Bullpen strategy

Collapse

Recommended Videos

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • qwikphaze01
    Rookie
    • Sep 2009
    • 244

    #16
    Re: Bullpen strategy

    Originally posted by SoxSoxSox
    How do you guys handle your pen? How do you set it up?





    Do you take your best guy and have him go in asap in a pinch, like Cleveland did with Andrew Miller?



    Do you have straight up 7th, 8th, and 9th inning guys, like the Royals have used in recent seasons?







    I think for '17 I will have Kimbrel solely in the ninth, and coming off a poor season (the team, not him) on '16, I'll have him come in any game we are up 5 runs or less, and I might even rely on him for 4-5 outs at times.



    I really hope he can be a workhorse in this way, and if we are trailing, I won't use him. I won't use him in a tie game either unless it's the 9th inning and I can walk off at home.



    Other than that, I will use someone (maybe Carson Smith) as my emergency role, similar to how Francona (how I wish he was still in Boston) used Miller.



    Other than these two, the rest of the pen won't have any inning or scenario attached to them, but I'd like to pitch handedness when I can, so I'll likely carry two lefties.





    I've used (in the American League anyways) 14 position guys and 11 pitchers, but I may switch that to 13 and 12 pitchers, just to have guys fresh in as many situations as I can.



    It may hurt the lineup, stamina wise, but if a game is 5-6 runs for or against me, I usually pull guys like Pedroia, Betts, and Bradley Jr. when I can, usually it leaves them enough energy I don't worry about starting them in the next game.







    Looking forward to opinions/discussion.


    I run 5 starters and 7 in bullpen. Usually my long relief is a young up and coming starter to fill in for injuries and get some middle relief in.

    3 middle relievers 2 su ( 1 left, 1 right) 1 closer

    Try to put my closer in every closing situation.
    When ahead in a game I put my worst era reliever in to help get some better numbers.

    Tight games I tend to go with best era middle relief or best su (usually 6,7,8 inning range) before closing situation.


    Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

    Comment

    • tessl
      All Star
      • Apr 2007
      • 5684

      #17
      Re: Bullpen strategy

      Originally posted by SoxSoxSox
      How do you guys handle your pen? How do you set it up?


      Do you take your best guy and have him go in asap in a pinch, like Cleveland did with Andrew Miller?

      Do you have straight up 7th, 8th, and 9th inning guys, like the Royals have used in recent seasons?



      I think for '17 I will have Kimbrel solely in the ninth, and coming off a poor season (the team, not him) on '16, I'll have him come in any game we are up 5 runs or less, and I might even rely on him for 4-5 outs at times.

      I really hope he can be a workhorse in this way, and if we are trailing, I won't use him. I won't use him in a tie game either unless it's the 9th inning and I can walk off at home.

      Other than that, I will use someone (maybe Carson Smith) as my emergency role, similar to how Francona (how I wish he was still in Boston) used Miller.

      Other than these two, the rest of the pen won't have any inning or scenario attached to them, but I'd like to pitch handedness when I can, so I'll likely carry two lefties.


      I've used (in the American League anyways) 14 position guys and 11 pitchers, but I may switch that to 13 and 12 pitchers, just to have guys fresh in as many situations as I can.

      It may hurt the lineup, stamina wise, but if a game is 5-6 runs for or against me, I usually pull guys like Pedroia, Betts, and Bradley Jr. when I can, usually it leaves them enough energy I don't worry about starting them in the next game.



      Looking forward to opinions/discussion.
      Excellent topic for me as a manage mode user. Generally speaking I have "straight up" 7th, 8th and 9th inning guys but I'm flexible. The bullpen is one thing I focus intently on because the bullpen is one way to gain an advantage over the CPU.

      If a guy's stamina is low from multiple consecutive days on the mound I'll avoid using him and replace shift things around. When the 7th rolls around - or whenever the starting pitcher needs to be replaced - I have two guys warming so if my first choice doesn't have his best stuff I have an alternative ready to go. I also keep a couple of long relievers in the bullpen for days when my starter gets pulled early. The formula is 2 long relievers and 5 short relievers including a closer and a lefty or two.

      I think I heard the devs say there will be increased penalties this year for a pitcher who is low on stamina so a deep bullpen and wise use of it will be even more important.
      Last edited by tessl; 03-23-2017, 03:50 PM.

      Comment

      • lxSWAG SURFINlx
        Rookie
        • May 2011
        • 6

        #18
        Re: Bullpen strategy

        7th/8th: Pedro Strop and Tony Watson, whichever is more appropriate with their lineup.
        9th: A.J. Ramos

        Comment

        • Caulfield
          Hall Of Fame
          • Apr 2011
          • 10986

          #19
          Re: Bullpen strategy

          I play it by ear and gut. Some games I have a quick hook, other games you might think I'm waiting for the starters arm to drop off.
          When I get to the 'Pen, if I pulled a guy early (doesnt make it to the 5th, by my definition), I go to my longman. I usually carry 6 starters just for that reason.
          If I get 6+ inninngs then there too many variables to have a short, defined role for each reliever.
          If my gut tells me runs in a game are at a premium, and I have a one run lead in the 7th and the heart of the lineup scheduled to plate, that screams "CLOSER" to me.
          If I get to 12+innings and its a game I can afford to lose, then a position player will pitch.
          Batter handedness plays a role.
          How rested or tired a reliever is plays a role.
          If its early in the season and I need to find out if I can trust a pitcher, then he might get called in a spot I wouldnt normally call him in.
          There are much much more reasons at play, too too many to list here.
          I can only assure my owner, GM, fans and players on my team that there is indeed a method to the madness, controlled chaos at its finest.
          OSFM23 - Building Better Baseball - OSFM23

          A Work in Progress

          Comment

          • sydrogerdavid
            MVP
            • May 2009
            • 3109

            #20
            Re: Bullpen strategy

            I've always used whoever the situation fits best in the late innings and my closer in the 9th. Anybody can be used if they are hot or need some work.

            Comment

            • SoxSoxSox
              Rookie
              • Mar 2017
              • 273

              #21
              Re: Bullpen strategy

              Originally posted by TattooedEvil
              Last year with the Giants bullpen i wouldn't have any jobs, but now with Melancon itll prob be Cain or Suarez (cleanup/swingman) Kontos/Okert (6th) Strickland/Osich (7th) Law/Smith (8th) and Melancon (9th)

              You're going to have nine men in your bullpen?

              Comment

              • SoxSoxSox
                Rookie
                • Mar 2017
                • 273

                #22
                Re: Bullpen strategy

                Originally posted by Bard
                If I need my best RP in the game he is coming in. Kimbrel at times has thrown the 6th and 7th innings for me in a one run game in the playoff push. Helped having Smith, Kelly, and Barnes for the 8th and 9th to allow that to happen.

                My bullpen is usually pretty well set in case of any emergency.

                Robbie Ross Jr. - lefty that faces R/L (usually throws in extra innings, or large differential games)

                Fernando Abad - left specialist (only in a pinch against a strong lefty)

                Heath Hembree - right handed specialist (see Abad, usually throws more than one hitter)

                Joe Kelly - hard throwing strikeout machine (used at any time)

                Matt Barnes - groundball guarantee (8th or 9th inning)

                Carson Smith - strikeout machine (used at any time)

                Craig Kimbrel - Ace reliever (used in the highest possible situations)

                I will likely be changing it up this year with some names, but we will see!
                Great layout and explanation of your reasons for each guy.

                Comment

                • SoxSoxSox
                  Rookie
                  • Mar 2017
                  • 273

                  #23
                  Re: Bullpen strategy

                  Originally posted by WarEagle1212
                  This is a fun question. I have done it several different ways over the years but i have kinda landed on the following:

                  If I have a top tier closer (Kimbrel can be the example here) then I will try and maximize the "critical situations" he's involved in. And to be honest if I'm up 3 runs heading to the 9th, that just doesn't qualify in my book as critical, even tho it technically counts as a "save." Obviously if you care about stats for your closer then you'll put him in there but 95+% of the time any bullpen guy can get 3 outs before giving up 3 runs. So I'm much more likely to pitch Kimbrel if I'm tied in the 9th or even down by a run late to keep them from adding even 1 insurance run. As far as trying to get 4-5 outs with my closer, I very rarely do that during the regular season, unless maybe I haven't used him in a week or whatever. With the setup guys I've started playing more and more matchups than I use to.

                  If my closer isn't dominant then I'm more straightforward with how I use him. And sometimes have a closer by committee again based on matchups.

                  I guess I'm less concerned with my closer having 50+ saves and hope to get more wins by using them in this way. But I certainly don't think there is necessarily a right or wrong way to do it

                  Do you feel it's hard to straddle the line between

                  -Kimbrel pitches only 50 innings a year, but he's always fresh, but you could use him more and he's one of the best pen guys in the game.


                  and

                  -You use him closer to 75-80 innings, but he's not always fresh and there's a few times you NEED him but he's unavailable.

                  Comment

                  • Tomahawk Chop Braves
                    Rookie
                    • May 2014
                    • 13

                    #24
                    Re: Bullpen strategy

                    I'm usually a 7th, 8th, 9th guy but I will play the lefty/righty matchup game.

                    Comment

                    • SoxSoxSox
                      Rookie
                      • Mar 2017
                      • 273

                      #25
                      Re: Bullpen strategy

                      Originally posted by Caulfield
                      I play it by ear and gut. Some games I have a quick hook, other games you might think I'm waiting for the starters arm to drop off.
                      When I get to the 'Pen, if I pulled a guy early (doesnt make it to the 5th, by my definition), I go to my longman. I usually carry 6 starters just for that reason.
                      If I get 6+ inninngs then there too many variables to have a short, defined role for each reliever.
                      If my gut tells me runs in a game are at a premium, and I have a one run lead in the 7th and the heart of the lineup scheduled to plate, that screams "CLOSER" to me.
                      If I get to 12+innings and its a game I can afford to lose, then a position player will pitch.
                      Batter handedness plays a role.
                      How rested or tired a reliever is plays a role.
                      If its early in the season and I need to find out if I can trust a pitcher, then he might get called in a spot I wouldnt normally call him in.
                      There are much much more reasons at play, too too many to list here.
                      I can only assure my owner, GM, fans and players on my team that there is indeed a method to the madness, controlled chaos at its finest.

                      I understand this reasoning (extra innings), and I get why real life managers do it, but on my '16 file I'm like 59-71, so I've decided that from now on, it's all hands on deck, whatever it takes to win that particular game.


                      My extra inning strategy will be, re: closer use

                      Home games: Tied in the 9th, he does the top half. If I have a guy who pitched in the 8th and his count is pretty good, I may give him the 9th and use the closer in the 10th. If it goes really long, I may use a starter (if my guys pitch in the order A,B,C,D,E, and D started the game, B would be the first option, followed by A.


                      Road games: The closer will not be used unless I get a lead in the top half of an inning.


                      I haven't used a LRP this season (either a starter or a RP with stamina of at least 50 or so), since the options weren't that great (Matt Barnes briefly joined us though), but I may do so from now on. Most likely to have a fringe starter, that way if someone gets dinged up or sick on their start day I don't have to make any roster moves unless the LRP isn't fresh.

                      Comment

                      • TattooedEvil
                        Pro
                        • Sep 2014
                        • 795

                        #26
                        Re: Bullpen strategy

                        Originally posted by SoxSoxSox
                        You're going to have nine men in your bullpen?
                        8. Says Cain or Suarez. Cain will prob be #5 starter. Gillaspie, Gorkys, Mac and Hundley my bench. Panik will be the only one who will never get a day off.

                        Comment

                        • SoxSoxSox
                          Rookie
                          • Mar 2017
                          • 273

                          #27
                          Re: Bullpen strategy

                          They said there will be a penalty (attribute-wise) if you use a guy out of the pen and he's too tired.



                          Wonder if there's also a thing for position players, I have 2 or 3 I'd play everyday if possible.

                          Comment

                          • HartmanTeets6
                            Rookie
                            • Aug 2014
                            • 302

                            #28
                            Re: Bullpen strategy

                            I had it pretty set for 7-9 innings, a lefty, and I always have a starter come in, in extra innings unless I haven't used all 3 7-9 guys. I played all 162 games, plus playoffs w/ the Sox last year. First thing I do, every year, is try to bolster my bullpen. Try to acquire a guy that is a 2nd closer for the 8th inning. This year, Kimbrel will only pitch save situations, and Smith/Thornbug will be 7 and 8 depending on my effectiveness. Kelly will go in the 6th if need be. I can see myself shipping off Pomeranz (hate him) for a bullpen piece, and pray the game realizes he was an all-star last year and lets me get something of value for him. Because Boston's starters are so good 1-5 (Sale, Porcello, Price, E-Rod, Wright) the bullpen should be easier. I was absolutely filthy with Koji last year, as the 8th inning guy, and hopefully I find Thornbug/Smith effective. I never use Kimbrel for more than 3 outs, as his stamina is so little, and I have read that is a major emphasis this year. Making it so relievers performance drastically drops as their stamina gets lower. Red Sox World Series, here I come!

                            Comment

                            • lunch pale gang
                              Rookie
                              • Jun 2009
                              • 210

                              #29
                              Re: Bullpen strategy

                              Great thread! It's really cool to see how everyone utilizes their respective bullpens.

                              For me, I have my designated go-to closer who I try only to use in save situations. Beyond that, I have an "all hands on deck" attitude. For example, I try not to solely limit a pitcher to setup situations, or hold situations. I always look to see who gives me the best opportunity to win or keep the game close (I love using lefty/righty match-ups), and if that doesn't seem realistic, who can just chew up innings to get me to the next game without burning through my pen.
                              Black & Gold 4ever!

                              Comment

                              • WarEagle1212
                                Rookie
                                • Mar 2016
                                • 59

                                #30
                                Re: Bullpen strategy

                                Originally posted by SoxSoxSox
                                Do you feel it's hard to straddle the line between

                                -Kimbrel pitches only 50 innings a year, but he's always fresh, but you could use him more and he's one of the best pen guys in the game.


                                and

                                -You use him closer to 75-80 innings, but he's not always fresh and there's a few times you NEED him but he's unavailable.
                                Not really because either way he's probably only pitching 50 meaningful innings and I'd rather him be fresh for those 50, even if that's all he pitches. I haven't really done the math on how many innings my closers use to pitch compared to now to be honest, so thats a really good question. I'll keep up with that more. But, for instance, if i start the 9th with a 3 run lead and choose my freshest non-closer to start the inning and he gives up 2 hits, then Kimbrel is in. Not time to mess around with a lead. So it probably works out about the same. I'm just not going to put a closer in just because its a "save situation". Like I said I'm more likely to use him down 1 in the 9th, depending on the depth of the pen, than up 3. I feel like it subjectively results in a few wins more per season, which, who knows could be the difference in making the playoffs vs not.

                                Comment

                                Working...