Garcia's Blog 2/18/16- Relievers

[JohnG]

Hey guys,

The 2015 set is still probably two weeks away. I am hoping to have a list of Unleashed players next week (at least for hitters, pitchers might be a little longer).

There have been a few questions recently about relief usage and it reminded me of a blog I wrote last year about a situation where Eric Gagne was brought in at F0 in a Championship Game. I thought it would be worthwhile to re-post so I've pasted it below.

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Valen wrote in about an interesting thread here. In Game 6 of the Finals in this league, the computer manager decided to bring in Eric Gagne, which sounds fine until he starts at F0 fatigue rating since he's pitched in the last 3 games. Unfortunately for that team, Gagne ended up blowing the lead and costing the team the Championship.

First, why did Gagne come in when he was tired? In most circumstances, the computer manager would never turn to a pitcher to be used in a 4th consecutive game. However I think it's important to illustrate the reasons why he was here. Here's a link to the play-by-play for the game. John Curtis started the game and left with his team down 4-2 in the 6th, a runner on 3rd and one out. With left-handed Billy Hamilton coming up, Billy McCool was brought in. He hit Hamilton, and with Quick Hook/Avoid Righties checked was taken out in favor of Mark Littell to face Kiki Cuyler. Littell got the double play to get out of the inning.

The team scores 3 in the bottom half of the inning so they go up 6-5 heading into the 7th. Gagne was designated as the set-up man and as he would enter fatigued, he gets passed over and the computer manager stays with Littell to face Hornsby, who strikes out. Rod Carew comes up, and with Littell checked to avoid LHP he gets removed and is replaced with Dennis Bennett. He retires Carew but then a right-hander is scheduled to bat. At this point, the bullpen is down to Gagne and Mike Madden (set to avoid RH, Avoid <8th, Quick Hook, and Max 1-2 IP). The remaining 3 starter/relievers (Walter Johnson-started Game 5, Atley Donald-started Game 4, and Johnny Klippstein-scheduled to start Game 7) were not going to be used. With the limited relievers left, Bennett stays in to face Pudge Rodriguez and gives up a game-tying homer before ending the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, Bennett is pinch-hit for but the team scores 5 runs in the inning, giving them a 10-5 lead. With the computer manager trying to avoid going to Gagne, Mike Madden is called in to pitch the 8th. He gives up 2 un-earned runs but the team still has a 3-run lead going into the 9th. Now, Madden is removed because the Max 1-2 IP box is checked and although Gagne would normally be avoided here, he is the last pitcher 'available' and is set as the closer. Gagne entered at F0 and the normally dominant closer gave up 6 runs and lost the game. If Madden did not have that option checked, he would not have been taken out. The MAX 1-2 IP box for relievers will remove the pitcher when starting an inning having pitched a full inning already, as was the case with Madden. Similarly, the MAX 2-3 IP box will remove a pitcher starting an inning who has already pitched at least 2 IP.

Now we know why Gagne was brought in at all in Game 6. In this thread, a interesting idea was brought up wondering if Gagne was forced to sit out Game 5 (possibly 'sacrificing' that game) would he be fully rested for Games 6 and 7? In order to have forced out Gagne, bullpen roles would have needed to have been set for the other pitchers while leaving Gagne out there. I would then have entered Avoid RHP and Avoid <8th to stop the computer manager from using him when a bullpen role didn't specify. Now this may not have totally prevented the computer manager from using him, Gagne is the best pitcher on the team! Unfortunately there is no option to pretend this pitcher isn't on the roster so if no other pitcher fit the situation and the computer manager decided Gagne was the best option, he may have come in anyway.

If you had successfully kept Gagne out of Game 5, then yes, he would have been fully rested for Game 6 and Game 7. I don't think I would have done it in this team's case (they were down 3-1 in the series going into Game 5), but if I was ahead in the series it's certainly something that seems to have merit. Up 3-1, if Gagne pitches but the team loses, I won't have him available for Game 6 unless he is forced to come in at F0 like the situation above. If he does come in Game 6 and I lose again, he's useless for Game 7. If he rests Game 5, he pitches in Game 6 at full strength and can come back in Game 7 if necessary. Of course, the rest of the bullpen could blow Game 5 without Gagne and if you get blown out Game 6 and 7 early, Gagne is never used but that's the chance you would be taking.

In playoff games like this, it's important to go in and adjust settings when you want to avoid using a pitcher. If you have settings that restrict usage on other relievers, the computer manager may be forced to use a pitcher you did not want to use. When adjusting settings, also check to make sure you don't have conflicting settings. For example if you're closer usage is set to maximize but your closer is also listed in other bullpen roles such as set-up or tied and 7th+, those settings are conflicting and the bullpen might not play out as you're hoping for.

Last thing I have for today is that we'll be performing a maintenance upgrade starting at 1:30am ET after tonight's games are played. Both Strat-O-Matic.com and Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 will be inaccessible during this period. Please plan accordingly.

That's all I have for today, please e-mail us if you have any questions to 365support@strat-o-matic.com. Talk to everyone next week!

-John