Specialists

[LeeD]

Yes, it's pretty much select the best and let the AI sort them out, which is why I said that "all middle relief" is common. However, there are some problems with your analysis.

First, AI did bring Lanier in to face a lefty in all three of those games (unless opposition AI pinch hit for right-handers with other right-handers, which is unlikely). Second, measuring innings pitched vs, left and right is putting the cart before the horse. Overall pitching stats are much more a result of who is starting than who's being used in relief. If teams are using a lot of left-handed starters (which they are), expect overall innings pitched vs. left/right to approach parity.

It's all situational. Your AI brings in Lanier, opponent brings in a right-handed pinch hitter. If Lanier's pitch count limit isn't strangled, AI favors keeping Lanier in for the following batter or two over burning another relief arm (the bullpen fatigue factor).

Again, you have two choices. Select the best pitchers and let the AI choose among them or set the specialist's pitch count between 6 and 9 to keep him from facing more than two batters.

[cwhitman]

yeah: i don't like giving the AI choices to screw things up. that's why i go all middle relief and just say hey pick the most rested/best for the situation from that. roles are basically leverage preferences but not as nuanced as they should be in the situation

[daves]

Originally Posted by cwhitman

yeah: i don't like giving the AI choices to screw things up. that's why i go all middle relief and just say hey pick the most rested/best for the situation from that. roles are basically leverage preferences but not as nuanced as they should be in the situation

So, to usa_hank's point and yours, specialists are not correctly used and throwing your bullpen to all middle relief utilizes the best rested option out of the bullpen.

[LeeD]

Originally Posted by daves

So, to usa_hank's point and yours, specialists are not correctly used and throwing your bullpen to all middle relief utilizes the best rested option out of the bullpen.

Yes, although remembering that LOOGY means lefty-one-guy-only and following that up by strangling his pitch count limit will get you a guy who makes 50 appearances, 30 innings, and lots of lefties faced. Is this worth it? Not for the most part, especially since most teams are platoon-heavy and have lots of lefty mashers sitting on the bench if your starter was right-handed.

[usa_hank]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Yes, although remembering that LOOGY means lefty-one-guy-only and following that up by strangling his pitch count limit will get you a guy who makes 50 appearances, 30 innings, and lots of lefties faced. Is this worth it? Not for the most part, especially since most teams are platoon-heavy and have lots of lefty mashers sitting on the bench if your starter was right-handed.

But you can't actually use LOOGYs here, right? Because of the three batter or end of inning minimum. And I doubt the AI would intentionally bring your guy in for the last batter in an inning.