always designated Izzy as closer, both sides. I have had him on 4 teams, various parks, and have had 40+ saves, low WHIP, each time. Put him as closer. What was the rational given to you as to not setting him as closer in your manager settings? Also, I usually put my settings at pen normal, closer aggressive..............Dennis

No rationale given for not having him as closer. I think it was so that he was used in situations other than closing to give him more innings with him being one of my best relievers. If he was designated as just closer it could end up that he was only used in close situations and consequently my less good relievers would have more innings.

I think that the solution is to designate him as your closer in the pecking order, but not to choose to maximze closer usage, so that he isn't just used for save situations.

That makes sense. When I set my closer at aggressive, I have on the roster at least 1, high $- quality, set-up man. I have not checked out these forums much, which is a mistake. I am picking up on all kinds of stuff I never really thought of. Never quite put the pieces together like that Blue :oops:

Why not both set up AND closer?

The game rules say that he will likely not be used both ways (close = regular), but in my experience he will get innings and closes this way. Even when he enters in non closer situations, HAL will likely keep him in the game in the 9th.

Personally, I would use "Izzy" as a set-up vs rhp, closer vs lhp/rhp, do not come up before the 8th. Rincon as set-up vs lhp, slow hook.

The reason I have not previously put Izzy in as set up and closer is that I was once told not to as he only has a R1/C6 and that the would get shelled if I had him in both roles. Was told the set up and closer role should only be filled by a pitcher with a R2/C6 rating such as Gagne. Is that true or should I just put players like Izzy/Rivera in bothroles??

Actually, I used 2003 Gagne as set-up and closer, with very good results (140 IP, great numbers). I think he was R1 that year. Given that Izzy probably won't get tired very often and generally could get a day off if he works 2 innings, it probably is a good idea to make sure he gets into as many close games as possible.