Bullpen Roles

[jpeters1734]

Does bullpen role vs usage have any effect on performance? Meaning if I bring my closer in the 8th, when he normally pitches the 9th, will his performance suffer?

[Pelican]

My impression is yes, that it does make a difference. What I don’t know is if roles are somehow coded into performance, or if certain players are just set up for certain roles. What I mean is that many of today’s best closers have very low stamina, because they typically pitch one inning only. So, if you start bringing them in “early”, in the eight inning, and keep them in for the ninth, they may throw too many pitches, and begin to tire.

In another thread I speculated that the classic closer only comes into games at the start of an inning, no baserunners, full warm-up. Kind of a luxury, as compared to the poor middle relievers and set-up guys, who may have to enter a game with the bases loaded and nobody out, hurriedly throwing a few warm-up tosses, as the manager stalls for time. Not sure these spoiled one-inning closers are cut out for those situations with inherited runners.

One thing that seems to work over a season is establishing bullpen roles and sticking to them. A former closer may not appreciate being relegated to setup; but a set role is better than switching back and forth. Or, your team may lend itself to “closer by committee”, which is fine, so long as everyone knows that, and you stick to it through the season, without playing favorites.

Finally, I have found that the AI will closely follow my designations of roles for bullpens, including L/R matchup strategy preferences and quick hook versus patience. Whereas, if you let the AI do this randomly, usage can be all over the place. And never, at least in modern times, let the AI use SP as RP. Sure-fire recipe for ending up with an entire staff of fatigued pitchers.

[silentrob]

Originally Posted by Pelican

Finally, I have found that the AI will closely follow my designations of roles for bullpens, including L/R matchup strategy preferences and quick hook versus patience. Whereas, if you let the AI do this randomly, usage can be all over the place. And never, at least in modern times, let the AI use SP as RP. Sure-fire recipe for ending up with an entire staff of fatigued pitchers.

Pelican, how do you prevent the AI using SP in the bullpen? I have the setting on the "General AI Roster Settings" to no SP in relief, but when I look at individual teams, they all have the only in emergency setting.

Am I missing something?

[jdw31158]

Personally, other than closer, I don't have any set bullpen rules. I manage each game, and I use whoever is most rested. If my closer is tired, I'll use somebody else to close it out. It's always worked for me.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

Does bullpen role vs usage have any effect on performance? Meaning if I bring my closer in the 8th, when he normally pitches the 9th, will his performance suffer?

If you play him 2 innings instead of 1, he’ll be more tired the next day. Also, if he only throws a couple pitches well, you might see the twice through the order penalty in the second inning. But the role doesn’t matter per se: if you call everyone a closer you can have one “closer” pitch in the 8th and another pitch in the 9th. In the fictional historical league I play in, I manage bullpens for games from the 7th on and often use a closer for 2+ innings. It leads to more blown saves of course but then, in the 70s save rates were closer to 70% than the 90%+ you see today.

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by Pelican

My impression is yes, that it does make a difference. What I don’t know is if roles are somehow coded into performance, or if certain players are just set up for certain roles. What I mean is that many of today’s best closers have very low stamina, because they typically pitch one inning only. So, if you start bringing them in “early”, in the eight inning, and keep them in for the ninth, they may throw too many pitches, and begin to tire.

In another thread I speculated that the classic closer only comes into games at the start of an inning, no baserunners, full warm-up. Kind of a luxury, as compared to the poor middle relievers and set-up guys, who may have to enter a game with the bases loaded and nobody out, hurriedly throwing a few warm-up tosses, as the manager stalls for time. Not sure these spoiled one-inning closers are cut out for those situations with inherited runners.

One thing that seems to work over a season is establishing bullpen roles and sticking to them. A former closer may not appreciate being relegated to setup; but a set role is better than switching back and forth. Or, your team may lend itself to “closer by committee”, which is fine, so long as everyone knows that, and you stick to it through the season, without playing favorites.

Finally, I have found that the AI will closely follow my designations of roles for bullpens, including L/R matchup strategy preferences and quick hook versus patience. Whereas, if you let the AI do this randomly, usage can be all over the place. And never, at least in modern times, let the AI use SP as RP. Sure-fire recipe for ending up with an entire staff of fatigued pitchers.

Yes...one thing I have been lobbying for is a much more aggressive AI when it comes to setting individual player strategies. Not because I don't want to do it (I actually love having a hand in this) but rather for a more competitive AI.

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by silentrob

Pelican, how do you prevent the AI using SP in the bullpen? I have the setting on the "General AI Roster Settings" to no SP in relief, but when I look at individual teams, they all have the only in emergency setting.

Am I missing something?

No, I think maybe I was. I thought that using the “general AI roster settings” was all I had to do. But you appear to be correct as to individual teams. So I will need to toggle each one to prevent SP in relief. Unless someone else out there knows better.