Manage mode players

[My993C2]

Re: Manage mode players

I was thinking about moving starter stamina up to 6 from 5. It seems to me that some of these pitchers are pretty much out of gas after 75-80 pitches. Reallly good pitchers like Cole (who right now has started the year 1-3) are good for 100 to 110. So I might play around with a little but other than that I think I am good to go. Gonna see where things are at the end of month and then decide if changes to need to be made.

I neglected to mention this, but I have had my starter stamina set to 7 for many years now. With it set to 7 I don't ever see starters running out of gas after 75 to 80 pitches. Yes starters with less than ideal endurance might get sketchy at around 90 pitches. But most starters do last 100 pitches before they begin to lose it and while it is rare, some starters with really good endurance can last 110 to 120 pitches if they have a shutout going.

[JHodges57]

Re: Manage mode players

Was involved in a pretty interesting game yesterday. As mentioned earlier I am using the Nationals rebranded as the Expos and the team is presently leading the NL East with a 3.5 game lead over the Braves with a record of 14-7 however we are on a 3 game losing streak having just lost 3 of 4 against the Cubs. In yesterday's game my ace Max Scherzer pitched very well going 7 innings, striking out 11, giving up 5 hits, 4 walks and giving up only 1 run (a solo HR in the 2nd inning). Problem is Yu Darvish the Cubs starter went 8.1 innings striking out 9, no walks, only 4 hits and no runs.

Both pitchers excelled in their respective performances, but they were two very different results. Basically Max threw a ton of pitches especially early in the game with many pitches out of the strike zone trying to nibble corners and of course many timely pitches to get himself out of trouble despite walking four batters. Darvish on the other had appeared to get into the head of my batters. My batters appeared to swing at anything and everything early in the count out of the strike zone that resulted in many 0-2 counts and then Darvish threw pitches clearly in the strike zone and for whatever reason batters just watched them for the KO instead of swinging.

Now despite my current 3 game losing streak, the team is still doing well with a 14-7 record and the best way to surmise the performance so far is that my batters love to swing at almost anything close to being over the plate early in the count, but since the team has many decent hitters (Juan Soto is a monster), they do make contact and some of this contact results in good offensive performance where they are driving the opposing starters out of the game not because of high pitch counts, but instead driving them from the game because of high offensive run performance. On the opposite end, my starters appear to throw tons of pitches (most need to be pulled by the 6th inning which is pretty much the average right?), and the difference being that it isn't so much fouls balls that cause the high pitch counts but instead my starters throw tons of pitches out of the strike zone (so they do walk many), but they also strike out many and in many (but not all) cases are capable of working themselves out of trouble. If this pattern was happening to both teams, I would think it would be related to my slider settings (most of which are at the default 5 values). But I also had this same sort of results in past years when I used the Rockies with the main difference being that this current Nationals team I am using have two ace starters (Scherzer and Strasburg) and a very talented 3rd starter (Patrick Corbin) whereas in past years the best Rockies starter would only be a number 3 or number 4 starter on most other teams.

Coincidence? Maybe? Or maybe it's just me. LOL

PS: the team should actually be 12-9 instead of 14-7 as twice my batters pulled the rabbit out of the hat coming from behind in the 9th inning to snatch victory from defeat whereas so far my bull pen (knock on wood) has yet to blow a save.

I have one team in each league and my pitchers do the same thing for both teams. Opposing batters are extremely passive, even when behind in the 8th & 9th. My thinking is, if I'm a pitcher or pitching coach, to throw strikes to get them out of passive mode. Continuing to throw ball after ball when they aren't swinging to begin with is just adding to pitch count. Also annoys me when they do plow through the first 7 batters (N.L.) then pitch to #8 and the pitcher like they are scared of them.

My batters tend to be more aggressive. I've also noticed the phenomena of my batters swinging at pitch after pitch that are obious ball, some are just about in the opposite batters box but then they stand there watching a ball over the heart of the plate for strike 3. I don't mind them being aggressive. I prefer the idea of chasing a pitcher from the game with a strong offense is better than standing there watching fat pitch after fat pitch just to run up a pitch count. It's watching that 3rd strike after swinging at pitches they had no business swinging at that annoys the hell out of me.

[JHodges57]

Re: Manage mode players

What I do to reduce pitch counts is this: There are times when the cpu takes over and orders the user pitcher to pitch around on a batter or an individual pitch.

0-2 count for example your pitcher will waste a pitch 90% of the time. This frequently drives up the pitch count as 0-2 evolves into 2-2 or 3-2.

If you play with DH off like I do you will also see the 8 hitter being pitched around frequently to get to the pitcher. For example runner at second, less than 2 out, 8 hitter at the plate watch how often the batter walks to set up a double play with pitcher batting. The obvious problem which most manage mode players can see is when the pitcher doesn't hit into a double play you bring the leadoff man to the plate with runners on base. You are walking the 8 hitter to get to the 1 hitter - and driving up the pitch count.

For that reason on 0-2 counts and in situations where I sense the cpu has ordered a pitch around I use L2 - X to order my pitcher to "pitch to batter".

Good way to reduce pitch count although the real problem is pitcher stamina more than pitch count. Any pitcher with less than 80 stamina will have trouble getting thru 6 innings on most days. The only slider I've adjusted this year is injury due to the crazy amount of injuries I was seeing from 5 to 3.

I haven't gotten the "pitch aggressive" option to work in the last 3 versions (including this one). Usually ends off being a ball and many times one that's not close to the strike zone. Maybe my idea of aggressive is wrong. I expect the ball to be in the strike zone. If I wanted them to throw a ball out of the strike zone I wouldn't call for the option.

[shawn306]

Re: Manage mode players

I neglected to mention this, but I have had my starter stamina set to 7 for many years now. With it set to 7 I don't ever see starters running out of gas after 75 to 80 pitches. Yes starters with less than ideal endurance might get sketchy at around 90 pitches. But most starters do last 100 pitches before they begin to lose it and while it is rare, some starters with really good endurance can last 110 to 120 pitches if they have a shutout going.

Thanks for the info.

I saw something from TheWarmWind in the CPU Bullpen Management thread where he has Starter and Reliever Stamina set at 7 and CPU management hook set at 6. I may give those a whirl and see what happens.

[tgreer]

Re: Manage mode players

[QUOTE=tessl;

The only slider I've adjusted this year is injury due to the crazy amount of injuries I was seeing from 5 to 3.[/QUOTE]

Are you seeing many in game injuries at 3? I have had mine at 2 and have not seen any through 12 games

[My993C2]

Re: Manage mode players

The SDS Baseball Gods dangled an illusive carrot in front of my nose in a MoM game this afternoon. I had a no-hitter going with a 1-0 lead over the Dodgers going into the 9th inning. My SP, Patrick Corbin had thrown a little over hundred pitches to this point, but he wasn't completely out of gas and what can you do. I knew he was vulnerable, but I have yet to experience a no-hitter since I began playing MoM games dating back to MLBTS12 and I just had to keep him in the game. Unfortunately with no outs and a 3-2 count the Dodgers lead off batter Justin Turner blooped a lazy single into RF ending the no-no and caused me to pull Corbin from the game and replace him with a completely warmed up CP Sean Doolittle who has yet to blow a save in the season. What happened next? On the first pitch Mookie Betts clobbered the ball out of the park and that was it, lights out, game over.

It was just like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.

[Gocanes44]

Re: Manage mode players

The SDS Baseball Gods dangled an illusive carrot in front of my nose in a MoM game this afternoon. I had a no-hitter going with a 1-0 lead over the Dodgers going into the 9th inning. My SP, Patrick Corbin had thrown a little over hundred pitches to this point, but he wasn't completely out of gas and what can you do. I knew he was vulnerable, but I have yet to experience a no-hitter since I began playing MoM games dating back to MLBTS12 and I just had to keep him in the game. Unfortunately with no outs and a 3-2 count the Dodgers lead off batter Justin Turner blooped a lazy single into RF ending the no-no and caused me to pull Corbin from the game and replace him with a completely warmed up CP Sean Doolittle who has yet to blow a save in the season. What happened next? On the first pitch Mookie Betts clobbered the ball out of the park and that was it, lights out, game over.

It was just like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.

Kinda crazy. I had a no hitter with 2 outs bottom of 9th with Kyle Hendricks vs the Dodgers today and guess who singles to end my no hitter...Mookie Betts.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Manage mode players

The SDS Baseball Gods dangled an illusive carrot in front of my nose in a MoM game this afternoon. I had a no-hitter going with a 1-0 lead over the Dodgers going into the 9th inning. My SP, Patrick Corbin had thrown a little over hundred pitches to this point, but he wasn't completely out of gas and what can you do. I knew he was vulnerable, but I have yet to experience a no-hitter since I began playing MoM games dating back to MLBTS12 and I just had to keep him in the game. Unfortunately with no outs and a 3-2 count the Dodgers lead off batter Justin Turner blooped a lazy single into RF ending the no-no and caused me to pull Corbin from the game and replace him with a completely warmed up CP Sean Doolittle who has yet to blow a save in the season. What happened next? On the first pitch Mookie Betts clobbered the ball out of the park and that was it, lights out, game over.

It was just like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.

Ha, gotta love it though. I didn’t think manage mode would grip me like it has, but it has.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Manage mode players

I’m new to MOM, have played probably 20 games. Is there an outfielder in this game who doesn’t throw off line to home, lol. I know there are some lousy arms in baseball, but jeezalou.

[JHodges57]

Re: Manage mode players

I’m new to MOM, have played probably 20 games. Is there an outfielder in this game who doesn’t throw off line to home, lol. I know there are some lousy arms in baseball, but jeezalou.

Opposing players are dead accurate when there will be a chance at the plate. The only time they're offline is when the run was already crossing the plate. I've felt the accuracy ratings don't mean squat for them.

[tessl]

Re: Manage mode players

I haven't gotten the "pitch aggressive" option to work in the last 3 versions (including this one). Usually ends off being a ball and many times one that's not close to the strike zone. Maybe my idea of aggressive is wrong. I expect the ball to be in the strike zone. If I wanted them to throw a ball out of the strike zone I wouldn't call for the option.

L2 + X gives you "pitch to batter" which overrides the CPU telling your pitcher to pitch around. I never figured out whether pitch aggressive works either but L2 + X will get your pitcher to try to record an out - at least it has for me.

No offense to the developers but I enjoy manage mode because I believe some of the decisions they have programmed into the AI are bad ideas which gives me an edge.

[Hammerhunker]

Re: Manage mode players

A little visual of the Remote Play session in a new MOM I just started with the Yanks.

I do this while in a Zoom and nobody has a clue, and I haven't told a soul in my professional group, my little rebellious secret

[JHodges57]

Re: Manage mode players

L2 + X gives you "pitch to batter" which overrides the CPU telling your pitcher to pitch around. I never figured out whether pitch aggressive works either but L2 + X will get your pitcher to try to record an out - at least it has for me.

No offense to the developers but I enjoy manage mode because I believe some of the decisions they have programmed into the AI are bad ideas which gives me an edge.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

[Hammerhunker]

Re: Manage mode players

I would be down to do a MOM franchise with all of you guys. Maybe we can even do a live draft? I would say maybe 12 rounds then auto-sim draft from there.

Can this be done? I only ask because I was wanting to do a head-to-head manage game with my son and you can't. Never thought to start an online franchise and hold these type of matchups that way.

[My993C2]

Re: Manage mode players

Can this be done? I only ask because I was wanting to do a head-to-head manage game with my son and you can't. Never thought to start an online franchise and hold these type of matchups that way.

Unfortunately the answer in MLBTS20 is no.