Is there really a problem with computer bullpen management?

[nevdully's]

I often have[b:c3b00a9f60] 2 or 3 top rp's[/b:c3b00a9f60] with a couple of value specialists...[b:c3b00a9f60]a 5 or 6 man pen[/b:c3b00a9f60]....

I learned this from Charlie among others who said "make sure HAL has enough choices".....All the people complaining about HAL using scrub rps were told [b:c3b00a9f60]"this ain't like ATGI where you could have an 8 man staff and get away with 1 or 2 rps. HAL ain't gonna work that way anymore, ATGII is a different animal, and you need to give HAL options."[/b:c3b00a9f60].......Well a 5 or 6 man pen with often heavy $$$$ invested is giving him options so????????

If someone uses 4 stud starters and spend little on relief they're often criticized for "gaming the game" but when someone goes with a deep 5 or 6 man pen they too are criticized.....

It's funny because I'd like to find middle ground that is more realistic but don't understand how to do it.

[geekor]

Nev, I completely agree that ATG is different, though in reality it is exaclty the same on the 200x, in a no DH league. The problem with pitchers being pulled early only happens in no DH leagues, and that is something I think Bernie [b:91dce59b18]should [/b:91dce59b18]look into.

Thing is I really think that either the rotation [b:91dce59b18]OR [/b:91dce59b18]the per game starters should be allowed, not both. With both there, it lets people hide their cheap crappy pitchers, and force all their releif unrealistically. No one should get away with only using 0, 1 or 2 releif pitchers. That is unrealistic by a far means.

[geekor]

gkhd11a, the battle of realistic relief innings seems to never end. Really I don't think any rleive should be over a R1, or preferably I'd have made all releiver Rx, where x is the number of BATTERS it chould face (so an R1 could face 1 batter then be tired). But that's for SOM, not here...

really no real team had a salary cap, 50 million all stars in 12 teams, etc etc. This format isn't like a real league, no baeball team would have only 10 pitchers, and use only 6 of them? Hell there is always the moniors, etc to call up some arms to pitch 20 innigs, then send them away. Becasue this isn't real life, you have to have some changes to simulate what you can, and can't, do here.

[stlouisnathan]

I agree that the fatigue settings are not stringent enough. I think if a pitcher maxes out his innings rating in a game he should be automatically fatigued for the next. I know of one ATG league where a manager won the league by employing 3 or 4 stud S/R guys and spending nothing on the rest of the staff. These guys would pitch in relief after the starters got quick hooks. They gobbled up the vast majority of innings pitched pitching virtually every day.

[2cityfan]

Thanks for clarifying Marcuswillby...

I know the rules for pitcher fatigue ratings per game.. Where are the rules for overusing pitchers over a season posted?

[pastorcz33]

Bernie,


Look at the poor bullpen mngnt in this box score. And Uguebeth is my designated closer....Baez never should have been brought into the 9th inning to pitch, my closer only saw one batter! And the substitute gave up a walk and a HR....to make matters worse both pitchers are righties so I cannot fathom why Hal would make this move that cost me this ball game. Look at the box score

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2003/league/boxscore.html?group_id=31699&g_id=140

Thanks

[Detroit-Tigers]

Bernie,

I would just like to know HOW it works so that I can plan accordingly.

[stlouisnathan]

I have gone to using as many neutral relievers as possible so that HAL can basically use anybody.

I have just been hit with a possible theory here though. I always have my bullpen usage set to normal. But I wonder if what is normal to most of us would be considered conservative by HAL. I think many of us see a tendency for HAL to remove starters before they should be. If the starters were allowed to go deeper into games more often, maybe it would be easier then to manage the bullpen effectively. I might try setting my bullpen usages to conservative to see what happens. I'm just afraid though then HAL would leave in starters who are getting bombed. Oh well.

[stlouisnathan]

Bernie, I have to admit that since you asked for posts regarding poor bullpen desisions I have been noticing that most decisions HAL makes I can live with. But also keep in mind that with most of my current teams I have selected them to HALproof them as much as possible. I wonder how many other managers have also done this. It doesn't mean that HAL is following instructions, it just means we are avoiding letting HAL make injurious decisions.

[stlouisnathan]

Over the course of playing this game I have been trying to pick up a little "HALspeak" so that I might better comunicate with HAL. I am by no means fluent in HALspeak, but here are a few translations that seem apparent to me.

Avoid L/R- means use this pitcher very rarely.

Aviod L/R w/ quick hook- means when having a lead pitch to one batter only regardless of outcome or who is coming up. when behind, have this pitcher allow as many runs as possible.

Mop up- use only as mop up when no other options available. when forced to use as mop up, adhere to fatigue rules and let someone else gobble up the innings.

Closer designated with closer setting on regular- means use whoever you want.

Closer designated with closer set on maximize- use this closer in closing situations but only after you first allow someone else to blow the lead.

Bullpen usage set to normal- this is an opportunity to experiment.

Lowet valued reliever with no designations or settings- this is the one to give the most innings to.


I might be able to have more but am limited on time right now. If any of you have been able to discern some "HALspeak", feel free to contribute here.

And for those of you who will feel defensive by this post because you consider HAL a close personal friend (and I know you're out there), please be assured that, yes, this is totally tongue-in-cheek.