RH Specialist question

[The Jerk Store]

Maybe I am not using the settings right, but this happens to me a lot. On my team in this example, I have Steve Crawford set as a RH Specialist. I have him at the top of the Bullpen Roles, and that is the only role I have him assigned to. I also have him set for quick hook, avoid LHB, and a max of 1-2 innings.

In a recent game, Steve was the first reliever in the game for me with one out in the 7th inning. He retired 2 right-handed hitters (good). He came out again in the 8th inning and faced 2 consecutive LH batters (who were the scheduled hitters, not pinch hitters). Luckily, he got them both out. He closed out the inning by retiring a RH batter.

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***
0 G.Templeton 4-7 Ground Out (2B) b-0 gb(2B)x F9
1 D.Glanville 1-9 Walk b-1 F9
SUBSTITUTE P - Steve Crawford (role: RH Specialist)
1 1 G.Kelly 4-8 Strike Out b-0 F9
2 1 M.Williams 1-5 Strike Out b-0 F9


*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***
SUBSTITUTE C - Rick Dempsey
0 T.Gainey 6-5 Ground Out (P) b-0 F9
1 E.Whitt 6-12 Fly Out (LF) b-0 fly(LF)x F9
2 D.Ennis 4-3 Fly Out (LF) b-0 fly(LF)x F9

My bullpen was fully rested as the previous 2 games my starters pitched complete games. So my question is, why did Crawford come out to face lefties in the 8th? Does the order of the bullpen roles somehow affect this behavior? For instance, after my RH Specialist role I have my closer role . . . would HAL have pulled Crawford if I had my setup role listed next?

Like I said, this kind of situation with specialists happens to me a lot and I can't figure out why HAL ignores the "avoid LHB" setting.

[AeroDave10]

I believe the way it works is that HAL looks at who is coming up to bat in the next few batters and decides if he should be someone like Crawford in. Once Crawford's in, that "Avoid LHB" really no longer applies (so I've been told). Obviously, this is something that could be addressed in BPv3 (if/when that ever comes to fruition).

I guess since Crawford wasn't tired and Gainey and Whitt aren't that strong of batters, HAL chanced keeping Crawford in so as not to have to bring in a lefty pitcher to face those two lefty batters and then switch to another righty pitcher to get the powerful Del Ennis.

[The Jerk Store]

[quote:ab97ba8bdc="AeroDave10"]I believe the way it works is that HAL looks at who is coming up to bat in the next few batters and decides if he should be someone like Crawford in. Once Crawford's in, that "Avoid LHB" really no longer applies (so I've been told). Obviously, this is something that could be addressed in BPv3 (if/when that ever comes to fruition).

I guess since Crawford wasn't tired and Gainey and Whitt aren't that strong of batters, HAL chanced keeping Crawford in so as not to have to bring in a lefty pitcher to face those two lefty batters and then switch to another righty pitcher to get the powerful Del Ennis.[/quote:ab97ba8bdc]

That all makes sense. I was thinking (or hoping) that the 'Avoid LHB' setting was taken more literally, as in if a lefty stepped in the box then yank the pitcher regardless.

[The Jerk Store]

[quote:73b7a3d1bb="Aray0113"]Don't set him at the top of your Bullpen Roles: HAL selects the pitchers from the list by first listed, then by role.

Set your Closer first, then your Setup ... then Middle reliever, and THEN LH/RH specialists ... and if you use Mopup, set that role last.[/quote:73b7a3d1bb]

I had Crawford at the top intentionally, thinking that he would be the first out of the pen to face a righty or two and would then be pulled if/when a lefty came to the plate AND since he was the first out of the pen there would be plenty of other relief options to bring in . . . opposed to him being the last or second last pitcher out of the pen with little/no other options to relieve him.

I'm starting to think that using specialists aren't worth the trouble.

[AeroDave10]

[quote:e93fd213c4="getowtamypot"]I'm starting to think that using specialists aren't worth the trouble.[/quote:e93fd213c4]

I like using them in live draft leagues where you can have a deep bullpen, but in salary cap leagues, I think they get misused too often.

[Palanion]

Was this a non-DH league? Another thing HAL might do is keep the pitcher in if his spot is due up in the next half inning, to prevent excessive substitution.

[The Jerk Store]

[quote:2658613750="Palanion"]Was this a non-DH league? Another thing HAL might do is keep the pitcher in if his spot is due up in the next half inning, to prevent excessive substitution.[/quote:2658613750]

Nope, it is a DH league

[Valen]

How deep is your pen? If you are going with a 3 or 4 man pen HAL will tend to leave people in regardless of your settings due to fatigue from previous games or just lack of options.

Also, avoid whatever does not absolutely avoid. It mean tend to avoid. In real life specialists rarely face hitters from only 1 side of plate. Managers look down the line to see who is up. With nobody on and RH batters ahead many managers will give the reliever a chance to get the leftys out rather than bring in a lefty specialist for 2 hitters and then another rigthy to finish the inning.

Another factor is this occurred in the 8th inning. At that point HAL may have been looking at this as a closer situation and thus ignored settings you may have had for lefty specialist, looking instead at who you had set as closer. If the closer was right handed then HAL would view the situation as a choice between who you had on mound and the closer and since nobody was on base reasoned no need for a change.

In addition avoid means avoid most of the time. Likely under the hood HAL increases the percentage of time he will make a switch to avoid a particular sided hitter. But it will never be written in stone. Carrying more relievers may increase the odds of replacement.

[Chuck1234]

In a DH league, usually carrying 11 pitchers on the team helps out a bit. Guys like Crawford. Morton, Linzy, Hassler, and Sambito come in handy at times. Anybody had 12 pitchers on a staff in a DH league? I set up my closer, setup guy, and specialists in that order. My bullpen still gets rocked....

Sincerly,
Delivery Boy...