Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

Hi folks...I have just started playing again after taking a break for a while. Have not used the various new bullpen settings all that much, so open to suggestions on them.

Last night I lost two games where my relievers failed their missions. Wanted to check if different settings would have helped.

Team Strategy settings: Maximize Closer, Conservative Bullpen use

Individual settings:
Troy Percival - Closer, Tied and late (both settings), slow hook
Pete Richert - Set up, Middle man, neither hook setting checked, neither avoid set
Mike Garman - RH Specialist, quick hook, avoid LH
Joe Sambito - LH Specialist, quick hook, avoid RH

Game 1
Went into 9th losing 4-3, Koufax still pitching through first two outs, gave up walk and hit...so brought in Richert, who closed out inning with no more damage. Tied game in bottom of 9th, 4-4.
Left Richert in to start 10th, who gave up single and then HR to Josh Gibson. Makes sense I guess..,but would have liked to see Percival brought in. Lost 6-4 in 10.

Game 2
Went into 8th leading 6-4, Spud Chandler still pitching. Gave up 2 singles, plus error, one run, now 6-5.
Brought in Garman to face Beckwith (makes sense again), gave up double to tie game at 6. Garman struck out Beltre..then HAL brought in Sambito to face Turkey Stearnes, who homered to take lead and eventual win.

Seems like could have brought in Percival then as well...but guess makes some sense as Sambito is LH Specialist. He just didn't deliver against Turkey.

Anyway, would like to see if I can get Percival in bit more/sooner..without too much composite of other roles uses. Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks, Pike

Well, he would come in sooner if he was Setup as well. Richert is still Middle Man, and would still get some Setup innings as well, but that 5-6m spent on Percival would get on the field a little more.

Also, lose the Maximize setting. HAL is holding Percival out for a Save situation when you use Maximize. I only use Maximize at a larger cap, or if I'm using a R1 as my closer and need to actually MINIMIZE his usage.

Ok, thanks. Can try those changes and see if they help.

It is a $140M league.

Guess I was bit confused about what Maximize Closer setting really did...

Appreciate the feedback.

Yeah, if you want your expensive reliever to do more than just close do not check the "Maximize" box, like others said, the computer will save him for pretty much only save situations. Cheers.

Don't have a single pitcher (Percival) set for both slots for tied and late. Either put another pitcher in the second slot, or remove it. Maybe HAL just ignores it, or maybe it's screwing with his already questionable logic.
Good luck.

I have had very good luck with my bullpen , I use the MAX / aggressive setting . I designate one pitcher for mop up only, one pitcher for 2 roles mop up and middle man, one pitcher for 3 roles middle man and set up and tied and late and one pitcher for 3 rolls set up man , closer and tied and 9th+. I only use lefty/righty specialist in high cap [140+] leagues when I have 10 or 11 pitchers. Bill

Thanks for the insights, guys,

I have incorporated your suggested changes and will see how it goes.

Percival has still only pitched 1/3 of an inning in 15 games, but except for two cases above has been no real need for him either.

Hopefully now have him set to come in more appropriately when situation is right.

Thanks again.