Post poor in-game relief decisions here

[MEAT]

and obtw...osinski also available, had pitched one inning and saved the previous game, his only appearance in the previous five games. he's set at don't use before the 9th, quick hook, avoid lhb, and closer vs. rhb. lost that frickin' game in 12 innings! (yount homered, but atleast it was off the rh wyatt)

[bomp helium]

what I would like to know is simply "why" decisions are made (some sort of HAL profile)...earlier in this post it was stated that "conservative relief" will cause relievers to stay in longer than they might otherwise...

I set my relief usage for conservative because I wanted my starters to get the bulk of the innings...but once relief is called for, of course I expect HAL to use them intelligently, just as a real manager might...

so it appears I misunderstood that...

so some more expansive explanation of the settings might help...how about a "HAL profile" that explains, in some depth, the potential consequences of each possible setting...

many of the problems may come from us not properly understanding what a vague term such as "conservative usage" might mean...

[stlouisnathan]

TSN 11663, St. Louis Wool Sox

Game #73:

Top of 5th, score 0 -0. R. Oswalt gives up a leadoff homerun and is taken out. All settings normal/regular. HAL a little antsy I think.

In Clemens no hitter game, he had walked two in the inning.

[PAULMINICUCCI]

Strat-O-matic 2005
TSN_11483
- Team Name
NorCal Baseball Team 4
Game 124


We are up 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th. Line score below.
Baseball Club4.. 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 6 0
diesel.**....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 - 6 7 1

I have Shingo Takatsu rested in the pen. He is my designated closer for Rh. Yan for LH.
Instead in comes my worst pitcher who HAL insists be used in crucial game circumstances, Witasick. Shingo is 11-1, Witasick is 1-5.

Witasick starts the 8th. Zambrano pitched good game, we’re trying to hold onto 1st place.

Here is the play-by-play’
M.Bradley 4 Walk b-1
0 1 C.Delgado 4 Walk 1-2 b-1
0 12 O.Hudson 3 Triple 2-H 1-H b-3
0 3 W.Bloomquist 3 Strike Out b-0
1 3 J.Kendall 3 Sac Fly 3-H b-0
2 C.Crawford 5 Home Run b-H
2 A.Beltre 5 Pop Out b-0

Should have kept in Walker to face Bradley and Delgado or brought in Shingo. There are two Switch hitters and one LH hitter. No reason I can see to bring in Witasick. Yan maybe, Shingo yes, witasick no.
So Witasick gives up two walks and no move, and he proceeds to blow the game. Bye-bye first place.


I have settings relief regular, closer normal.

[PAULMINICUCCI]

Okay, this is really funny.

See last post about Witasick.

Same two teams, almost the same situation. This time 7th inning. We are up 2-1. Exact same batters as in last game. Bradley, Delgado, etc.

Who does HAL bring in fresh from the last game? Witasick. Same result, walk and HR to Delgado. Where the hell is Yan or Shingo?????

Two damn late inning losses, same guy, same situation. I am now bald from pulling out my hair. There can be no explanation. Why why why?

I mean these decisions are costing me first place late in the season. Please bernie, help me understand. Pleezzzzzzzz.

[PAULMINICUCCI]

Okay, same teams as posts 33 and 34, this time game is virtually over so it doesn't matter, but HAL thinks, hey Witasick has been successful here in Shea why not bring him in one more time, man 9 runs he gives up.

Enuff is enuff. Management to Witasick, "Leave dude, do not come back, out you go, hasta la vista baby!!!"

What will HAL do now???

[Roscodog]

I've got one. Let me set the scene. I'm up 2-0 going into the sixth, Jason Schmidt pitching a gem to this point gets the first 2 outs then gives up a homerun, then a walk. Hal starts off using my deep, rested bullpen to perfection, first Trevor Miller in to face Durazo- flyout, great move. bottom of the 7th Trevor Miller stays in to face Mabry, ground out. Hudson is up next so Matt Miller is brought in, walk. Hal then makes another smart move by bringing in Jamie Walker to face Schneider (lineout) and Damon (single). Next up Jeter, with 2 on Leicester comes in and strikes him out. So far great management. Bottom of the 8th due up Drew, Thome, Blalock, Durazo, Mabry. This group of lefties is impressive, sitting in my pen however, is Brad Lidge, well rested, set as closer both ways, and not to come in before the 8th. What does HAL do, let's leave (9R) Leicester in to face them all???. Sure he got the first 2 out but then 2 home runs and a walk, now that it's a tie game lets bring Ramon Ortiz in to face Hudson, Schneider and Damon to give up the winning run. I don't care if Leicester would have got all 3 out it was a horrible decsion to leave him in. Usually I can rationalize what HAL has done, this makes no sense!!!

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/league/boxscore.html?group_id=11723&g_id=481

GAME 2005
GAME#81
TEAM-POONTOWN POONPACKERS
TSNLEAGUE 11723
-As per above mentioned it is pretty obvious why it was a bad decision and what I think should have happened.
-Leicester set to avoid lefties.
-Lidge closer both ways, not enter before 8th, well rested
-Closer maximize, bullpen agressive.

[Valen]

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/league/boxscore.html?group_id=30871&g_id=1[/url]

First game of season so nobody tired. Trailing only 2-0 HAL pinch hits for Pete Alexander who is on slow hook with relief conservative and brings in Schiraldi who is set as my setup man.

Why pinch hit for Pete that early? Let him hit in the 5th and I will take my chances on getting 2 runs somewhere.

Why bring in my setup man in the 5th inning?

Then Schiraldi used again in game 2. Game 3 finds me needing a setup man in the 8th inning. Can you say Schiraldi? No, say Worthington. Apparently Schiraldi is too tired to pitch... Maybe if he had not pulled slow hook Alexander so early in game 1 he would not have been tired.

So now Schiraldi has 6+ innings in 3 games and while he probably will not continue at that 350 inning pace if he does I am sure someone will think I set up for a super reliever strategy even though I have no such intentions.

[Roscodog]

Same team as my earlier post, this time game 87, again save situation in the 8th inning and again Lidge NOT used??? He hasn't been used since game 78? This is getting ridiculous, he's obviously not tired. I'm not paying him 6mil+ to sit in the pen and not get used. I've been patient and never complained about HAL's management before but c'mon, this is piss poor.

[Essex Moosemen]

I agree--piss poor is the only way to describe it. I had a game where HAL brought in Leicester to face 6 lefties in a row when he was set to avoid lefties and I had a very well rested Damaso Marte sitting in the bullpen spitting sunflower seeds. You can guess the outcome.

HAL truly is evil and he must be stopped. :x