[Biggio509]

First let me start by saying I realize what I am going to suggest is a complete overhual of pitching and there are a lot of other priorites out there. Now, I have been thinking about after discussions of pitchers learning new pitches and I think there is a lot of room for improvement.

Current system
***edit***
This part is incorrect there are at least 10 pitches in the editor. I was going from memory and got it wrong.
4 broad pitch categories
1. Fastball includes sliders, 4 seam, 2 seam etc.
2. Curveball includes sinkers, splitters, normal curves
3. Changeup all non-breaking ball offspeed pitches.
4. Knuckleball
***** End of edit ****

For starters a pitcher needs 3 quality pitches. Stuff is determined by the best 3 pitches. So currently whether you are a SP or MR is judged solely by stuff. Stamina no longer seems to matter and control or movement have nothing to do with whether the AI places a pitcher as SP or MR. *** edit*** After testing I have found stamina matters but the cut off is low looks like 5 out of 20. So stamina matters but a pretty low stamina guy is still considered a starter. You don't have to have average stamina. IMO, it probably should be a little higher not a huge deal though. I also found to be suggested a starter the quality of your 3 pitches depends on your velocity.***

For Bullpen guys stuff is determined by your top 2 pitches. So a 2 pitch pitcher will not have the stuff to be a SP.

Problem
Stuff is the ability to get Ks. Therefore whether or not you can start depends solely on the ability to get strikeouts. The system ignores movement and control. Therefore a guy more like Greg Maddux may never become a SP. *** Maddux may not the best example because he was only slightly below league average Ks, in 1996 single season replay gives a 11 Ks. Maybe Phil Neikro is a better example." The AI will never choose a high movement, high control guy, with low stuff as a SP ***edit*** over a high control low stuff guy *** in the majors. So you don't get ***edit*** many*** classic no walks, few Ks, lots of contact for outs type pitcher. So guys who could thrive at place let Petco park and get shelled in the juice box just don't make it ***edit*** very often***.

Proposed system
SP's stuff is based only on 2 pitches. Really a starter just needs types of fastballs and and types of offspeed pitches those can be a curve or a changeup he really does not need both. What makes a SP a SP is weighted combination of stamina, stuff, movement, and control. Perhaps stamina must be above X to even be considered. That way you can have the lots of contact low hits low K guys who look good in front of a top notch defense and fall apart in front of a bad one thrive.

Reliever stuff is based on best pitch. Considering these are broad categories and not really individual pitches but a representation of a range of pitches, this makes sense. Brad Lidge has survived on a fastball and slider as his offspeed which are both in the fastball category. A reliever who pitches one or 2 innings can get by with one pitch category. A starter really needs an decidated offspeed pitch to keep hitters off balance after the first round through the lineup.

What this would do I believe is create a lot more borderline SP and long releif guys to fill the MR roles. It would also make what makes a SP more realistic.

***edit*** The proposed system in system is a little off later I came to a better idea of just weighting control and movement more and maybe have velocity affect stuff less. ***