Spring Training Strategy?

wallewalls · 03-31-2017, 07:50 PM

So this is the first game that I've actually paid attention to Spring Training, going start by start and looking at how my pitchers do, but it seems like every year my starters get ripped in spring training, and idk if that has an effect going into the season. What I've been doing is starting with a pitch count of 50 then bumping it up to 65, 75, 85 but they rarely get to those limits, and instead usually pitch 4 innings which is what I want them to do anyways, but my point is that they always get drilled in spring training and im talking ERA's usually over 5 for the majority of my starters, and I just wanna know basically is there any sort of strategy/tips that are best to use in Spring Training and also if a player has a terrible spring, does that effect them going into the season?

Thanks in advance

Bristolduke · 03-31-2017, 08:03 PM

The game knows about pitch limits so I don't focus there. I set ST as a 6 man rotation strict order. I then leave all relief settings to not specified. The AI will better distribute innings this way.

ERAs tend to be a bit higher, but I don't worry about them. You are trying to work out the off season rust. It may be that your pitchers are pitching tired if you leave the regular season settings on or it could be normal.

wallewalls · 03-31-2017, 08:26 PM

Forgot to mention, I also set a 6 man rotation. My relievers tend to have good springs, but my starters are always terrible. Thanks for the response though

wallewalls · 03-31-2017, 08:36 PM

Also it's frustrating because if I'm having a competition for the #5 spot in the rotation, it's hard to tell who stands out, also same goes for relievers

TuckerDuckson · 03-31-2017, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallewalls

Also it's frustrating because if I'm having a competition for the #5 spot in the rotation, it's hard to tell who stands out, also same goes for relievers

If you're having two pitchers compete for the #5 start have them go as the #1 and #2 guys, with the better rated guy going first, so they have the most starts. If you are going for a bullpen competition, set to use more often and/or use in high leverage to see who can stick and who cant.

pgjocki · 04-01-2017, 12:56 AM

Don't look at ERA, instead compare WHIP, BABIP, K/9, and BB/9

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

'94 EXPOS · 04-01-2017, 10:17 AM

I take it one step further and use a 7 man rotation. I set the six man strict rotation and shuffle in/out the 7th starter. I take the most fatigued pitcher out of the rotation and change his role to Emergency starter...then I shuffle that guy back in and pull out the next starter...and so on.

I am obsessed with avoiding spring training injuries lol!

Cinnamon J. Scudworth · 04-01-2017, 10:25 AM

In general, especially for pitchers, spring training isn't long enough to give you an accurate picture of their potential. 10-15 innings is just too small of a sample size. So I almost completely ignore ST stats. Usually I only have a handful of guys who are on the bubble to stay on the active roster and I go by ratings and past performance, with ST stats just a bonus/tie breaking factor.

RchW · 04-01-2017, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallewalls

Also it's frustrating because if I'm having a competition for the #5 spot in the rotation, it's hard to tell who stands out, also same goes for relievers

All things being equal or just close, you should look at who is out of options. Real life teams consider all players as assets and are reluctant to put players on waivers unless they have to. Bottom line is that it's not always the best performer who makes the 25 man especially players with ML contracts who can refuse assignments.

wallewalls · 04-01-2017, 01:12 PM

Thanks for all the replies, but is it normal for your main starters to be terrible in spring training? Im talking about my top 3 starters who have overalls from 60-75 on the 80 scale and they just keep getting shelled. Does that have any lasting effect going into the regular season?

BlueSkull · 04-01-2017, 01:23 PM

One other thing that could be happening is that if poor fielders, players learning new positions, catchers with low ability, etc. are getting a lot of playing time for you in spring training, then pitcher performance will also suffer over and above their "rust". As has been pointed out, it's small sample size, otherwise I'd also say compare to their FIPs.

Willie McCubby · 04-01-2017, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallewalls

Thanks for all the replies, but is it normal for your main starters to be terrible in spring training? Im talking about my top 3 starters who have overalls from 60-75 on the 80 scale and they just keep getting shelled. Does that have any lasting effect going into the regular season?

I don't find a strong correlation between spring training and regular season stats, whether it is SPs, RPs, or position players. It is one of the features of the game that OOTP does exceptionally well - the 6-man rotation, the late innings subs, etc. is very realistic.

The important thing is that players get playing time, shake off the rust. I would be surprised if the spring stats figure into AI player evaluation. Do they?

04-01-2017, 12:56 AM	#6
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,483	Don't look at ERA, instead compare WHIP, BABIP, K/9, and BB/9 Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

04-01-2017, 10:25 AM	#8
Cinnamon J. Scudworth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,119	In general, especially for pitchers, spring training isn't long enough to give you an accurate picture of their potential. 10-15 innings is just too small of a sample size. So I almost completely ignore ST stats. Usually I only have a handful of guys who are on the bubble to stay on the active roster and I go by ratings and past performance, with ST stats just a bonus/tie breaking factor. __________________ "Sometimes, this is like going to a grocery store. You’ve got a list until you get to the check-out stand. And then you start reading People magazine, and all this other [stuff] ends up in the basket." -Sandy Alderson on the MLB offseason

03-31-2017, 07:50 PM	#1
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Spring Training Strategy? So this is the first game that I've actually paid attention to Spring Training, going start by start and looking at how my pitchers do, but it seems like every year my starters get ripped in spring training, and idk if that has an effect going into the season. What I've been doing is starting with a pitch count of 50 then bumping it up to 65, 75, 85 but they rarely get to those limits, and instead usually pitch 4 innings which is what I want them to do anyways, but my point is that they always get drilled in spring training and im talking ERA's usually over 5 for the majority of my starters, and I just wanna know basically is there any sort of strategy/tips that are best to use in Spring Training and also if a player has a terrible spring, does that effect them going into the season? Thanks in advance

03-31-2017, 08:03 PM	#2
Bristolduke All Star Starter Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,404	The game knows about pitch limits so I don't focus there. I set ST as a 6 man rotation strict order. I then leave all relief settings to not specified. The AI will better distribute innings this way. ERAs tend to be a bit higher, but I don't worry about them. You are trying to work out the off season rust. It may be that your pitchers are pitching tired if you leave the regular season settings on or it could be normal. __________________ Commish of the Home Nations Baseball Association Commish of the Baseball Association League Commish of the League of WAR Commish of the On-Line Dynasty League SIMBL2 - Westbury Cannons Great Lakes Baseball - Toledo Neptunes World Baseball - Guantanamo Marines OMLB - Cincinnati Reds

03-31-2017, 08:26 PM	#3
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Forgot to mention, I also set a 6 man rotation. My relievers tend to have good springs, but my starters are always terrible. Thanks for the response though

03-31-2017, 08:36 PM	#4
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Also it's frustrating because if I'm having a competition for the #5 spot in the rotation, it's hard to tell who stands out, also same goes for relievers

04-01-2017, 10:17 AM	#7
'94 EXPOS Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 311	I take it one step further and use a 7 man rotation. I set the six man strict rotation and shuffle in/out the 7th starter. I take the most fatigued pitcher out of the rotation and change his role to Emergency starter...then I shuffle that guy back in and pull out the next starter...and so on. I am obsessed with avoiding spring training injuries lol!

04-01-2017, 01:12 PM	#10
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Thanks for all the replies, but is it normal for your main starters to be terrible in spring training? Im talking about my top 3 starters who have overalls from 60-75 on the 80 scale and they just keep getting shelled. Does that have any lasting effect going into the regular season?

04-01-2017, 01:23 PM	#11
BlueSkull Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: New York, NY Posts: 81 Blog Entries: 1	One other thing that could be happening is that if poor fielders, players learning new positions, catchers with low ability, etc. are getting a lot of playing time for you in spring training, then pitcher performance will also suffer over and above their "rust". As has been pointed out, it's small sample size, otherwise I'd also say compare to their FIPs.