Bullpen settings advice... please?

[Coffeeholic]

I'm trying to figure out how to get the maximum number of innings from Al Reyes and Todd Jones in the following pitching staff:

Smoltz
Washburn
Bedard
Hampton
D. Cabrerra
Moyer

Reyes
Jones
G. Cararra
Vogelsong

Smoltz is on "Slow Hook", with no such restrictions on any of my other SP's (I hope to give my pen some rest on the days Smotz pitches).

Relief Usage is "Normal.

Closer is "Maximum".

Jones is "set-up" and "closer" both ways, "slow hook", "do not enter before 7th", "IBB less", "avoid using during blowouts".

Reyes is "Slow Hook", "IBB less".

Cararra and Vogelsong are both "mop-up", "slow hook", "IBB less", "do not enter before 7th".

Any thoughts...esp on getting the max number of innings from Reyes?

Thanks in advance! :)

Here's a link if it helps:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2006/team/team_other.html?user_id=12746

[cummings2]

I would mark Reyes as setup both, Jones to close both.

Rel: Normal
Cl: Max

Others with max 1 to 2 IP, mop, quick hooks, etc.

GL. coffee.

[Mean Dean]

Less is often more with HAL; if you tie his hands too much by giving him a laundry list of instructions, he might respond by doing something completely unpredictable and not at all what you want. I think when you only have four relievers to begin with, setting two of them to mop-up is really pushing it. And naturally if you set Jones to both set-up and close, then Reyes isn't going to pitch much. So:[list:038bb36e65][*:038bb36e65]Individual starters on slow hook, but relief aggressive. (This gets the SPs out of the game after about 5 innings on average, but helps avoid the very short outings that can force your pen to pitch 16 innings in two days and bleed it dry. I wrote about it [url=http://forums.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=157353]here[/url].)[*:038bb36e65]Closer regular.[*:038bb36e65]Reyes set-up both ways, slow hook, avoid blowouts.[*:038bb36e65]Jones closer both ways, slow hook, avoid blowouts.[*:038bb36e65]Vogelsong mopup.[*:038bb36e65]That's all. (Well, I'm with you about setting everyone to IBB less, but that's its own story.)[/list:u:038bb36e65]

[jcr54]

I am almost brand-new to the game, and bullpen settings have been one of my biggest bafflements, so I've been reading this thread with interest. I had Smoltz, Peavy and Beurhle set to "slow hook" on opening day, and Smoltz ended up pitching an 8-inning complete game loss where he gave up 6 earned runs and 3 homers. Buerhle went 7.1 innings in a fairly decisive loss. Doesn't seem optimal, but then I think I had bullpen usage set to "normal;" I've changed it to aggressive. Closer usage is "regular." Here's a link to the team:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2006/team/team_other.html?user_id=13785

Among my relievers, I have Nathan set to close both ways, but Riske as set-up only for righties and Guardado to set-up lefties. Should I use Riske both ways? Riske is set don't enter before 6th, 2-3 innings max, avoid blowouts and IBB less (everybody has that setting). Nathan is don't enter before 7th (should it be 8th?), 2-3 innings max and avoid blowouts. Guardado, Dingman and Kline are all set to avoid the weak side and 1-2 innings max. Obviously I'd like Nathan and Riske to get as many innings as possible, but with my starting rotation I thought I could be more sparing with bullpen use in general. Fifth starter Rodriguez is mop-up.

Should I have all four starters (except maybe Contreras) set for slow hook, or only Peavy and maybe Smoltz?

A lot of questions, I realize, but this has been one of my major areas of curiousity, because I can't figure out how HAL juggles the individual player settings vs. managerial tendencies. Thanks.

[Play By The Rules]

Don't use before 8th. Don't restrict Jones or Reyes at all.

[Mean Dean]

To me, slow hooking a starter is something you do when either you don't have many relievers in your pen, or you don't want them to pitch. In my experience, it will often lead to pitchers being kept in past their expiration date and giving up runs late in the game. The only way it's worth it is if you'd rather roll the dice with tired starters than with your pen, or if you fear your pen itself tiring. So if you have enough quantity and quality in your pen, I would not slow hook starters.

Although Riske is not bad, your first priority should be Nathan. I'd make Nathan both set-up and closer. Guardado's better against righty hitters, so you don't want to specify he pitch against lefties. I'd go Dingham avoid right/quick hook/max 1-2/don't use before 8th, Kline avoid left/quick hook/max 1-2/don't use before 8th, and don't set anything on Riske or Guardado.

[durantjerry]

Regarding T Jones, I would set him not to use before the 8th inning. He won't get fatigued ever pitching six outs and you have Reyes. I could see if you were trying to cover for another weak reliever, but let HAL use Reyes in the seventh as he's better than Jones and as I said, you eliminate the fatigue factor in a nine inning game in a closing situation..