AI Bullpen management

[AJColossal]

This is admittedly a somewhat arbitrary thing to try to code for but I am seeing the occasional goofy thing: lefty specialists pitching for 2+ innings, closers not starting the ninth in save situations. These are all exhibition games, so depleted bullpens that you may see in a season weren't a factor.

I think in general I'm seeing the AI put a bullpen guy in and having him stay a little too long. Does the manager hook slider correct this?

[AJColossal]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Any takers?

[stlcardsfan44]

Re: AI Bullpen management

I had an issue last night where I was playing the Yanks vs O's. Yanks were up 2-0 in the 9th. Instead of the bringing in the closer like normal, they left the guy from the 8th inning still in there. I pretty much drop the Matt V WTF?

[AJColossal]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Yep, that's what I'm talking about. They left the 8th inning guy in, with the Twins up 4-1 in the 9th. He got the 1st guy out, Hafner doubles, and then they bring in Nathan.

Nathan ends up with the save, but why wasn't he out there in at the beginning of the inning?

[bears5122]

Re: AI Bullpen management

I've seen some weird bullpen management in RTTS but thought it was just tied to that. My biggest issue is that the computer tends to go through their relievers too quickly sometimes and is left with only one guy at the end of the game who has to carry the entire workload throughout the extra innings. Had a closer go 8 innings in an extra inning game last night.

[CMH]

Re: AI Bullpen management

I'll look into it, but I haven't seen this thus far. Then again, I think I only faced one save situation up to this point.

[AJColossal]

Re: AI Bullpen management

I've seen some weird bullpen management in RTTS but thought it was just tied to that. My biggest issue is that the computer tends to go through their relievers too quickly sometimes and is left with only one guy at the end of the game who has to carry the entire workload throughout the extra innings. Had a closer go 8 innings in an extra inning game last night.

Now that's strange, because I've come across the opposite. The Rangers left in CJ Wilson for nearly 3 innings and he gave up 4 hits and a run. His longest appearance all of last year was 1.1 innings.

I think some more testing is in order, but I may mess around with the manager hook slider.

[AJColossal]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Played another game and the bullpen management was much better IMO, with the closer coming in at the beginning of the ninth.

Like a lot of things with this game, I think you need a few games of testing under your belt before you say this or that needs fixing. For example, I thought my pitching was too good and there were too few errors, but there were 3 errors in the last game and I gave up 7 runs, lol.

[CMH]

Re: AI Bullpen management

I almost had a moment yesterday. Brought in a reliever in the bottom of the 8th with a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, I decide to leave him in there and after two outs, Campbell says something to the affect of: "He gets this last out and he'll have his first career major league save."

So, I go, WTF?! It's 4-0! Then I remember that he came in with the tying run on-deck and all was good.

My point? None. I just like to share my life stories. Tomorrow we'll talk about Ms. Oliver from the 3rd grade and how she changed me forever.

[Tyking]

Re: AI Bullpen management

My only problem is that you never see a reliever brought in to face just one batter, like a lefty specialist. I don't like that strategy in real life, but it's a prevalent one, and should be reflected in game.

[x1Blumpkin1x]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Played another game and the bullpen management was much better IMO, with the closer coming in at the beginning of the ninth.

Like a lot of things with this game, I think you need a few games of testing under your belt before you say this or that needs fixing.

I think that is a good point. People can be too quick to say there is a problem. Managers in real life make poor decisions when handling their bullpen. Who knows why they made their choice. Maybe if it was franchise the closer was fatigued more so they wanted to not use him unless necessary. Since we don't know exactly what goes on under the hood for CPU bullpen decisions we can't say the logic is flawed.

As you said, in another game everything made sense. Perhaps the code has a method for Willie Randolph bullpen management styles that is only invoked sporadically.

[bears5122]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Hate to rub more salt in the wound here, but bullpen AI management seems broken in RTTS. As a closer I get in during save situations. They get that part 100% right so far and have even brought me in in the 8th with runners on. Perfect.

But they also bring me in during blowouts and other weird situations. That's fine on occasion if I've had some days off and they want me to get some work. It's also fine if it's in a close game where they need their best reliever to get a few outs. But this seems to be done because they run out of pitchers.

In back to back games I pitched over 6 innings in relief. The first was an extra inning game where I pitched the 8th through the 14th. The next game I came in while we were losing 11-0 in the 3rd and had to pitch the rest of the game. I don't have much durability so after 2 innings I had literally no control.

Plus I seem to be put in a lot in the 8th and then come up to bat in the 9th, even when my team is tied or down by a run. I have 34 at-bats this season as a closer. That's ridiculous. A reliever should maybe hit a couple times during the year and rarely (if ever) in close games. The game doesn't seem to do double switches at all late in games (which is the perfect move in the 8th for your closer).

Now mind you I'm in AA, so I don't know if the particular rosters they have cause this. Maybe low durability for starters cause the bullpens to get burned more. That would still be a bug, but understandable. The other idea I thought was this only effected RTTS and had something to do with how it simulated games. In any event, a closer with low durability should not be throwing 6+ innings in back to back games. He should not be put into so many hitting situations either. The bullpen management seems completely busted in RTTS. I have not played enough in other modes to determine if this is an issue in franchise.

[CMH]

Re: AI Bullpen management

It may also be a product of trying to give your created player an opportunity to play. It may be hard coded that way so that you wouldn't sit on the bench waiting for a chance to play if no save opportunities ever presented themselves.

[bears5122]

Re: AI Bullpen management

It may also be a product of trying to give your created player an opportunity to play. It may be hard coded that way so that you wouldn't sit on the bench waiting for a chance to play if no save opportunities ever presented themselves.

That's fine and I completley understand it. I think it would be better if it was done more realistically where a closer gets an inning of work when he's been off a couple days. Or is used in tight tie games late in the game. But having your closer pitch 6+ innings in back to back games is beyond that. As well as having them hit so often. I understand giving opportunities, but this is just poor management AI.

[BoSox5]

Re: AI Bullpen management

Saw some very confusing bullpen management the other day. Decided to do a fantasy draft to change things up. The first game of the season I'm trailing 5-3 in the ninth. They bring in a lefty specialist to face Utley and I pop it up. For the next batter (Stanton) they bring in a righty. Not looking at anyone else in their bullpen, I figured they had no legit option so I was happy to see a bullpen by committee approach.

They force Stanton to fly out for the second out. This is where things get strange. They bring in another righty with two down. I draw a walk and they go to the pen for the 4th pitcher of the inning, Papelbon.

Not only is it bizarre to have four pitchers in one inning without giving up a run, they refused to use one of the best closers in the game on opening day until the tying run was at the plate. This was the first time seeing this so maybe it was a one time thing but it could also be tied in with fantasy draft. Anyone else see anything like this?