Bullpen woes

[LowerWolf]

This seems to be an issue for me every year on The Show:

My starting pitching dominates. Doesn't matter if it's my ace or my fifth starter. The CPU is all but helpless. Then I bring in Kimbrel - 96 overall, 99 strikeout rated Kimbrel - and suddenly the CPU is near impossible to get out.

Just played the Brewers. I'm up 2-0 in the 9th. Beachy is cruising. Then he gives up a one-out triple, so I bring in Kimbrel. I get two strikes on Ramirez, but he fouls off a bunch of pitches before singling to right. I get two strikes on Braun, but he fouls off a bunch of pitches before doubling to right. I strike out LeCroy, but then Gomez fouls off a bunch of two-strike pitches before singling to left to drive in the tieing and winning runs.

I realize Kimbrel is going to blow a save from time to time, but it just seems to happen to me a bit too often, especially when my starter dominates for eight innings.

It should be fun bringing in the best reliever in the game to shut the door, but I almost hate using him now.

[braves_94]

Re: Bullpen woes

I play on HOF, and in my franchise Kimbrel is darn near 18 K/9. I'm thinking the other way around, his K/9 rate may be too inflated. I could throw a meat pitch and still get it past hitters, lol. Jonny Venters now, he's always an adventure for me. Still don't know how to use him. But with power arms like Walden, Shae Simmons, Juan Jamie and David Carpenter in the bullpen, Venters has taken on the lefty specialist role for me. Which tend to limit the damage. Though his pitches are more suitable to get righties out.

[LowerWolf]

Re: Bullpen woes

Maybe that's my problem with Kimbrel, I nibble too much.

I struggle with Venters at times, too. I tend to dominate with Walden though, go figure.

[decga]

Re: Bullpen woes

@Lowerwolf, Do you have the knuckle curve as one his pitches? I have blown some saves using Kimbrel. I try not fall in love in with the heat pitches. Its hard not to do, 97-99 mph, "the fire breathing symbol".

[KBLover]

Re: Bullpen woes

Maybe that's my problem with Kimbrel, I nibble too much.

I struggle with Venters at times, too. I tend to dominate with Walden though, go figure.

Nate Jones is no Kimbrel, but when I used him in MLB13, I never nibbled. I max effort up in the zone most of the time.

Mix in a LITTLE off-speed (don't want to speed up the bat too much), but if his fastball has high "confidence" then I'm riding it. Up in the zone sometimes out of the zone, if he has a 2-seamer too, I'll use that and play with eye levels.

Just a matter of hoping he doesn't make a mistake pitch - and then that's where that K/9 comes in handy (or should).

[LowerWolf]

Re: Bullpen woes

He's got the four-seamer, knuckle-curve and two-seamer. I usually rely on the four-seamer and curve. With two strikes, I usually try to get the cpu to chase either the curve down low or the four-seamer up high. When they start taking/fouling those off, I'll try to bust a two-seamer in.

[decga]

Re: Bullpen woes

He's got the four-seamer, knuckle-curve and two-seamer. I usually rely on the four-seamer and curve. With two strikes, I usually try to get the cpu to chase either the curve down low or the four-seamer up high. When they start taking/fouling those off, I'll try to bust a two-seamer in.

You don't have his slider in his arsenal? You got use the slider for Kimbrel to help put the "K" in Kimbrel. LOL

[LowerWolf]

Re: Bullpen woes

I'm using the default roster, so no slider.

I relied a little more on the fastball in a game last night. Result: K, grounder to second, K for the save.

[Candymandagreat]

Re: Bullpen woes

This seems to be an issue for me every year on The Show:

My starting pitching dominates. Doesn't matter if it's my ace or my fifth starter. The CPU is all but helpless. Then I bring in Kimbrel - 96 overall, 99 strikeout rated Kimbrel - and suddenly the CPU is near impossible to get out.

Just played the Brewers. I'm up 2-0 in the 9th. Beachy is cruising. Then he gives up a one-out triple, so I bring in Kimbrel. I get two strikes on Ramirez, but he fouls off a bunch of pitches before singling to right. I get two strikes on Braun, but he fouls off a bunch of pitches before doubling to right. I strike out LeCroy, but then Gomez fouls off a bunch of two-strike pitches before singling to left to drive in the tieing and winning runs.

I realize Kimbrel is going to blow a save from time to time, but it just seems to happen to me a bit too often, especially when my starter dominates for eight innings.

It should be fun bringing in the best reliever in the game to shut the door, but I almost hate using him now.

just play with the Cubs