Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
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
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.
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. The AI will never choose a high movement, high control guy, with low stuff as a SP in the majors. So you don't get the 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.
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.
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I'm not seeing any of this in my league especially the bold part. Not sure what is different about your league compared to mine. FWIW I have not tweaked any player creation settings etc. In other words my game is pretty much default except for league total modifiers and trade settings.
Went through every MLB team in my league sorted by starters and then by bullpen. I use the 1-20 scale, on that scale 12 is a green number and 11 is a yellow number. I had two rotations in my league that had 3 green numbered or better SP for stuff. Quite a few teams had 2 and a few had only one with one team all SP's with a yellow stuff number IE all starters with stuff 12 or less.
I play against teams with young Ps coming out of the pen with 15 stuff 12 movement 13 control and 18 stamina and I think huh? How are these young guys not starting? Look at the rotation and I find a vet that is 8 stuff 17 movement 18 control and 12 stamina. Ok, he's waiting for the vet to fold. I am sometimes concerned that these young guys should actually be starting above some of these vets but then that is always a question IRL too.
In the end scanning all of my MLB rotations stamina appears to be very important in SP selection. I don't see anyone with great stuff and stamina below 10 in a rotation unless it is by necessity, that is he is the best choice the AI has and is the same way I would more than likely set it up.