How to evaluate pitcher (and position)?

[AstaSyneri]

Hi!

While I have played OOTP for a while, I still consider myself a newbie.

Recently my team has run into a pitching problem - my former #1 is getting rusty (at 37 years old, no surprise there), my former #2 is performing nicely as #1, but my #3 who has great stats is just miserable (6.x ERA) - maybe he is letting his star status get to his head and spends all those on the road nights with a band of groupies?

After that I only have "crap" pitchers. One badly rated one amazingly gets a lot of wins (currently my offense is performing well), but I'd love to mix it up again.

My AAA team doesn't have much too offer - except one great prospect. But he is rated a MR (he has three good pitches). Can I make him a SP?

What are the hard and fast rules on how to evaluate what role a pitcher will do well in? Can somebody explain this a bit (Living in Europe my knowledge of real Baseball is somewhat negligible ;-))?

Thank you!

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by AstaSyneri

What are the hard and fast rules on how to evaluate what role a pitcher will do well in? Can somebody explain this a bit (Living in Europe my knowledge of real Baseball is somewhat negligible ;-))?

Thank you!

The two things I tend to look for are the stamina and the number of pitches. If a pitcher has 3 or more good pitches and a stamina of at least 4 or 5, he'll probably be able to manage as a starting pitcher. However, pitchers at the lower end of that spectrum are more likely to be back-end of the rotation guys. They probably won't be able to give you more than 5 or 6 innings a start, and 3-pitch pitchers are less likely to be dominant starters than 4-6 pitch guys.

You occasionally find guys with high stamina but only two pitches (or 2 really good pitches and one poor one). Despite the stamina, they generally don't do that well as starters -the lack of variety makes them predictable, and if a hitter knows what's coming, it'll generally be easier to hit regardless of how good of a pitch it is. They'll have good outings, but they'll also get shelled more often that may be worth it.

[TGH-Adfabre]

but my #3 who has great stats is just miserable (6.x ERA) -

I would check his BABIP (.300 is usually league average). If it is above .300 he has had bad luck or defense is letting him down. Also check his HR total. He may be giving up more than usual.

One badly rated one amazingly gets a lot of wins

This happens to me regularly. It is part of why people argue against wins as a useful stat to judge pitchers.

But he is rated a MR (he has three good pitches). Can I make him a SP?

Like eriqjaffe wrote, check his stamina. There is a minimum, I think it is 25 or 35 on a 1-100 scale for a SP.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by AstaSyneri

My AAA team doesn't have much too offer - except one great prospect. But he is rated a MR (he has three good pitches). Can I make him a SP?

The AI has made him a MR because it views at least five other pitchers on the AAA roster to be better starters. That is usually a good sign that the pitcher won't make it as a starter in the majors, unless of course you just happen to have five really good AAA starters. It doesn't mean that you can't try him, but watch him closely for signs of tiring (velocity drop etc.).

[AstaSyneri]

Thanks for the replies!

I looked at my prospect, 22-year old Manny Romero (fantasy league). 67 Stamina, excellent stuff and movement (both green, 70 to 90), mediocre control (38, potential in the 50s).

Three pitches (Fastball, Sinker, some other), the first two very good, the third so-so.

I made him an SP and he as soon as one of my CL (Champions League) SPs goes down, I'll try him in the bigs.

How can I make him learn a fourth pitch, and improve the 3rd one?

What generally happens when you have players (pitchers) change position? I know that for fielders you get some deductions while they learn the new position, and then play better there (?)...

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by AstaSyneri

How can I make him learn a fourth pitch, and improve the 3rd one?

You can't. That's up to the development engine.

Originally Posted by AstaSyneri

What generally happens when you have players (pitchers) change position? I know that for fielders you get some deductions while they learn the new position, and then play better there (?)...

The most noticeable thing you'll see is that a pitcher's Stuff rating will tend to drop when you convert him from a reliever to a starter (and go up when you convert the other way). This happens because a reliever doesn't have to worry about tiring out as much as a starter does, and relievers tend to throw harder as a result.