The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

[RGmoney]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Heroes, great post man.

Good stuff from others, as well. Keep'em coming guys.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Does anyone have any more to add? What do you do when your chips are down?

Great thread!

One thing I will add that a lot of users have failed to mention.... Do NOT be afraid to walk/pitch around hitters. I know I have had a couple instances where I will walk a couple players to face a less opposing hitter. Pujols and Berkman to face Rasmus against Aroldis Chapman.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Thanks guys. I'm happy to see this thread is helping some of you out. Sometimes just reading something or saying something out loud is enough to help people put their plans in action.

Managing my bullpen has be the greatest struggle for me, hands down.

Here's my dilemma: Every single one of my relievers has an ERA over 5.00 (some are over 10.00) minus Brian Wilson. It's hard to play the chess match when my pawns are all lying down! LOL!

This trend has carried throughout 11' with me. My Yanks franchise, my brief Angels franchise, and now into my Giants' run...

CPU relivers are extremely effective, so I don't think it's a reliever ratings issue. It's a ME issue.

Bobhead made a very good point earlier. I need to go with the arms that are currently working...regardless of ERA. Affeldt is that guy for me. Though his ERA is near 9.00, his confidence is up because of his last two outings. In my second game, I couldn't justify using him against the upcoming righties in the 8th (Affeldt is a leftie long reliever).

He's the only one other than Wilson with an inflated confidence meter. Should I have used him? Jeez...on top of that...should I have attempted to let Wilson get me 5 outs?

Man! The 'morning after' debate!

[Dogbarian]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Reliever ERA is not really a good comparison stat, since it's easy to get blown up in one bad outing, and often is affected by a subsequent reliever allowing one of your runners to score.

I'd suggest you use WHIP as the number to see who your effective relievers are. And honestly, don't get hung up using your "closer" to only finish the game, if the 8th inning is the critical moment, use your best reliever then. I'm one of those that feel the save is an over-rated stat. And this game at least doesn't have the press and the agent hounding you after the game about using your closer too early.

[Bobhead]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

^Yep. And even if ERA were a reliable stat in real life, there would still be other issues to account for, like The Show's poorly scored errors and earned runs, and all that other stuff. I have a pitcher (name slips my mind right now), who's ERA is like 3.34. But literally every time I bring him out, he seems to give up a run. I have long since started planning for this, and having a second reliever ready. As soon as he gives up a big hit or walk, out he goes, so he never stays out long enough to give up a second run. His ERA is salvaged, but his future is not.

Anyway my point is that stats don't always paint the entire picture. The confidence meter is pretty much the only pitcher stat/attribute/whatever I pay attention to.

[Jgainsey]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Heroes... Yikes!!

I'm about 80 games into my Braves franchise, and most of my core relief guys have an ERA under 3.

Kimbrel, O'Flaherty, and Linebrink are all in the mid 2's, with Venters sitting a little under 2. Moylan is just over 4, but that's kind of misleading. I hung him out to dry a few times, so he has 2 or 3 really inflated outings.

Sherrill and Martinez both have ERAs just under 5, but they get the fewest appearances out of everyone in my bullpen, so it's not really a big issue at this point. Martinez is mostly an innings eater, and Sherrill will be easy to replace in the near future.

I wish I knew where to start with bullpen advice, but I really haven't had to worry about mine too much. Though here are some tips and guidelines I try to follow with mine. Most of them are probably pretty obvious.

-Fight the urge to leave the starter in for that "one last" batter, especially if his pitch count is approaching 100, or it's already late in the game. If you're always bringing in relievers with guys on base, you're already making things that much harder for the relief guys.

-I don't care how stupid your LOOGY just made a lefty look, if you only planned on letting him face that one left handed batter, don't take your chances with the right handed guy who's coming up.

-If a reliever is fully rested and pitching great, don't hesitate to let him come back for the next inning. Even if it's just for an extra out to help set up a favorable match up. As long his spot isn't coming up in the lineup, don't rule this out every once in a while.

-Don't be afraid to pitch around guys the same way you would with the starter. I know I sometimes get it in my head that I can't walk guys late in the game, but if you're giving the team more strikes to hit than you were with the starter, chances are they're going to take advantage of this more often than not.

-Use your warm up pitches... I'm not 100% on this, but I swear any pitcher can have different stick sensitivity or control on any given day, depending on a range of factors. So make sure you use at least a couple of warm up pitches to get a feel for the different delivery and control. And if you're bringing in someone like a LOOGY, practice the types of pitches and location that you're going to use against the lefties you brought him into face.

-Don't get into the habit of "saving" your closer when you're playing a close game that might go into extras. If the game is tied or you're only down a run, as long as he's available, you shouldn't rule out let your best pitcher pitch the 9th. There's nothing worse than losing a game in extra innings when your best relief pitcher was never given a chance to factor into the game.

[BeatArmy]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

^^ I also agree with the point about bringing the guy back the next inning to face one. There's no point letting your lefty specialist face a righty before that string of lefties if you can avoid it.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Reliever ERA is not really a good comparison stat, since it's easy to get blown up in one bad outing, and often is affected by a subsequent reliever allowing one of your runners to score.

I'd suggest you use WHIP as the number to see who your effective relievers are. And honestly, don't get hung up using your "closer" to only finish the game, if the 8th inning is the critical moment, use your best reliever then. I'm one of those that feel the save is an over-rated stat. And this game at least doesn't have the press and the agent hounding you after the game about using your closer too early.

KABOOM!!! Consider my mind blown!

I should have went with Wilson!!!

I literally NEVER. CONSIDERED. THAT.

Great tip. Not once in this game have I used my closer in the 8th or earlier.

If I'm up tonight, you can bet your wallet that Wilson comes in during a jam.

Thank you.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

My 'thank you' things aren't showing up. So until I get this thumbs up icon stuff sorted out, I'd like to thank Jgainsey, Beatarmy, and Bobhead.

I wish I wasn't at work. I'm all pumped to go win a game!

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

A few times I have brought in Rivera in the 8th of a tight game to save it. Wins are precious in this game.

Great points are being made all over this thread. One thing I need to work on is defensive positioning and staying on top of that. Making sure I am guarding the lines in tight games late, bringing the infield in in tight games to cut down a runner at home. Making the right shift on a guy etc. The default does not always get it right.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

A few times I have brought in Rivera in the 8th of a tight game to save it. Wins are precious in this game.

Great points are being made all over this thread. One thing I need to work on is defensive positioning and staying on top of that. Making sure I am guarding the lines in tight games late, bringing the infield in in tight games to cut down a runner at home. Making the right shift on a guy etc. The default does not always get it right.

I noticed this a well. I was playing Philly in my METS franchise and I noticed the outfield kept playing shallow on Ibanez. Anyone know of you can set a certain defense against certain guys? I kinda got overwhelmed with I at one point.

[BeatArmy]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Yes, you can set D v. a certain guy. In defensive positioning on the up menu, scroll to "individual" and you can set each player on D to play a certain way v. a certain player. I set the 3B to cover the drag against fast leadoff guys like Lorenzo Cain, Pierre, etc. No matter what situation when the CPU decides it likes to bunt for singles, my 3B charges in and usually gets him out.

Also, thanks for the shout out. I haven't contributed much but thanks anyways.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Yes, you can set D v. a certain guy. In defensive positioning on the up menu, scroll to "individual" and you can set each player on D to play a certain way v. a certain player. I set the 3B to cover the drag against fast leadoff guys like Lorenzo Cain, Pierre, etc. No matter what situation when the CPU decides it likes to bunt for singles, my 3B charges in and usually gets him out.

Also, thanks for the shout out. I haven't contributed much but thanks anyways.

Ok, cool. Thanks man. I figured that was it, but I didn't want to have them playing deep when a pitcher is up or something. Now I just got to calm down on my baserunning blunders (like the real METROPOLITANS) and I should be alright haha

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Okay...

After losing yet another game, 5-1 (a loss I was fine with, I just got out played)...

I took a 4-0 lead into the 8th inning of my second game.

I bring in Javy Lopez to face COL's killer lefties. Sergio Romo (whom I forgot is actually pitching well in my last post) was also getting loose for Tulo.

Hit. Hit...oh boy. Time to get Wilson up (as I promised myself yesterday).

Mound visit. Leftie up. I decided to stick with Lopez. A run scores on a sac fly and up come the righties. 4-1 SF.

In comes Romo. Wison is almost loose, but I still have 5 outs left and Wilson is not QUITE ready.

Sac fly. 4-2 SF.

Next batter...strike out!!! Romo preserves the lead.

Wilson has a breeze of a 9th inning and I FINALLY win a game! Phew!!!

Bullpen management is gonna give me a heart attack.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Bullpen management is gonna give me a heart attack.

welcome to The Show