Visiting the mound

[BigbyWolf]

It's been mentioned before and I just wanted to take another kick at this specific can.

When I opt to visit the mound, I would like there to be more variation in the response from the pitcher and to be given specific options to take.

Pitcher says "I am tired but let me finish the inning"
Option 1 leave him in
Option 2 pull him for player being warmed up

Pitcher says "I am tired, it's your call"
Option 1 pull him
Option 2 tell him that this is his last batter so he doesn't have to leave anything in the tank

I play out my games and would love to see this area of the game expanded.

[rpriske]

Agreed.

Now it is only about fatigue. I would like to see responses about his effectiveness. "I just don't have it today, skip." or, "He really got that one, but I still feel good. I can get this guy."

[D-BacksJosh]

The 'pitch to contact' feature could be used here too, say if he just walked a batter that runs like Bengie Molina.

[JackRules1]

I'm not sure if I am off base, but I think a visit to the mound should also help my relievers to become ready. Seems like it has no effect on reliever's readiness.

[MrDov]

Originally Posted by JackRules1

I'm not sure if I am off base, but I think a visit to the mound should also help my relievers to become ready. Seems like it has no effect on reliever's readiness.

It has for me I believe. I'll start warming up a pitcher, he starts at cold. I'll immediately visit the mound and my reliever is already at warming up.

[Simmo13]

Originally Posted by JackRules1

I'm not sure if I am off base, but I think a visit to the mound should also help my relievers to become ready. Seems like it has no effect on reliever's readiness.

I seem to remember when the warmup option was introduced, Markus said that it would take approx 15 pitches for the reliever to be ready and a visit to the mound would use up 5 of those pitches.....anybody else remember that?

[The Game]

Originally Posted by Simmo13

I seem to remember when the warmup option was introduced, Markus said that it would take approx 15 pitches for the reliever to be ready and a visit to the mound would use up 5 of those pitches.....anybody else remember that?

Hadn't heard that before, if true, thank you.

[cdheer]

Originally Posted by MrDov

It has for me I believe. I'll start warming up a pitcher, he starts at cold. I'll immediately visit the mound and my reliever is already at warming up.

I just wish the AI manager faced the same restrictions. Near as I can tell, the AI never uses the bullpen at all.

Pretty sure I've brought this up before, but IMO the best way to handle it was the way SSI's Computer Baseball did, WAY back in the day:

Relievers on average took roughly four batters-worth of time to warm up (starters took longer). A visit to the mound was considered one batter, and the change between innings counted as two batters.

Standard rules applied: two visits to the same pitcher in the same inning means you have to replace him.

The game would notify you if the AI manager ("Casey") visited the mound, and would notify you if he got a pitcher up or sat one down.

Obviously you could make it more sophisticated (based on pitch #s instead of batters, etc.), but that's the general gist of what I'd like.

[cmaug]

In my experience, it's been helpful in buying time for RP that is warming up. I don't pay attention to what the current pitcher says, I just use it to stall.

[Rizon]

Yes, it is true that visiting the mound gives extra time to your relievers to warm-up. I frequently see my bullpen warming up, visit the mound, and before I make a pitch my bullpen is warmed up.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by BigbyWolf

It's been mentioned before and I just wanted to take another kick at this specific can.

When I opt to visit the mound, I would like there to be more variation in the response from the pitcher and to be given specific options to take.

Pitcher says "I am tired but let me finish the inning"
Option 1 leave him in
Option 2 pull him for player being warmed up

Pitcher says "I am tired, it's your call"
Option 1 pull him
Option 2 tell him that this is his last batter so he doesn't have to leave anything in the tank

I play out my games and would love to see this area of the game expanded.

Does anyone know if there is a way to edit the current messages? I thought I remember there being a thread about that, but I couldn't find it.

[Mark313]

I also wish the Visit Mound button would NOT disappear once you visit the pitcher.

Why let the game tell you, you can't go a second time.

Let the player / manager, managing the team go when he wants. IF HE makes a mistake the second time the same inning, immediately he has to replace the pitcher.

[drksd4848]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Does anyone know if there is a way to edit the current messages? I thought I remember there being a thread about that, but I couldn't find it.

I always wondered if we could do this... Especially because I had a hard time imagining someone like Josh Beckett saying,

"I'm perfectly fine! Let me pitch please"

I imagined for him it would be more like:

"What the <expletive> are YOU doing here? Leave me the <expletive> alone and let me <expletive> pitch, you <expletive> hole.

Always trying to enhance the immersion.

[IStillDream]

Originally Posted by drksd4848

I always wondered if we could do this... Especially because I had a hard time imagining someone like Josh Beckett saying,

"I'm perfectly fine! Let me pitch please"

I imagined for him it would be more like:

"What the <expletive> are doing here? Leave me the <expletive> alone and let me <expletive> pitch, you <expletive> hole.

Always trying to enhance the immersion.

I had precisely the same thought, also with Beckett.

[drksd4848]

I thought of some more dialog mods for Josh Beckett.

When he's getting tired:

"I'm <expletive>in' fine. Get the <expletive> away from me."

When he IS tired:

"<expletive> you. I can still get this <expletive. referring to female anatomy> out."

When he's exhausted:

"What the <expletive> took you so long? My tee time is in a half hour."

Always a competitor, that Josh Beckett. Even on the golf course.

[drksd4848]

Now that I think about it, I remember one of the cool things about Earl Weaver was that the catcher would offer input as to the condition of the pitcher. Anybody remember this:

Earl: How's the arm?

Pitcher: Arm's fine.

Catcher: He's a bit wild right now.

How about in OOTP we have the catcher give a more honest assessment of a pitcher's performance. Like if it's early in the game and your starter's pitch count is low but he's getting shellacked:

Pitcher: "I'm perfectly fine! Let me pitch please!"
Catcher: "This kid's got nothin'. Get him gone."

[slic1149]

I would also like to see a more robust conversation with the pitcher. It would be helpful to have the catcher have some input. As it stands now it is very difficult to use this feature except to stall for a reliever. I have no idea how simple it would be to enhance the conversation and include some options, but I do think it would increase both the immersion in the game and also help the manager make an informed decision whether to lift the pitcher or let him continue.

[drksd4848]

Originally Posted by slic1149

I would also like to see a more robust conversation with the pitcher. It would be helpful to have the catcher have some input. As it stands now it is very difficult to use this feature except to stall for a reliever. I have no idea how simple it would be to enhance the conversation and include some options, but I do think it would increase both the immersion in the game and also help the manager make an informed decision whether to lift the pitcher or let him continue.

To that point about the bullpen: The only thing that needs tweaking with the warm up rule is the AMOUNT OF TIME it takes for a pitcher to get loose.

Rather than 15 pitches, it should be:

1 to 2 batters for a setupman/closer.

2 to 3 batters for a long reliever or a starter pressed into relief.

Between innings should count as 2 batters.

A visit to the mount should count as 1 batter (assuming that the manager or pitching coach is stalling)

EWB and Microleague had a similar system and it worked like a charm. If that could be fixed it would enhance strategy without putting you at a disadvantage to the AI

[IStillDream]

This would probably be too complex to add to OOTP 14 at this juncture, but long term I'd love to see a "composure" stat for pitchers. Part of what seperates the true aces from other talentented pitchers is that when they get into trouble, they have the confidence to make their pitch and get out of it, while those without that composure can be crusing along just fine, and then go to pieces once the other team gets a few baserunners.

Specifically, pitchers with low composure would see their probability of allowing a hit or walk increase with each consectutive hit or walk they allowed. Under such a system, mound visits would give the pitcher a temporary boost to composure, and pitching coaches (and perhaps catchers) would have "talking to pitchers" as an additional skill.

[renojedi]

Originally Posted by cmaug

In my experience, it's been helpful in buying time for RP that is warming up. I don't pay attention to what the current pitcher says, I just use it to stall.

This is how I use it too. And, to the OP's suggestion, I would also love to see more variety. The one that I don't really like is "I still have some in me, sir". Not sure many pitchers (outside of a few gentlemen types) call the manager "sir".