Pitcher Not being Used By Manager

Larryk007 · 08-23-2024, 01:14 PM

I have an MLB relief pitcher that has only been used 5 games all season, and we are in mid-July (1990 sim). I just noticed it. His last game was June 9th, over a month ago. Anything to this? Is he just not needed with a good starting pitcher team (Atlanta)? Besides playing manually, any way to get him some time in relief (i.e. force him in)?

Brad K · 08-23-2024, 01:46 PM

Instead of viewing this as a problem to be corrected, perhaps view it as an opportunity to get rid of a RP and add a position player.

Syd Thrift · 08-23-2024, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryk007

I have an MLB relief pitcher that has only been used 5 games all season, and we are in mid-July (1990 sim). I just noticed it. His last game was June 9th, over a month ago. Anything to this? Is he just not needed with a good starting pitcher team (Atlanta)? Besides playing manually, any way to get him some time in relief (i.e. force him in)?

How many pitchers are you carrying? If you're carrying a modern-day 13 man staff, for example, that might be a huge part of why: 1990 has I think 11 man staffs - 6 man bullpens - set as the default and the AI manager is unlikely to dip further down into that staff than the 6th person (which might not even be the long reliever, exactly: if you have, say, a closer, a setup man, a long reliever, and 5 middle relievers, the 5th best MR might be the one who's never used).

Rain King · 08-23-2024, 01:59 PM

We could probably provide better feedback if we see your full pitching staff and their roles.

Brad K · 08-23-2024, 02:09 PM

Guys, you're over thinking this.

The essence of the question is "How do I get the computer manager to use my worst pitcher more often?":

The answer to that is "You don't want to."

Larryk007 · 08-23-2024, 02:50 PM

OK, I had a 12 pitcher staff and I just reduced to 11, so that maybe the trick!

Pelican · 08-24-2024, 10:12 AM

Bring somewhat obsessive about stuff like this, I assign roles for the various RP, and of course set a rotation. It's pretty straightforward to use the dropdown menu and choose "use more often" for this guy. Unless, as others have noted, he is a marginal guy who should be at AAA. Or AA.

Larryk007 · 08-24-2024, 08:27 PM

Since I play all teams and use my managers to set the pitching staff it's too much to change each pitcher and then change each time there is a roster move. I don't think there is a way to have the manager "use more often" unless I change the manager's characteristics, and then it's limited to use bullpen more often (quick hook).

Brad K · 08-24-2024, 09:48 PM

Why would you want to manually assign pitchers? Didn't cutting the size of the staff give your problem player plenty of playing time in AAA? Or did you not cut the staff size? If not, why not?

Larryk007 · 08-25-2024, 01:25 PM

Perhaps I was not clear, but the manager assigns the roles automatically when requested which I do after a roster change. If I manually assign the role then the manager overrides the manager, the next roster change.

I think I was trying to find out why he was not used, and besides the role change was there a way to have the pitcher appear more. Changing to an eleven-pitcher roster hopefully will use him more and reduce the burden on the rest of the pitching staff. But again, this Atlanta team sim has a very strong and 1990 style stamina to keep relief pitchers sitting in the bullpen.

Brad K · 08-25-2024, 03:33 PM

Quote:

I think I was trying to find out why he was not used,

He's not being used because the computer manager thinks that with 100% rest he's not as good as the other RPs even when they're a bit tired.

Quote:

Changing to an eleven-pitcher roster hopefully will use him more

That might get him more playing time. If not you could switch to a ten man staff and see what that does. Or edit the schedule for more double headers. Maybe they'd give him a start now and then! Or trade him to a bad team where he'd have a chance to be the closer.

There are lots of possibilities here.

Larryk007 · 08-26-2024, 01:07 PM

The other thing is he will be ready when needed. I don't think this game has "rust" or something like that which would need to be used to be effective.

Brad K · 08-26-2024, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryk007

The other thing is he will be ready when needed.

How ready does he have to be to pitch the last two innings of a 12-3 game?

08-23-2024, 01:14 PM	#1
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 554	Pitcher Not being Used By Manager I have an MLB relief pitcher that has only been used 5 games all season, and we are in mid-July (1990 sim). I just noticed it. His last game was June 9th, over a month ago. Anything to this? Is he just not needed with a good starting pitcher team (Atlanta)? Besides playing manually, any way to get him some time in relief (i.e. force him in)? Attached Images

08-24-2024, 10:12 AM	#7
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,175	Bring somewhat obsessive about stuff like this, I assign roles for the various RP, and of course set a rotation. It's pretty straightforward to use the dropdown menu and choose "use more often" for this guy. Unless, as others have noted, he is a marginal guy who should be at AAA. Or AA. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”

08-23-2024, 01:46 PM	#2
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	Instead of viewing this as a problem to be corrected, perhaps view it as an opportunity to get rid of a RP and add a position player.

08-23-2024, 01:59 PM	#4
Rain King Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,323	We could probably provide better feedback if we see your full pitching staff and their roles.

08-23-2024, 02:09 PM	#5
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	Guys, you're over thinking this. The essence of the question is "How do I get the computer manager to use my worst pitcher more often?": The answer to that is "You don't want to."

08-23-2024, 02:50 PM	#6
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 554	OK, I had a 12 pitcher staff and I just reduced to 11, so that maybe the trick!

08-24-2024, 08:27 PM	#8
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 554	Since I play all teams and use my managers to set the pitching staff it's too much to change each pitcher and then change each time there is a roster move. I don't think there is a way to have the manager "use more often" unless I change the manager's characteristics, and then it's limited to use bullpen more often (quick hook).

08-24-2024, 09:48 PM	#9
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	Why would you want to manually assign pitchers? Didn't cutting the size of the staff give your problem player plenty of playing time in AAA? Or did you not cut the staff size? If not, why not?

08-25-2024, 01:25 PM	#10
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 554	Perhaps I was not clear, but the manager assigns the roles automatically when requested which I do after a roster change. If I manually assign the role then the manager overrides the manager, the next roster change. I think I was trying to find out why he was not used, and besides the role change was there a way to have the pitcher appear more. Changing to an eleven-pitcher roster hopefully will use him more and reduce the burden on the rest of the pitching staff. But again, this Atlanta team sim has a very strong and 1990 style stamina to keep relief pitchers sitting in the bullpen.

08-26-2024, 01:07 PM	#12
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 554	The other thing is he will be ready when needed. I don't think this game has "rust" or something like that which would need to be used to be effective.