Quote:
Originally Posted by udbacker58
I would argue that 25 set-up/closer caliber relievers (4-5 star MR/CL is definitely 8th/9th inning material) in a draft is too much, especially considering that a good number of the 2-pitch SPs will not develop a 3rd pitch and become relievers. Even if they didn't, you're talking about each team basically having a shot at grabbing a closer each and every draft. That has been my biggest bone of contention with the draft classes in 11/12, there are simply too many excellent relievers. In each draft, it seems that between relievers and starters that will clearly end up relievers, there are at least one potential closer per team. IRL, almost all of the high quality relievers were drafted as starters and either failed as a starter (usually average guys that end up in middle relief), had stuff that was significantly better out of the bullpen (2-pitch starters who can blow hitters away with their 2 pitches), or succumbed to injury and went to the bullpen to avoid wear and tear (many of these guys closer/set-up guys as well).
To me, there should only be a handful of good relief prospects in the draft class and the 2-pitch pitchers should learn a 3rd pitch with slightly more regularity. I say slightly because we don't want the majority of them getting a 3rd pitch, but there should be enough that you can actually draft a guy hoping he can learn another pitch. Right now, I pretty much avoid them unless I'm taking them as a reliever because I know it is rare that he'll get that 3rd pitch. This would mean that the 2-pitch pitchers who don't get that 3rd pitch would turn into the closers and set-up men, combining with the few pure relief prospects that were drafted.
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I know it does. And the AI does, too. None of those two pitch pitchers have gotten drafted in the first round of either draft. The computer recognizes that they are relievers, even if it didn't shift their labels to MR/CL. But it is not "under producing" starters (which seems to be the main bone of contention of most). It is producing the same number, or close to it, of starters to relievers of the same caliber. You may think that is too many, but I can see how programming is going to be limited to set that up to make sure there is a balance in the game. The flip would be way too many great starters, and that is not very real either.