Strategy Poll

[jac2598]

I'd bring in the starter and call up the ace. I also agree with what others say - put the ace on a pitch count, say 90-100 or so. He's your ace and he's already had two rehab starts. If you're in such a tight race and need to keep up - I'd go with your guy.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

This should have been an option on the poll because it is definitely a good option.

Let me take this back. The reason this wasn't a poll option is because the guys in AAA would get completely shelled. They are that bad.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by ttaka808

Depends on how meaningful the game is. If this game decides whether or not your team is going to make the playoffs of course I would bring in the starter. If you have no chance of making the playoffs I would bring in a position player. In your case, I would bring the starter in as you are in the midst of a close pennant race. But I would DEFINITELY not pitch the rest of the starters on short rest. Call up an AAA starter and maybe lose that game but it's better than risking four games. My second choice would be to use a position player as this game does not really matter all that much with still a lot of time to make up for the loss.

Here's the thing: The guys in AAA are going to get shelled. They are pretty bad. I was trying to bring the Ace up after 3 rehab starts after 50 pitches, 75 pitches, 100 pitches. I think that IRL the ace would not be called up ahead of schedule after a 14 month injury.

I really didn't want to include that 3rd poll option but I wasn't sure how a real MLB would handle the rehabbing pitcher.

I guess another option would be to start a reliever. But that would worry me because the bullpen will be taxed already.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by shipfb21

i would bring in a position player. i dont want to overwork my closer, i may need him the next night or 2. i dont want 2 mess up my rotation by ruining a starter for maybe an inning or 2 of work when there are still 60 games left. a position player would b the way i would go, chalk up the game as a lost cause. atleast ur starting rotation will still b intact n youll b getting ur ace back in a week.

I feel this causes the least damage but really hate to give up on a game. i.e. it may rain tomorrow.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by jac2598

I'd bring in the starter and call up the ace. I also agree with what others say - put the ace on a pitch count, say 90-100 or so. He's your ace and he's already had two rehab starts. If you're in such a tight race and need to keep up - I'd go with your guy.

So you think that a real team would do that?

[hockeyman001]

Don't give up on the game by bringing in a position player, but don't screw your rotation, and don't risk your ace's rehab (especially since you said he's been out 14 months...a little different if it was a 15 day stint).

Game 1: Bring in your next day's starter and let him go in the extra inning game.

Game 2: For the following days, keep your rotation intact. Even though you may not get a particularly good start out of anyone in AAA, call someone up (just not your rehabbing ace) and let them pitch. Even if they get shelled, seems you've got a good offense, so you may be able to get it back. The ace is on pitch counts, and it's only his third start back, you have a depleted bullpen...and bringing him up / rushing him back is no sure thing, a risk for further injury, and there's no guarantee he'll even be effective. Either way, you are probably looking at another overburdened pen in the next game. Therefore, if you have a reliever with options who is tired and not one of your late inning guys, you may want to send them down and also call up a fresh reliever to assist in case your AAA starter falters (preferably you want a long reliever type for this). That gives you insurance in case the AAA pitcher bombs, which by that point, your AAA long reliever would just be there to give you length since the game would be out of hand by that point.

Game 3: Now, your rotation will be intact.

I'd do this since you'll have given yourself the best chance to win the extra inning game 1, and your one time ace's rehab won't be jeopardized. Game 2 becomes a risk, but not unwinnable, and you keep your rotation in place. With 60 games left, it's a bit panicky to put 4 of them on short rest and risk what at worst case is an extra inning loss from snowballing into a possible losing streak with a tired bullpen that cannot provide effective relief. However, your offense has given you a chance in the extra inning game, and you owe it to your team to at least give them a good chance to win by not doing what amounts to throwing the game by letting a position player pitch.

Now if you use your starter, and the game is still going in the 17th, and he's thrown 100 pitches, then you'd be wise to use a position player at that point vs. using a second starter, although by that point the opposition would likely be out of pitchers too, and you may be able to coax one more inning out of your starter if you need to and hope they run out before you do...

[Number4]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

So you think that a real team would do that?

A real team would carefully plan out rehab starts with medical personell, and during those rehab starts, specific mechanics would be tested. Then, no. However, there might be a situation where you were in no hurry with a particular player, wanted to give him additional minor playing time before calling him up, but an injury forced your hand.

Especially with an ace, in such a situation, I'd expect him itching to go, and if the medical personell gives the green light, he'll be on the mound, even though as I said with a, rather conservative, pitch count. If the medical personell is unsure, he'll get his scheduled start and a guy from AAA is called up.

In OOTP, there is no "medical advice: 3 rehab starts" or something. If I decide on 3 rehab starts, that is because that is my best guess what I think is appropriate. It does not mean that 2, or 4, rehab starts would be a wrong choice. You could roleplay that your staff says no, but even in real life this could end up with the ace starting, so why limit yourself unneccesary? I'd imagine situations where the guy is able to make rehab starts, but under no circumstances play in a ML game, are better simulated by the "injured" status and if he's "healthy", there is no medical reason not to play him.

[Anyone]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

So you think that a real team would do that?

I think a real team would of course be hesitant, but would be likely to say, "It's an emergency situation, so we'll rush the ace a bit, but still keep the pitch count on him we'd have had him on if he were rehabbing" essentially moving the rehab start to the majors.

If they had a minor league starter who was nearly as good as the ace would be while rehabbing (probably discounting the ace more for rehabbing than would actually be justified) they'd bring him up instead, but your characterization suggests there is no such pitcher in your minors.

I've definitely seen cases here and there where injured players are rushed back (whether from rehab or just from the DL) due to something going wrong, such as the backup who was replacing him getting hurt himself or whatever.

[jac2598]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

So you think that a real team would do that?

Yes, if it was your situation - the game is *that* important. They, or I, would manage it to a tight pitch count and watch the stressful innings. If he's being stressed, that pitch count might go down.

[jbergey22]

Use whatever starter you have available. Call up a starter from triple A for the next game and send down one of your utility players or bullpen guys that were burnt from this game. You arent giving up on the next 4 if you dont use the other starting pitchers. Go get this game, dont give it up. I know they are just computer guys but win it for them You may not feel confident in any of the Triple A guys but they can surprise especially if you put a solid defense behind him.

Id also leave the plan alone with your starting pitcher that is coming back. IRL teams will follow the plan as ordered either because the doctor/trainer ordered it and possible liability issues. I cant re-call a time where a team ended a 3 rehab assignment early and especially since it must have been a major surgery(rotator cuff?).

I vote option D Bring in the next days starter, keep the rotation in tact, and call up a minor league pitcher to replace tomorrows starter.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Anyone

I think a real team would of course be hesitant, but would be likely to say, "It's an emergency situation, so we'll rush the ace a bit, but still keep the pitch count on him we'd have had him on if he were rehabbing" essentially moving the rehab start to the majors.

If they had a minor league starter who was nearly as good as the ace would be while rehabbing (probably discounting the ace more for rehabbing than would actually be justified) they'd bring him up instead, but your characterization suggests there is no such pitcher in your minors.

I've definitely seen cases here and there where injured players are rushed back (whether from rehab or just from the DL) due to something going wrong, such as the backup who was replacing him getting hurt himself or whatever.

Maybe a hitter coming off a muscle injury might be able to take a game off of a rehab assignment but a pitcher coming off a very serious surgery? I doubt any team would rush this pitcher back especially if he was under the age of 30.

[Number4]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Maybe a hitter coming off a muscle injury might be able to take a game off of a rehab assignment but a pitcher coming off a very serious surgery? I doubt any team would rush this pitcher back especially if he was under the age of 30.

The point is: What is rushing?
If he said himself "he needs 2 rehab starts", he wouldn't rush him. There is no medically related schedule in OOTP to rush someone as a risk from.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Number4

The point is: What is rushing?
If he said himself "he needs 2 rehab starts", he wouldn't rush him. There is no medically related schedule in OOTP to rush someone as a risk from.

This is what he said

My ace is due to make his 3rd and final rehab start in AAA after being out 14 months. He threw 50 pitches in his 1st rehab start then 75 in his 2nd. He may not be ready for return. Let's ignore game-mechanics here for a minute. The decision was made to give him 3 rehab starts. I'd like to stick to that for realism-sake. But would a real organization call him up early, if needed like this?

If he wants to keep it real he should let him do his 3 rehab starts as that is what a real world manager would always do in this case. If you dont care about "house rules" and all of that stuff sure bring the starter up tomorrow and have him throw 115 pitches.

Sounds like he plays a lot like me. I tend to keep pitchers under 100 pitches first start of the season even if they are pitching well and not tired due to the fact that this is what they do in real life. Game mechanics dont account for it but I like to keep things as real as possible. I rarely have any starter(tired or not) go over 110 pitches.

[Number4]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

This is what he said

My ace is due to make his 3rd and final rehab start in AAA after being out 14 months. He threw 50 pitches in his 1st rehab start then 75 in his 2nd. He may not be ready for return. Let's ignore game-mechanics here for a minute. The decision was made to give him 3 rehab starts. I'd like to stick to that for realism-sake. But would a real organization call him up early, if needed like this?

If he wants to keep it real he should let him do his 3 rehab starts as that is what a real world manager would always do in this case. If you dont care about "house rules" and all of that stuff sure bring the starter up tomorrow and have him throw 115 pitches.

For me, the absolutely medically neccesary rehab starts are abstracted in the time the player is "injured". If the player is "healthy", I assume that the medical staff has green lighted me to play the player in a MLB game if need arises. Real life managers do know when the medical staff needs those rehab starts and when not, and therefore could make the decision based on that.
I don't think it is as unlikely as some of you think that the pitcher would start in a ML game instead of his final rehab start. I expect the final rehab start to be "we think you're ready, but we want to see you once more in a controlled enviroment to make absolutely sure."
And in this case, the needs of the organisation fit perfectly with pulling him ahead of schedule. You'll lose very likely one of those games in a playoff race when you don't. And there's a chance that you either weaken your roster for the time being, start the clock on a AAA starter or both. So it is a calculated small risk, but every use of an asset is a risk. Never risking a starter means never letting him pitch.

BTW: What is the injury proneness of the ace? I'd be more careful with a fragile guy, while with a durable guy I wouldn't think twice.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by Number4

There is no medically related schedule in OOTP to rush someone as a risk from.

I role play as realistically as possible and maintain several house rules. I don't like to dig into game mechanics such as rust and min/max my decisions.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by Number4

BTW: What is the injury proneness of the ace? I'd be more careful with a fragile guy, while with a durable guy I wouldn't think twice.

I have that option turned off. I feel like it is cheating to have it on. But here is his injury history:

[Bunktown Ballers]

I would not demolished a entire rotation maybe 2 (minors) for 1 game in the standings. use a position player and sacrifice him instead of the whole staff. You might lose more games in the standings (in the long run) if you staff is decimated. Heck you might even pull off a win. Closer can go 2 before using position players

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by sxsnts9

i hope op lets us know what he decides on and what the outcome was.

[SxSnts9]

So you won in nine...even better. All this analyzing for naught lol.

[Honorable_Pawn]