A few questions on pitchers..

Hertston · 10-17-2019, 11:23 AM

Hi folks. Could anyone possibly help me on these?

1. What is the difference in-game between setting a pitcher's position as a closer, or as a reliever? Am I right in assuming it's just a convenient label to use once you have assigned a role based on their stats, with no effect on them itself?

2. What's the difference between primary roles of 'stopper' and 'setup'? I've looked this up, but it seems the former is just a largely historical synonym of the latter(?) Is there any difference in-game?

3. As a result of my whole team being pre-1950, I have no closers or relievers to worry about, the one or two I've spotted being low value cards, and all my pitchers are 'officially' starters. Is my observation correct that while the stamina remains unchanged with change of role, the boost in stuff is compensated for by pitchers tiring more quickly?

4. Not of direct relevance to me, but why is the stamina of most/all identified relievers so nerfed compared to starters? If my assumption in '3' is correct, why is this necessary? Surely this just prohibits movement of even established bullpen pitchers to starters, when in RL this would happen on occasion? Forgive any cross-Pond ignorance, here.

5. I appreciate this is a difficult one... what factors does the AI 'manager' consider and what algorithms (in simple terms) does it use in choosing and pulling pitchers?

Many thanks.

dancariaz · 10-17-2019, 12:08 PM

Stoppers (also called firemen) usually come in when multiple runners are already on base and the score is close, both leading and trailing.

David Robertson in his 2nd stint with the Yankees would be the perfect stopper example.

Matt Arnold · 10-17-2019, 12:32 PM

1. Correct, no difference. Convenient for you to look at if you like, but doesn't matter.
2. Stopper as mentioned is more like the fireman. They're more like a multi-inning closer than a setup man. Generally speaking, if you bring in a stopper (or a closer), they're there until their arm falls off or they blow it.
3. Correct. A Starter can go 100-120 or more pitches, but with lower stuff, whereas anyone coming in relief will tire much sooner. Of note, it's the role they enter as, not what they are set as.
4. Mostly it's to prevent relievers from being able to start. In perfect team, since we only tend to take a one-year snapshot of a player, their stamina is just based on how they were used that year
5. Obviously too many to list

But simply, pitchers will be pulled when they get tired, or if they are very ineffective, or if it's time to bring in a "better" pitcher (ie.maybe you bring in a LOOGY to get a lefty out, or it's time for your setup/stopper/closer). Long relievers tend to come in either early in the game (if your starter left for some reason), or if the game is out of reach.

And between everything, there's a ton of logic and decision making. For example, starters working on a shutout will tend to "push" themselves a little more to finish off the game. And obviously your strategy settings will come into play - if you are set to "favor L/R" matchups, then you're going to be more likely to swap out pitchers to get a platoon edge.

Best of luck!

bailey · 10-17-2019, 01:10 PM

You can do quite well with a 4-man starting rotation, limiting them to 50 pitches and playing with a red-lined bullpen like this:

10-17-2019, 11:23 AM	#1
Hertston Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 327	A few questions on pitchers.. Hi folks. Could anyone possibly help me on these? 1. What is the difference in-game between setting a pitcher's position as a closer, or as a reliever? Am I right in assuming it's just a convenient label to use once you have assigned a role based on their stats, with no effect on them itself? 2. What's the difference between primary roles of 'stopper' and 'setup'? I've looked this up, but it seems the former is just a largely historical synonym of the latter(?) Is there any difference in-game? 3. As a result of my whole team being pre-1950, I have no closers or relievers to worry about, the one or two I've spotted being low value cards, and all my pitchers are 'officially' starters. Is my observation correct that while the stamina remains unchanged with change of role, the boost in stuff is compensated for by pitchers tiring more quickly? 4. Not of direct relevance to me, but why is the stamina of most/all identified relievers so nerfed compared to starters? If my assumption in '3' is correct, why is this necessary? Surely this just prohibits movement of even established bullpen pitchers to starters, when in RL this would happen on occasion? Forgive any cross-Pond ignorance, here. 5. I appreciate this is a difficult one... what factors does the AI 'manager' consider and what algorithms (in simple terms) does it use in choosing and pulling pitchers? Many thanks. __________________ Ballymahon Bassets (FTP) Last edited by Hertston; 10-17-2019 at 11:34 AM.

10-17-2019, 12:08 PM	#2
dancariaz Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 234	Stoppers (also called firemen) usually come in when multiple runners are already on base and the score is close, both leading and trailing. David Robertson in his 2nd stint with the Yankees would be the perfect stopper example. __________________ F2P Team

10-17-2019, 01:10 PM	#4
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,127	You can do quite well with a 4-man starting rotation, limiting them to 50 pitches and playing with a red-lined bullpen like this: Attached Images

10-17-2019, 12:32 PM	#3
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 14,117	1. Correct, no difference. Convenient for you to look at if you like, but doesn't matter. 2. Stopper as mentioned is more like the fireman. They're more like a multi-inning closer than a setup man. Generally speaking, if you bring in a stopper (or a closer), they're there until their arm falls off or they blow it. 3. Correct. A Starter can go 100-120 or more pitches, but with lower stuff, whereas anyone coming in relief will tire much sooner. Of note, it's the role they enter as, not what they are set as. 4. Mostly it's to prevent relievers from being able to start. In perfect team, since we only tend to take a one-year snapshot of a player, their stamina is just based on how they were used that year 5. Obviously too many to list But simply, pitchers will be pulled when they get tired, or if they are very ineffective, or if it's time to bring in a "better" pitcher (ie.maybe you bring in a LOOGY to get a lefty out, or it's time for your setup/stopper/closer). Long relievers tend to come in either early in the game (if your starter left for some reason), or if the game is out of reach. And between everything, there's a ton of logic and decision making. For example, starters working on a shutout will tend to "push" themselves a little more to finish off the game. And obviously your strategy settings will come into play - if you are set to "favor L/R" matchups, then you're going to be more likely to swap out pitchers to get a platoon edge. Best of luck!