Bullpen usage/configuration question/experiment

MrBungle · 10-28-2019, 10:45 PM

Has anybody played around with odd bullpen configurations? Like only one setup man , or no setup men, or heck even no closer?

I'm more or less just wondering how the game handles this if you deviate from the standard middleman/setup/closer routine. Would the game get out of whack? Or would the player usage get spread out evenly?

Not saying this would be practical, but maybe if you had a pretty evenly skilled bullpen and nobody stands out for certain roles.

Or for the fun of it all closers, or all specialists/stopper/long relief/setup/ etc

If something like this has already been discussed previously I apologize.

Magus978 · 10-28-2019, 11:00 PM

I've done no closers when I had no clear standout in the pen.

I don't think it went well. Can't remember.

Dogberry99 · 10-29-2019, 12:28 AM

I've found in 19 that having a closer, a stopper, and the rest middle relief will result in my closer having anywhere from 50% to 80% of the saves (based on their effectiveness), the stopper having the bulk of the remaining saves, and the middle relievers usually accumulating innings in accordance with their stamina. I have not analyzed usage in 20 in a similar manner, but it seems to be similar.

The_Savage_1 · 10-29-2019, 02:15 AM

I have had numerous configurations with no closer or no setup. Doesn't seem to make much difference. AI tends to favour who it views as the best pitcher to be the quasi-closer but it definitely gets shared around more than normal. I almost never use setup, just a bunch of middle relievers with my better ones set to stopper or high leverage and/or use more often.

justpatrick · 10-29-2019, 02:20 AM

I´ve been using a closer and then everyone else in middle relief. The closer gets by far the lion´s share of saves, and the converted starters with that high stamina are used in long relief, which is a no-brainer I guess.
The results have varied over the seasons, but this is based on the competition, quality of my pen, and good old luck.
Sometimes my pen is first, rarely last, and mostly something between.

Orcin · 10-29-2019, 09:21 AM

If you use both closer and stopper, the AI will generally choose the stopper first. If you also have a setup, the AI will often use the stopper if rested and the setup/closer combo if the stopper is tired. I find this works fairly well. Sometimes, the stopper won't finish, and the AI will then use the setup and/or closer effectively.

Among middle relief, the AI will just choose the one it likes the best as stated above. The designated long reliever will pitch most low-leverage situations.

bailey · 10-29-2019, 09:58 AM

It seemed to me in the last 2 weeks, that using a stopper (8 innings and close game) helped out my closer (Mariano Rivera 100) a lot. Only 1 blown save, but then only 27 saves each season, while the stopper got many saves. The problem seemed to me that the closer was used when the starter was effective through 8, otherwise the stopper got used even if the stopper was not fully rested resulting in the stopper blowing saves. So I started micro-ing the stopper to be a fully rested one (and benching the closer when not at least 90% rested), but who has time for that and small sample size makes conclusions impossible. That is why just now, I have suggested more pitching strategies for teams you do control (in response to the patch notes hiding pitching strategies for team you do not control).

Argonaut · 10-29-2019, 11:26 AM

I have 3 different bullpen configurations on my teams. It depends on my specific strategy for that team, and the players I have available.

For example, one team has:
- 1 RHP Closer, 5 RHP Middle Relievers, 1 LHP Specialist

This team has a pitcher that's a bit better than the others as CL, but the 5 MR's are all of similar skill so I don't see the point in classifying them as anything else.

If a guy in the pen has Stamina as a converted SP, I'll use him as a Stopper if he's good, or Long Relief if he's mediocre. 2 Stoppers can work nicely together, but not with a Closer as the latter won't get innings.

I never use the Setup role aside from maybe as a secondary role. Would rather stick a bunch of guys in Middle Relief, and if they're better or worse than each other use the "More/Less Often" and "Avoid High Leverage" options.

10-28-2019, 10:45 PM	#1
MrBungle Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 20	Bullpen usage/configuration question/experiment Has anybody played around with odd bullpen configurations? Like only one setup man , or no setup men, or heck even no closer? I'm more or less just wondering how the game handles this if you deviate from the standard middleman/setup/closer routine. Would the game get out of whack? Or would the player usage get spread out evenly? Not saying this would be practical, but maybe if you had a pretty evenly skilled bullpen and nobody stands out for certain roles. Or for the fun of it all closers, or all specialists/stopper/long relief/setup/ etc If something like this has already been discussed previously I apologize.

10-28-2019, 11:00 PM	#2
Magus978 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Behind you. BOO! Posts: 1,856	I've done no closers when I had no clear standout in the pen. I don't think it went well. Can't remember. __________________ OOTP Streamer Affiliate who is also your FINAL BOSS. http://twitch.tv/GanbaMagus

10-29-2019, 12:28 AM	#3
Dogberry99 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Posts: 1,328	I've found in 19 that having a closer, a stopper, and the rest middle relief will result in my closer having anywhere from 50% to 80% of the saves (based on their effectiveness), the stopper having the bulk of the remaining saves, and the middle relievers usually accumulating innings in accordance with their stamina. I have not analyzed usage in 20 in a similar manner, but it seems to be similar. __________________ "And, Masters, do not forget to specify, when time and place shall serve, that I am an [censored]." (Much Ado About Nothing 5.1.255-256) Primary Team Collection Rewards (Cards & Packs) F2P Theme Team Movers F2P Theme and Adam Schlesinger Memorial Team

10-29-2019, 02:20 AM	#5
justpatrick Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 305	I´ve been using a closer and then everyone else in middle relief. The closer gets by far the lion´s share of saves, and the converted starters with that high stamina are used in long relief, which is a no-brainer I guess. The results have varied over the seasons, but this is based on the competition, quality of my pen, and good old luck. Sometimes my pen is first, rarely last, and mostly something between. __________________

10-29-2019, 11:26 AM	#8
Argonaut All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 1,085	I have 3 different bullpen configurations on my teams. It depends on my specific strategy for that team, and the players I have available. For example, one team has: - 1 RHP Closer, 5 RHP Middle Relievers, 1 LHP Specialist This team has a pitcher that's a bit better than the others as CL, but the 5 MR's are all of similar skill so I don't see the point in classifying them as anything else. If a guy in the pen has Stamina as a converted SP, I'll use him as a Stopper if he's good, or Long Relief if he's mediocre. 2 Stoppers can work nicely together, but not with a Closer as the latter won't get innings. I never use the Setup role aside from maybe as a secondary role. Would rather stick a bunch of guys in Middle Relief, and if they're better or worse than each other use the "More/Less Often" and "Avoid High Leverage" options. __________________ Texas Rangers Dynasty (Est. 1972) Hartford Whalers Dynasty: Brass Bonanza

10-29-2019, 02:15 AM	#4
The_Savage_1 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Australia Posts: 152	I have had numerous configurations with no closer or no setup. Doesn't seem to make much difference. AI tends to favour who it views as the best pitcher to be the quasi-closer but it definitely gets shared around more than normal. I almost never use setup, just a bunch of middle relievers with my better ones set to stopper or high leverage and/or use more often.

10-29-2019, 09:21 AM	#6
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,798	If you use both closer and stopper, the AI will generally choose the stopper first. If you also have a setup, the AI will often use the stopper if rested and the setup/closer combo if the stopper is tired. I find this works fairly well. Sometimes, the stopper won't finish, and the AI will then use the setup and/or closer effectively. Among middle relief, the AI will just choose the one it likes the best as stated above. The designated long reliever will pitch most low-leverage situations.

10-29-2019, 09:58 AM	#7
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,127	It seemed to me in the last 2 weeks, that using a stopper (8 innings and close game) helped out my closer (Mariano Rivera 100) a lot. Only 1 blown save, but then only 27 saves each season, while the stopper got many saves. The problem seemed to me that the closer was used when the starter was effective through 8, otherwise the stopper got used even if the stopper was not fully rested resulting in the stopper blowing saves. So I started micro-ing the stopper to be a fully rested one (and benching the closer when not at least 90% rested), but who has time for that and small sample size makes conclusions impossible. That is why just now, I have suggested more pitching strategies for teams you do control (in response to the patch notes hiding pitching strategies for team you do not control).