Can we talk about bullpen management?

matt2053 · 04-03-2017, 09:39 AM

If you've ever been in an online league, especially one with real time sim, I'm sure you know how frustrating it can be to watch the AI trot out your worst middle reliever to start his third inning of relief in a tie game in the 8th inning, while your stud high-leverage guy, your setup guy, and your closer all sit watching from the bench.

What can be done about this? I've tried endless tweaking of settings to get something approaching mildly realistic bullpen management from the AI, but it just seems impossible.

I think maybe what happens is the guy just has a low pitch count and isn't tired. But in reality an MLB manager would not leave a reliever in for more than two innings unless it's a blowout. Typically guys pitch in one inning chunks. Sometimes they might go two innings. I wonder if this behavior can be added into the AI decision making.

If not I'd like to be able to set INNING LIMITS for relievers, similar to pitch count limits. I don't want my MR going more than an inning, two innings if needed.

Anyone · 04-07-2017, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt2053

If you've ever been in an online league, especially one with real time sim, I'm sure you know how frustrating it can be to watch the AI trot out your worst middle reliever to start his third inning of relief in a tie game in the 8th inning, while your stud high-leverage guy, your setup guy, and your closer all sit watching from the bench.

What can be done about this? I've tried endless tweaking of settings to get something approaching mildly realistic bullpen management from the AI, but it just seems impossible.

I think maybe what happens is the guy just has a low pitch count and isn't tired. But in reality an MLB manager would not leave a reliever in for more than two innings unless it's a blowout. Typically guys pitch in one inning chunks. Sometimes they might go two innings. I wonder if this behavior can be added into the AI decision making.

If not I'd like to be able to set INNING LIMITS for relievers, similar to pitch count limits. I don't want my MR going more than an inning, two innings if needed.

I can understand why you'd want this, as a way to simulate real, modern baseball and how managers actually think.

But it's hard to fault the AI here. The computer looks at it logically, and the only reasons to remove a pitcher who's pitching effectively are the pitch count (or fatigue, which is related), to gain a platoon advantage, or (in a non-DH league) for a pinch hitter.

But you are kind of asking for an extra layer, for the computer to do something illogical (remove a pitcher because he's pitched two innings or whatever, even if none of the above reasons apply), where the AI my be looking more purely logically.

RchW · 04-07-2017, 08:28 AM

It goes further than what you say. The AI routinely ignores clearly better relievers and their chosen roles for poor ones with poor stats. It's not just OL leagues with this problem, any league where you sim instead of playing out games

matt2053 · 04-08-2017, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

IIt's not just OL leagues with this problem

You're right, I just feel like it's going to be more noticeable when you're watching live sims, but I guess that's possible in single player as well.

But yea either way, it's frustrating. It's probably the single most frustrating thing the whole game for me.

04-03-2017, 09:39 AM	#1
matt2053 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 55	Can we talk about bullpen management? If you've ever been in an online league, especially one with real time sim, I'm sure you know how frustrating it can be to watch the AI trot out your worst middle reliever to start his third inning of relief in a tie game in the 8th inning, while your stud high-leverage guy, your setup guy, and your closer all sit watching from the bench. What can be done about this? I've tried endless tweaking of settings to get something approaching mildly realistic bullpen management from the AI, but it just seems impossible. I think maybe what happens is the guy just has a low pitch count and isn't tired. But in reality an MLB manager would not leave a reliever in for more than two innings unless it's a blowout. Typically guys pitch in one inning chunks. Sometimes they might go two innings. I wonder if this behavior can be added into the AI decision making. If not I'd like to be able to set INNING LIMITS for relievers, similar to pitch count limits. I don't want my MR going more than an inning, two innings if needed.

04-07-2017, 08:28 AM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The big smoke Posts: 15,628	It goes further than what you say. The AI routinely ignores clearly better relievers and their chosen roles for poor ones with poor stats. It's not just OL leagues with this problem, any league where you sim instead of playing out games __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit Last edited by RchW; 04-08-2017 at 09:13 PM.