Helping "Default" Lineups act more like "Per Game" Lineups

Idea 1:

As is, the breakpoint for SOMO to use a "Normal RH" lineup versus a "Reverse RH" lineup is: E or more RH = Normal, 1L or more LH = Reverse.

Why not let the Owner/Manager determine the breakpoint?

That way, an owner who is scheduled to face a 1R and a 4R RHSP in the same series could set the breakpoint to 3R and choose different lineups for each SP.

Idea 2:

Expanding on Idea 1: (a) have a third lineup setting for "Balanced" pitchers with a default setting of including and between 2R and 2L (b) have the owner be able to decide the breakpoints between Normal, Balanced, and Reverse.

For example, we could set "Normal" RH to 2R and further R, "Balanced" RH to 3L-1R, and "Reverse" RH to 4L and further L.

I would guess that if these ideas were implemented you would see an increase in offense at the expense of good pitchers who would no longer be able to be as effective as their cards would suggest. It would be akin to lowering the mound six inches.

If right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly(1L), for example, faces left handed hitters 45% of the time in real-life and Michael Wacha(7L), also on the same team, faces left handed hitters 49% of the time, and SOMO managers now have more tools to make it easy for them to make Kelly face left handed hitters 62% of the time in order to benefit from a tremendous left-handed hitting lineup, for example, I'm not sure that's good for the game.

It may or may not be so good for Joe Kelly and his manager.

The current setup forces an offensive manager to "compromise" and build an optimal reverse lineup that can handle Wacha and Kelly with the right combination of right-handed and left-handed hitters. I don't think that's a bad thing because it gives a badly needed boost to pitching-minded managers.

paul

You make a decent case for defending pitchers, especially if you presume that hitters hold the balance of power in most leagues. I'm currently in an $80M 2013 DH league where AT&T, PNC, Marlins, Busch, and Target are the parks for 8 of 12 owners... and at least 6 of those 8 owners have spent at least $30M on pitching. Clearly, hitters aren't going to catch many breaks this league.

At the end of the day, the most common Wish-List item on SOMO seems to be "more control." SOMO, as it is set up, essentially requires us to fill out our lineup cards 3 games at a time. In no other context of baseball... or baseball simulations (including other forms of SOM)... is this required.

I'd rather compete in a game where my performance stems from how I assemble my roster and do my best to use it one way against a 1L RHSP one day and a different way against a 7L RHSP the next... rather than how I'm boxed in to filling out the same lineup card against both pitchers and being forced to choose (against my wishes) (a) a "hybrid" lineup OR (b) a lineup that would do rather well against one of the two pitchers and not so well against the other one.

Note that leveraging the 3-day lineup freeze to the opponents' disadvantage only works if the 1L and 7L pitcher face the same opponent in the same series. If you pitch them back-to-back days against different opponents , each manager can manage that independently. Why should I be any more constrained to make lineup decisions WITHIN a 3-game series than I am BETWEEN 3-game series?

Also, furthering my case: SOMO's balance ratings presume a roughly balanced ballpark.

For instance, Cliff Lee & Tony Cingrani in the 2013 set are rated at a balance of 3L & 2L respectively.
Each has no BPHR vs LH batters, and 4 BPHR vs. RH batters.

I'm in a 12-man league where 6 of the owners chose parks w/ BPHR 1 vs RH batters... and 5 of the other 6 chose parks w. BPHR of 1-8 or less vs. RH Batters. In these low-HR parks, where one should read a BPHR chance as a 95% chance of an out, Lee is effectively an E or 1L pitcher, and Cingrani might even be a 1R.

In the current scheme of things, managers cannot set their lineups to account for that, especially if a 4L LH-starter is being faced in the same series.

Implementing EITHER of my suggestions would help.

I like the idea of setting your reverse lineups at a breakpoint.

I usually do not want to put in reverse lineups against a RH pitcher that is 1L or 2L.

I've seen many teams use "reverse RH pitches" to great advantage because of the 3 game sets. Being able to set a break point were "reverse lineups" are used would mostly solve the issue without having to go to per game lineups.

I also think it would be a relatively easy change for Strat to make in the programing

I like the idea of setting your reverse lineups at a breakpoint.

I also think it would be a relatively easy change for Strat to make in the programing

I would still prefer SOM finally implement "Don't steal Third" and "Don't Steal Home" settings. I am far from a techie, but I would think doing so would be far easier than enabling us to "set our reverse lineups at a breakpoint."