[Pelican]

Anecdotal and a (relatively) small sample, but there are times when a mound visit following a string of hard hits does calm a pitcher down. Also, to my surprise, and without the “hint” of the “tired” indication, a pitcher will say “I’m about done”. Of course it doesn’t always work. To me, the indicator (for a mound visit or pulling the pitcher) is successive hard hits on the first pitch. And, if you use the pitch location and speed widget, pitches up in the zone or losing speed or movement (sliders that don’t slide). I’m reasonably confident the game provides those hints that a guy is gassed, or might need settling down.

What I truly wish for would be a dialogue out of “Ball Four”, where the group at the mound talk about a cute woman behind the dugout, or where they are eating after the game, great fishing holes. That’s a super clever way to get a hurler’s mind off of his troubles. Have the umpire come up and then join in the discussion. While the geniuses in the press box report they are no doubt discussing how to pitch the next hitter.