AI Bullpen Management

[Situational_Lefty]

Originally Posted by Drstrangelove

Yup, that's been changed. I am in a DH league, and my global AI is set to default (presumably zero modification), and I've never used any other setting. (Starters are set to very low stamina as default; in fact, all those setting are set at default for me.)

I use 12 pitchers and set the starters and relievers to have an average or quicker than average hook, (although they are nowhere near the maximum hook rate), and I've had no issues. Two of my relievers are bona fide starters who I set as alternates for long relief and will sometimes throw 30-50 pitches. This season I am on pace to have 4 relievers with between 72-77 appearances, with three others at 59, 57 and 46. The only time a non-pitcher was in a game was in an 18-inning game. Around the league, the AI high count for each team tops at around 89 appearances on a couple teams, but most teams are down around 75-78 or so. I'd say, adjusting my global settings to -1 would create issues for a few teams.

Certainly, the AI will have the same problem a human will, if the bullpen has no long relievers and the manager has a quick hook on all the pitchers. This is probably worse in a non-DH league. Adding another reliever is a solution, but changing the hook rate or adding long relievers would help as well. Sometimes a team has to have a pitcher take a beating if they are down by 5 runs in the 7th, rather than burning through 3 relievers. How the AI does it, I don't have a clue, but it's certainly going to be harder with a quicker hook.

I know I did not change that setting, so -1 must be what is considered "default" for the MLB games. I am pretty sure this wasn't even a setting offered in OOTP18. I believe I will change the reliever hook from -1 to default and see if that lessens the crazy amount of games pitched around the league.

[NoOne]

when i saw that particular setting i assumed it correlated with the manager slider of that topic. likely just centers the range of coaches at -1 or x. it shouldn't have a sweeping effect moving it "1" tick, but all you can do is try and then observe.

[Willie M]

Caught on to this a while ago, ended up just going with 26 man rosters and forcing AI to keep 8 relievers. Seemed to help.

[Situational_Lefty]

Originally Posted by NoOne

when i saw that particular setting i assumed it correlated with the manager slider of that topic. likely just centers the range of coaches at -1 or x. it shouldn't have a sweeping effect moving it "1" tick, but all you can do is try and then observe.

After changing the the setting from -1 to "default" on both SP and RP, I ran a few test seasons. It does help make the games pitched totals for relievers a bit more realistic, it has lowered the games pitched totals a bit across the board. That being said, there is still major room for improvement on how the AI manages their pitching staff in the game.

[Juggernt]

My question is what does hook actually entail?

Does it wait until the pitcher gets into trouble or gives up a certain number of runs? Does proximity to pitch count factor in? If I have high pitch counts and fast hooks, will they pitch some complete games so long as they've only given up 0-2 runs?

[highandoutside]

Originally Posted by Willie M

Caught on to this a while ago, ended up just going with 26 man rosters and forcing AI to keep 8 relievers. Seemed to help.

This is the answer. (I actually give AI 27 men, to give them just a little extra flexibility.) You have to give the AI additional relievers. Limit yourself to normal roster size. You shouldn't need the extra players.