Date: Tue Feb 19 17:01:10 2008
Sender: Jarod Kober
I'm just starting my second season in MEL, and this time around I've got a
little more time on my hands. As a result I've been able to pay attention to
some of the smaller details and do things like read the play-by-plays on a
regular basis. In doing so I've run across some situations that I'm hoping
someone(s) can help me out with.
1. Is there anything that would impact a players decision to sacrifice bunt
besides the "Sacrifice Bunt" settings in the coaching option? Perhaps his
contact rating or his performance during the current season?
The reason I ask is that in two separate at-bats in one game, my clean-up
hitter laid down a sacrifice bunt with a runner on first and the team down by
six. The first time he did it he decided to wait until there were two strikes
to try.
I had the "Sacrifice Bunt" settings set to "normal", but I wouldn't consider
having the clean-up hitter sacrifice bunt when down by six runs early in the
game as normal. I have since changed the setting to "less", but was just
curious to know if other factors may have applied in that situation to make it
no so normal.
2. Could someone clarify the "Infield In" button and the strategy behind using
it?
I was operating under the assumption more "Infield In" would play the
infielders closer to the plate with runners on base. If my understanding of
baseball strategy is correct (and that is a big if), this would primarily be
used late in the game, in close games, with a runner on third. The logic being
that if an infielder plays the ball they may be able to throw the runner out at
home. The downside to this is that the infielders have less time to react to
batted balls, and thus less range, and thus batted balls are more likely to
make it through the infield.
So I'm perplexed by how and when the sim uses it. Again, I had it set to
"normal", but my guys would repeatedly play the infield in with a runner on
first. Wouldn't this decrease the chance of actually being able to turn a
double-play when it's needed the most?
3. Is there any way to set it so your closer only comes in the game for one
inning saves?
Last season I was having the problem where my closer would come in to pitch the
8th inning. Then if his spot in the batting order came up then he was pinch
hit for, some other bullpen loser would come in to pitch the ninth, and the
game was lost.
I figured out somewhat of a workaround by setting "PH For Pitcher" to "least"
when late in the game and ahead. This has kept my closer in the game, but it
also means that he ends up swinging the bat late in close games.
I've read that the DH may be coming soon, so this problem may not be relevant
in the near future, but if anyone does have a fix for this I'd be eager to use
it for now.
Thanks in advance to any of you baseball gurus who take the time to share some
knowledge.
jarod
MEL Minnesota Twins
Date: Tue Feb 19 18:22:28 2008
Sender: John Henry
I'll try and answer your questions...Coaching strategy varies so there are
probably other opinions as well.
1. Is there anything that would impact a players decision to sacrifice bunt
besides the "Sacrifice Bunt" settings in the coaching option? Perhaps his
contact rating or his performance during the current season?
That is the only control. I hate to give up outs early in the game so I have my
setting to least. In a tie game is the only time I set it to more than that. I
had the same issues with the wrong guy, usually my power hitter trying to move
a runner over and reading 'Moneyball' firmly beleive statistically you are
crazy to give up the out except to tie or win a game late.
2. Could someone clarify the "Infield In" button and the strategy behind using
it?
Infield in is actually used to increase the chance to turn a double play. It
brings your fielders closer to the plate so that they get that critical second
or two to turn pivot and throw on a sharply hit ball. I use the normal setting
as I haven't seen any advantage to higher or lower setting on this one.
3. Is there any way to set it so your closer only comes in the game for one
inning saves?
Relief pitching is probably one of my least favorite parts of the sim. I do a
couple things to combat the 8th inning issue. Have two 'closers' #1 is actually
who you would consider your setup man. #2 is your actual closer. In the Setup
setting have the setup man there but as the last choice..caveat if you are
light in setup have him #1 or #2. You may have to tinker a few games to get
them coming in correctly dependant on how many set up guys you want up to the 5
max. I would also suggest having your second best setup guy as the #5 guy in
long relief. That way in tight games late when the sim goes to 'long relief' he
will get picked and you won't blow the one run lead games so often in the 7th
inning.
I'm sure there are other strategies but those seem to get the results the
majority of the time for me. Best of luck!
Date: Wed Feb 20 00:22:50 2008
Sender: Ryan Perdue
First of all, good to see you in MEL again this season.
I agree with John as far as the infield in option goes.
I have never figured out why I should use it more or less so, it's been stuck
on normal most of the time.
You will see players with lower contact bunt a bit more although I also see my
power hitters bunt and I set the sac bunt setting to less if my team has decent
contact.
I've tinkered with the relief setting quite frequently.
If I only have one designated closer, I set the late and leading coach setting
to standard and usually, my guy only appears in the 9th.
Date: Fri Feb 22 09:45:22 2008
Sender: Jarod Kober
John & Ryan, thanks for the info and tips. It's much appreciated and it
definitely helps!
Date: Sat Feb 23 09:30:28 2008
Sender: Darren Reifler
On the closer settings, I have read people saying they have a problem with
this, but in years of playing have never experienced it. At least on a scale I
would notice. The big thing is check your closer use settings. They set what
inning the closer comes in the game (and nothing else). So, if he is coming in
the game to early logically you would simply turn down the setting to less if
need be. If you want him to pitch the 8th-9th set it to more.
IMHO, most coaches do far more harm by over-correcting the bullpen settings.
Then they further tinker trying to fix those and in three months you will be
here complainging the bullpen settings don't work.
Personally, I never confuse the computer by having more than one closer unless
I have a very good reason for doing so. One closer and one setup man work just
fine. Then simply tinker closer use to ensure each gets in the game when you
want. The only other note I have is that if you want the closer to pitch late
in tie games set late/tie to sabermetric.
I don't think there is any problem with the closer settings as is, but most
people will disagree. Keep it simple and you should be fine though.
Date: Sat Mar 1 10:14:37 2008
Sender: John Henry
Just had another example of where relief gets ugly and I will respectfully
disagree that keeping it simple works correctly. To me it's hit or miss and its
actually sim performance that is set to a different philosophy than I would
use.
The situation in DEL Cup, we are visitors. 8th inning tie game my long relief
#3 guy came in the game in the 7th (He is not in my setup choice)...I am OK
with that but I have three better guys in the setup role sitting on the bench.
In my fantasy world of how a big league team runs the bullpen, my setup man and
my closer are warming up in the bullpen. As we start the 8th I want my setup
man in the game with my closer handy and warmed up in case we score in the top
of the 9th inning if we can get the 3 outs now in the bottom of the 8th.
What does the sim do in this situation....Leave the sacrificial lamb of my 8th
best pitcher on the mound to give up 3 runs and lose the game. None of my top
pitchers enter the game and the team blows the chance to win without the best
players even seeing the field.
Here is the problem as I see it not knowing the game code. It appears a tie
game uses long relief logic not setup man/closer logic in decision making. Most
instances where I see the bullpen failing to function as I think it should, is
in a tie situation where 90% of the time late we have the wrong pitcher in. I
really want to use my long relief in innings 1-7, or when we are behind in
innings 8 or 9 and will take the chance of having to use them in extra innings
should we fail to score in games where we have a lead or are tied.
Date: Sat Mar 1 21:16:46 2008
Sender: John Henry
Sorry continuing he trend - Gotta love this line....
G.Southern 2.0 7 0 1 1 7 14 0 1 0 0 1 0 31.50 0.571 R
All seven runs came in a tie game late in one inning in about 6 straight
hits...never pulled the reliever out.
Date: Sat Mar 1 21:58:18 2008
Sender: Brian Dust
John,
In the situation you shared where your long reliever stayed in the game in the
8th inning instead of one of the set-up men taking the mound, it's a bug rather
than the design of the sim. Your best bet is to contact Andy directly after it
happens A.S.A.P., so he can review the PbP for that game and learn why your
bullpen was used in that fashion.
Regards,
Brian
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