Why are Knuckleballers considered best in ootp?

[twins_34]

Just like the topic says, why are they so good in the game? Why are people after them like rabid dogs?

We have a trade in our online league that I totally do not agree with, and then player making a trade thinks a 65 stuff, 70 movement, 35 control 85 knuckleballer wont be good. Me, I would honestly be starting him with pitching settings set to almost never pitch around.

Now, I know in my 1901+ franchise knuckleballers are pretty OP but, what makes them so OP in this game.

BTW here is a screenshot of this guy that got traded for pretty much trash players. If you wanna see the players he was traded for, I will link them lol. Would you trade this guy off for 5 trash prospects? BTW he is the #5 over all prospect of the league.

[Rain King]

I'm confused. You are saying everyone is after Knuckleballers, but this player was traded for trash? What does OP mean in this context?

[twins_34]

Originally Posted by Rain King

I'm confused. You are saying everyone is after Knuckleballers, but this player was traded for trash? What does OP mean in this context?

I tried to talk the guy out of trading him. The guy that traded him didn't know knuckleballers are good pitchers.

[brotherblues]

Originally Posted by twins_34

Just like the topic says, why are they so good in the game? Why are people after them like rabid dogs?

We have a trade in our online league that I totally do not agree with, and then player making a trade thinks a 65 stuff, 70 movement, 35 control 85 knuckleballer wont be good. Me, I would honestly be starting him with pitching settings set to almost never pitch around.

Now, I know in my 1901+ franchise knuckleballers are pretty OP but, what makes them so OP in this game.

BTW here is a screenshot of this guy that got traded for pretty much trash players. If you wanna see the players he was traded for, I will link them lol. Would you trade this guy off for 5 trash prospects? BTW he is the #5 over all prospect of the league.

That's a multiple Cy Young winner if he develops that control to potential.

[brotherblues]

Do you guys inject/create 5 star prospects for your player pool?

[twins_34]

Originally Posted by brotherblues

Do you guys inject/create 5 star prospects for your player pool?

He was from OOTP 21. So no. He was the #1 pick and its not unusual to see a 5 star potential. He has been in the minors for one year so, he probably improved a bit.

[Dave Stieb II]

Just to look at all angles....he is dumb and lacks focus so maybe he won't turn out to be all that.

[twins_34]

Originally Posted by Dave Stieb II

Just to look at all angles....he is dumb and lacks focus so maybe he won't turn out to be all that.

He already has the pitch that matters and it is already fully developed. Intelligence only really helps in learning new pitches it won't effect his development in his movement.

[Syd Thrift]

Knuckleballers are basically the only kind of pitcher who get a bump to their BABIP. Pretty much every other pitcher in the game, you can judge them based on their Three True Outcomes; with knuckleballers, you kind of have to think “whatever the 3TO tell me, plus another 10% value”.

[brotherblues]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Knuckleballers are basically the only kind of pitcher who get a bump to their BABIP. Pretty much every other pitcher in the game, you can judge them based on their Three True Outcomes; with knuckleballers, you kind of have to think “whatever the 3TO tell me, plus another 10% value”.

Huh. Didn't know the actual mechanics behind
knuckleballers being so good. Thanks for sharing.

[eas9898]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Knuckleballers are basically the only kind of pitcher who get a bump to their BABIP. Pretty much every other pitcher in the game, you can judge them based on their Three True Outcomes; with knuckleballers, you kind of have to think “whatever the 3TO tell me, plus another 10% value”.

Is this actually implemented in the game, or are you just talking about real-life performance?

[ezpkns34]

Originally Posted by eas9898

Is this actually implemented in the game, or are you just talking about real-life performance?

In game. Was a thread a few years ago where someone did extensive testing to "rank" the pitch types. Knuckleball won easily while Knuckle Curve was #2 if I remember correctly

[Argonaut]

Knuckleballers (with no Fastball) do indeed reduce BABIP. You should see Charlie Hough in my Rangers dynasty. He has something like 15 WAR (based on FIP) compared to 45 bWAR (based on runs).

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by eas9898

Is this actually implemented in the game, or are you just talking about real-life performance?

This is actually part of the game, with the caveat, as noted, that the player can’t throw any kind of fastball, so if you do a create-a-player and even give them a sinker in addition to the knuckler, it’ll just work as a “ regular” pitch - granting a boost to overall Stuff but little else.

FWIW most if not all pitches have some effect outside of raising Stuff. Curves and sliders increase lefty/righty splits, the circle change and the screwball reduce or even reverse them, sinkers lower HR rate above and beyond a pitcher’s Movement rating… there’s a lot of extra stuff under the hood if you want to be that exacting.

[NoOne]

when speaking about the high level KB pitchers.. that lower babip also increases IP. They need fewer pitches to get players out by getting more easy outs with balls in play.

their value to your team dominos into saving your bullpen too.

These guys always top the IP charts when well-rated.

whip is always nice and low too, with the good ones.

Even if they are statistically a 4th or 5th guy, they can churn out 200-230IP with a few less starts. Likely cost the same as competition at each 'tier', too.

i was lucky to have 2 elite KB pitchers overlap for quite a few years on 1 team. i barely needed a bullpen. it was hard getting a RP with 50+innings - ai would spread it out among too many players. They seem to come out 1-2 per 20-30 years. cross your fingers they have a full package.

even average ones can go on to 20-25 year careers. They almost seem to get a second wind in their late 30s. Im willing to keep a KB SP into older ages... again, just one more thing that dominos into value elsewhere that you won't typically attribute to a player.