Pitching Tactical advice

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I'm stepping well outside of my comfort zone here so play nice please.
I am pretty new to baseball but i am trying to learn concepts that will help me pitch smarter with what i got when i don't have other options.


I am playing an historical game, but with player recalc off and development/coaching on and TCR to 105.

In my world Tom Parsons seems to be a perfectly good 3-5th SP.

He really looks to be having quite the season thus far too. I can see though his BABIP it is way below its historical levels (so is he just on a good run so far dice roll wise?) and i can also see from his splits he is very good against righties but only so-so against lefties.

Are there any in game levers i could pull that align with real baseball tactics on how i'd maximise this guys abilities and minimise risks (lefties) without having to micro manage and watch every pitch of every game ( all though i mostly do that anyhow).

My initial thinking and again i have no way if this is legit baseball tactics or whether i'd be booted up the arse for suggesting it - if he's susceptible to lefties, is that weakness more likely to be exposed under fatigue or through repetition or in higher-leverage situations later in games?

My thinking is maybe with his stamina, 55 - which is fine but not marathon man - i pull him after two goes through the lineup?

Is this heresy or enough within boundaries of baseball realism that you'd tell me to 'give it a go a and see what happens'?


I don't want to exploit the game - just try and respond in a tactically appropriate way...cheers in in advance for any baseball knowledge i can pick up here.

[panda234]

I’m going to go out on a limb because I know nothing too. I’d say he’s good, even for lefties. He has good movement agsinst them so won’t often commit the cardinal sin. But with that stamina two times through the order might be enough. If not, give him a short leash.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by panda234

I’m going to go out on a limb because I know nothing too. I’d say he’s good, even for lefties. He has good movement against them so won’t often commit the cardinal sin. But with that stamina two times through the order might be enough. If not, give him a short leash.

Hey appreciate your response - yeah I've kept him in the role and dipping my toe in the water when it comes to seeing how he goes third time around- his FIP against RHB is definitely a concern i think?. I don't know if this it too realistic, but I'll see how he goes on the 19th batter or near enough if its a clean inning, and if he gives up a hit and (maybe I'm jumping at shadows here) I see him hit a hard foulball that goes deep then i'll pull him for either a middle reliever or a stopper depending on game status?


Whilst i feel like i am making progress in understanding better the main tactical levers, - i just get a little concerned my complete baseball naivety and ignorance to what would be probably well-known scenarios to most, either unfolding or in play to be set up sees me blow or not even see risks/opportunities clearly as they emerge during the game. I'm keen to learn so If i can see and respond to these things i can no doubt enjoy the game more - and reflect on the results of my actions/inactions.

Hence my initial concern about Parson's LHB/RHB splits and whether or not these were relatable concerns with defensible tactics to mitigate.


Its Parson's time round the rotation now, I'll see how these tactics work again.


Cheers again for giving your opinion to help out- much appreciated.

[ColumbusJets]

Originally Posted by Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Hey appreciate your response - yeah I've kept him in the role and dipping my toe in the water when it comes to seeing how he goes third time around- his FIP against RHB is definitely a concern i think?. I don't know if this it too realistic, but I'll see how he goes on the 19th batter or near enough if its a clean inning, and if he gives up a hit and (maybe I'm jumping at shadows here) I see him hit a hard foulball that goes deep then i'll pull him for either a middle reliever or a stopper depending on game status?


Whilst i feel like i am making progress in understanding better the main tactical levers, - i just get a little concerned my complete baseball naivety and ignorance to what would be probably well-known scenarios to most, either unfolding or in play to be set up sees me blow or not even see risks/opportunities clearly as they emerge during the game. I'm keen to learn so If i can see and respond to these things i can no doubt enjoy the game more - and reflect on the results of my actions/inactions.

Hence my initial concern about Parson's LHB/RHB splits and whether or not these were relatable concerns with defensible tactics to mitigate.


Its Parson's time round the rotation now, I'll see how these tactics work again.


Cheers again for giving your opinion to help out- much appreciated.

You don't have enough information to make an informed decision. You're assuming there's a significant difference between 50 and 55 - after all the numbers are different by five - but they're both rounded numbers. One could be 52 rounded down and the other 53 rounded up. And if you're not using 100% accurate scouting then the numbers might even be reversed.

There isn't enough data produced in the game for it to be relevant. Even if you look at all of it for the season. But not you're going to make a decision based on what this pitcher does in a single game.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by ColumbusJets

You don't have enough information to make an informed decision. You're assuming there's a significant difference between 50 and 55 - after all the numbers are different by five - but they're both rounded numbers. One could be 52 rounded down and the other 53 rounded up. And if you're not using 100% accurate scouting then the numbers might even be reversed.

There isn't enough data produced in the game for it to be relevant. Even if you look at all of it for the season. But not you're going to make a decision based on what this pitcher does in a single game.

Really good points!! I had considered the data size and thought i had mitigated this by just making sure i look at career splits vs LHB/RHB.
But your points about both the normal scouting and the rounded numbers - thank you for reminding me!!
The normal scouting is i guess real life and we have to make decisions based on uncertainty- I've had the scout for a long time and he's rated legendary or outstanding in most category. I'm pretty comfortable with the overall quality of his player assessments over the long-term.


So you've then hit upon the crux of my dilemma, and apologies if this is a case of my not attaching the right screens.

I'm really interested in how with these limitations you mention what is the typical 'baseball manager response process'. I want to learn to be more proactive and 'listen' to the game for where it whispers or points intel (e.g.)scouts reports indicate an issue with getting lefties out) and start to them plan and act accordingly to both improve my team results and produce player outputs that align with their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses.

Hence why, although not terminal against lefties - Parsons seems to show a long-term favouring both ratings and stats wise against RHB.


I thought I'd look at Parson and my scout/pitcher stats data to try and frame how i might use him more purposefully; the intent being to help him perform better or protect him from his weakness or relative susceptibility against lefties.


I am let down by my lack of baseball knowledge/instinct.. Am i chasing something that's not there or possible?. Is it a case of just putting up with his known weaknesses.

Is it reasonable for me to infer that pitchers who have a weakness to either left or right handed batters- these weaknesses are likely to be exposed or their risks more pronounced under fatigue and/or with increased familiarity (times through the line up)?

If so, do we know if the game models this type of behaviour more or less - so i have an idea as to whether me hard wiring a pitch count for a guy like Parsons or setting batter count with a quicker pull starter slider position in player strategy is me responding defensibly or jumping at shadows.


Thanks for responding, appreciate it and the reminders on the fact i'm dealing with rounded numbers that may be closer together than at first glance, and also the fact I've normal scouting (with uncertainty the result).