Pitcher bunting strategy

[Mike Lowe]

Maybe it's because it's Spring Training, but I keep seeing my relief pitchers bunting in like the 5th inning. I'm wondering if this is because I have my sac bunt setting SUPER lower until the 9th, but am hopeful that the game knows this shouldn't apply to pitchers.

It also might be because I have my pinch hit setting super low that early in the game too, but again...shouldn't the game differentiate between batters and pitchers beyond that setting?

[Papa3]

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Maybe it's because it's Spring Training, but I keep seeing my relief pitchers bunting in like the 5th inning. I'm wondering if this is because I have my sac bunt setting SUPER lower until the 9th, but am hopeful that the game knows this shouldn't apply to pitchers.

It also might be because I have my pinch hit setting super low that early in the game too, but again...shouldn't the game differentiate between batters and pitchers beyond that setting?

There are two separate pinch hit sliders right next to each other in the Strategy screen. One of them is "Pinch-Hit for Position Players" and the other is "Pinch-Hit for Pitchers". Sounds like you'll want to slide the pitchers one up so they're pinch hitting more frequently.

Without adjusting the sliders, I've noticed during the regular season that pitchers will almost always sac bunt with runners on (2nd and/or 3rd base open) but relievers are also typically pinch hit for unless they had to come in the game pretty early for a starter. Again I recommend you adjust the pinch hit slider up for pitchers. Whereas pitchers almost alwaysnsac bunt, position players almost [I]never[/I ]sac bunt.

With default settings, spring training player usage is much different than the regular season. I'd recommend allowing more substitutions anyways so more players can get in shape, more guys have a chance to develop, and your key guys have less of a risk of getting injured before the season starts.

[BIG17EASY]

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Maybe it's because it's Spring Training, but I keep seeing my relief pitchers bunting in like the 5th inning. I'm wondering if this is because I have my sac bunt setting SUPER lower until the 9th, but am hopeful that the game knows this shouldn't apply to pitchers.

It also might be because I have my pinch hit setting super low that early in the game too, but again...shouldn't the game differentiate between batters and pitchers beyond that setting?

I'm a little confused by what you're saying. Are you asking why the relief pitchers aren't being pinch hit for? Or are you saying that you don't want your relief pitchers to bunt?

I use the individual player strategy screen to set my pitchers to bunt as often as possible, and lower their base running aggressiveness and steal frequency. On that screen, there's a checkbox to override team strategy settings, so that way even if I have team sac bunt frequency really low in the third inning, my pitcher will still bunt when it's appropriate. You may be able to use that screen to get the proper strategy that you're looking for.

[RchW]

With exception of a ST 15 inning game, I've never seen a pitcher bunt in ST. I'm sure it may have happened once or twice. In a ST game by the 5th inning relief pitchers should be getting pinch hit each turn around the order.

FWIW bunt strategy settings do in fact target pitchers. Having non-pitchers bunt is a bad play in most base/out states.