The following constitute not facts, but my opinions based on how I believe these things either are or are intended to be:
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Originally Posted by Curtis
1) When should you bring the outfield in? When play deep?
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Playing them deep is intended to help avoid extra-base hits at the expense of giving up more singles. Perhaps late in a tight game with a fast runner on third.
Playing them in is intended to prevent baserunners from advancing two bases on a short single, and perhaps avoid a short sac fly -- again, late in a tight game.
Personally, I'm not big on either of these.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
2) When should you bring your defensive replacements into the game? The yardstick I'm using now is 'when I'm ahead in the 7th or later inning and it appears unlikely the player they're substituting for will come to bat again', but that's not proving satisfactory.
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Traditionally they are brought into the game in the 7th inning or later, to help preserve a small lead (or to give a veteran some rest). It's probably better to let them hit once than leave a stone glove in a position to hurt you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
3) When do you bring your infield in? Not before a certain inning? Not when you're trailing? Not when you're up by three or more?
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The infield is brought in with a runner on third base and fewer than two outs to prevent the runner from scoring on a groundout. With one out and a runner on first, the defense may opt to play back and hope for the double-play, or play the just corners in so that the shortstop and second baseman will be ready for a double play, but groundballs down the lines will hold the runner.
This is usually only used when the game is close (tied, +-2 runs) and the game is either important or the inning is the 6th or later. Also, a team may do it if runs will be at a premium in a given game (such as Lincecum v. Straussberg, when both are on their games).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
4) I know to bring the corners in when I'm expecting a bunt (which doesn't appear to have an effect, by the way; it didn't much in Strat-O-Matic, either), but when should I bring in just the first baseman? Just the third baseman?
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You might play those in to watch for the bunt for a hit. Depending on which line you are expecting for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
5) Are there situations when I shouldn't 'hold runner'? In Version 9 it seemed to allow a lot of extra hits due to the fielders being out of position, but in Version 10 that doesn't seem to be the case (small sample size). It also doesn't seem to have much effect. Last night I was holding a runner with speed 20 (20-80 scale) on second with a pitcher who has a pretty good 'hold runner' rating (65), and he scored on a little dinker in front of my center fielder, who has great range (80) and a fair arm (55). With him charging in like that, and the play-by-play said he made an accurate throw, the play at the plate wasn't even close. Discouraging.
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The impression I have is that holding a runner makes them less likely to steal (or at least steal successfully). Anything beyond that, I would be speculating. Come to think of it, considering the sample size (90 games of one season) pretty much anything I say here is speculation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
6) What's the proper use of my 'trash time' relievers? My staff has two good (righty/lefty), four fair (righty/three lefties) and two poor (both righthanded SPs) relievers. What I've been doing is warming up the 'long men' from the start of a game, just in case of injury or meltdown, neither of which has happened since I started doing this. Half an inning before pitching the sixth I sit them down and stand up a righty/lefty pair, then juggle the 'short men' through the rest of the game. Is there a better way to do this? Should I be using the 'long men' in late innings of blowout games? Remember that, unlike real life, it doesn't hurt to keep pitchers warming up for twenty innings, and they don't get rusty if not used for two weeks.
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In general, a long reliever isn't brought in later than the fifth or sixth inning, unless he is expected to throw for several innings. However, in real life, they might be used in other situations if the bullpen is a bit depleted or if they haven't pitched an a while and the manager wants to keep them sharp. I don't know about the actual game effects here, but I use my long relievers this way in the game because it makes sense to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curtis
7) Oh, and what constitutes a 'blowout'? Does it require oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico? I ask because two nights ago I had a game I was leading 7-0 going into the bottom of the ninth, but my starter and two 'good' relievers were gone from the game. Two of my 'fair' relievers decided to make the game interesting before coming away with a 7-5 victory (tying run at the plate).
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Usually I think of a blowout, also called a "laugher", as a game with a score difference of six or more runs. Looking at the box score of that game, I would probably consider your "fair" relievers having almost blown a laugher. People vary about how many runs are required though -- some may not call it a blowout unless one team wins by ten runs or more, for example.