Broken Bat - Discussion Forum: Closer?

Post ID	Date & Time	Game Date	Function

#204	11/07/2011 12:00:00 am
afreespirit Joined: 09/17/2011 Posts: 305 Inactive	I have used the same pitcher as my closer since the season started. He is in the closer spot and the box has always been checked for him. He's done a good job with 21 saves, 3 loses 0 wins and a 3.23 era. His strikeout to walk ratio is an impressive 42:3 and WHIP is .827. If I have one quibble it's that he gives up too many homeruns, 8 in 39 innings. However, he hasn't been used as much as he should be. Here in this game http://brokenbat.org/game/355097 he is not brought in despite it being a clear save situation. My starter lasted 4 2/3 and gave up a run and a long reliever came in for 1 inning, then the other LR came in. So in the bottom of the 9th with my team up 3-1 why is the 2nd reliever still pitching? Where is the closer? Of course we lost The bottom of the 9th sees the 6, 7 & 8 hitters, all RH batters against the LR who is a southpaw with RH BAA of .257 while my closer is a righty and has a RH BAA of .179. So it's not a righty/lefty matchup issue. Is it the management settings that override the closer role? Pitch count and Hook? I see that sometimes starters pitch complete one run games so I assume that at least in those cases the closer role gets ignored. Does that happen with relief pitchers as well? The default setting for that LR was 90 Pitch count and 6 Hook and he wasn't near it. Is that why he stays in when the closer should have been brought in? I could change his settings, but sometimes you need a LR to enter early and pitch 5 or 6 innings. All you need him to do is not give up runs. And in a close game with your team ahead the real job of the bullpen is to preserve the lead and get you to the 9th so your closer can come in and finish it off. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my closer to get more save opportunities?

#205	11/07/2011 12:00:00 am
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	Let me look into this...in general, I think the closer should come in this situation. Perhaps there is an error in the game engine logic, I will try to get to the bottom of it. I don't think you should have to change your management settings. Steve

#206	11/07/2011 12:00:00 am
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	I don't think the closer box is checked for Tyrone Harper. This I think maybe the issue. I will try to simply the pitching setup...I think is confusing to have a closer pitching role and a closer check box. Steve

#208	11/08/2011 12:00:00 am
afreespirit Joined: 09/17/2011 Posts: 305 Inactive	I got frustrated with my team's late season collapse so I reset everything to defaults, which took Harper out of the closer spot. I put him back but I must have forgotten to check the closer box. Sorry for the rant. This is a really fun sim and I think it has a lot of potential. Keep up the great work Steve!

#209	11/08/2011 12:00:00 am
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	No problem...I'm glad people are enthusiastic about the game. Steve

#604	05/08/2012 4:10:03 pm
Lairdman Joined: 04/02/2012 Posts: 0 Inactive	Perhaps I made a human error as well, but in the 52 games my team has played, my closer has only made 2 appearances. TWO??? Granted we don't win all that much, but there's been lots of save situations where he was left nailed to the bench. Does my manager have a problem with him??? I already had to make a couple of lineup changes since the manager wouldn't play the player I wanted. After 1 AB he would get yanked for a pinch hitter. Could this be another one of those situations???

#605	05/08/2012 5:58:38 pm
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	Lairdman - I will look into it. Steve

#607	05/08/2012 9:56:13 pm
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	How long has Jamie Wilson been your closer? It seemed to work fine for the most recent save opportunity here: http://brokenbat.org/game/551493, but before that, its not so clear. Steve

#608	05/08/2012 10:02:59 pm
admin Joined: 01/27/2010 Posts: 4985 Administrator	BTW, you can prevent players from being pinch hit/pinch run/defensive substituted for by unchecking those boxes for that player. Steve

#615	05/09/2012 4:06:27 pm
Lairdman Joined: 04/02/2012 Posts: 0 Inactive	Wilson has been the closer all season. I did find it funny that after bringing it up, he was used the very next opportunity. Maybe the manager heard my grumblings. On a positive note. I'm really liking where this game is heading. Well done Steve.