SIM COMPLETE - 1990 - Regular Season 2

[Pat]

Sounds like a lock to me.....

Tradeback?

[Jim]

Testing the waters on moving a closer to SP? I tried, again, with Diaz, without success. I think I'm done with the experiment. He had a decent spring starting but just a couple starts into the season and I'm 2nd guessing it again like last year after a couple of just average showings. More than likely he'll go back to closing within the next 1-2 sims.

[Spear]

Testing the waters on moving a closer to SP? I tried, again, with Diaz, without success. I think I'm done with the experiment. He had a decent spring starting but just a couple starts into the season and I'm 2nd guessing it again like last year after a couple of just average showings. More than likely he'll go back to closing within the next 1-2 sims.

Did his ratings change when you changed his position?

I love toying around with my pitchers to see how their ratings change when given a new role.

[Pat]

Testing the waters on moving a closer to SP? I tried, again, with Diaz, without success. I think I'm done with the experiment. He had a decent spring starting but just a couple starts into the season and I'm 2nd guessing it again like last year after a couple of just average showings. More than likely he'll go back to closing within the next 1-2 sims.

Meet Ivan Garcia

#7 overall prospect. Switched from closer to SP. Dominated in Triple-A as a stater and had moderate success in the BLB before he blew out his arm and lost half his ratings. Beware.

[Carlos]

I tried making Don McDonald a starter as well. He was a good reliever/closer in the minors. Had very good starting numbers there as well. Struggled in his rookie year as a starter last season. Granted, it was his rookie year, but now he's my closer and his numbers look fantastic.

Again, much like deciding something in a rookie year isn't always the best move, his closer numbers are extremely early. I doubt he'll finish with a K/9 over 15. That being said, it's hard to ignore the success.

Lesson being: maybe these guys should just stick with the bullpen. Stamina is too important and I'm personally not seeing much success with guys in the 3 or 4 stamina area performing well as starters.

[Dave]

Testing the waters on moving a closer to SP? I tried, again, with Diaz, without success. I think I'm done with the experiment. He had a decent spring starting but just a couple starts into the season and I'm 2nd guessing it again like last year after a couple of just average showings. More than likely he'll go back to closing within the next 1-2 sims.

I thought the consensus is that you need more than two non-awful pitches to start. Diaz has two great pitches, but his third pitch is awful. There are some MLB exceptions to that rule, like Cole Hamels dominating in 2008 with only a moving fastball and a plus-plus change, but I thought in OOTP you pretty much needed a third pitch. Diaz has one, but it's terrible....

[Pat]

I thought the consensus is that you need more than two non-awful pitches to start. Diaz has two great pitches, but his third pitch is awful. There are some MLB exceptions to that rule, like Cole Hamels dominating in 2008 with only a moving fastball and a plus-plus change, but I thought in OOTP you pretty much needed a third pitch. Diaz has one, but it's terrible....

Rule of thumb that I have seen is "3" or better for your 3rd pitch. If it's a "2", they likely will struggle as a starter.

[Carlos]

Rule of thumb that I have seen is "3" or better for your 3rd pitch. If it's a "2", they likely will struggle as a starter.

Yea, that seems to be the case for McDonald as well. 6FB-6CV-2CU

Not gonna cut it as a starter.

[Jim]

I thought the consensus is that you need more than two non-awful pitches to start. Diaz has two great pitches, but his third pitch is awful. There are some MLB exceptions to that rule, like Cole Hamels dominating in 2008 with only a moving fastball and a plus-plus change, but I thought in OOTP you pretty much needed a third pitch. Diaz has one, but it's terrible....

I had just read about them needing 3 pitches...didn't know they needed to be 3 good ones. I was more concerned with his stamina...I don't have the game open right now but I think he's only a 3, so I figured at most he'd give me 5 innings. Not sure it's worth moving a top notch closer to SP just for 5 IP.

Carlos, I didn't notice if there was a ratings change when I switched him...I'll have to check it out next time I have the game open.

[Carlos]

I'm sure that was meant for Eric. But, I bet his ratings did change. From what I understand, all relievers take a hit in Stuff when they become starters.

[Pat]

Yes, every RP takes a hit in stuff when moving to SP, but the game, more specifically, the BLB won't reflect it.

Because we are on the 2-8 scale, remember, those numbers are actually broken down a lot further than that. Example: if your pitcher is showing 5-5-5, if the scale was 200-800, he might be rated 580-550-520. But when he is moved to SP, his stuff rating could drop from 580 all the way to 500 and you wouldn't notice the difference because of our scale.

[Matt]

3-4 (8-5)

1-2 vs. Windy City
2-2 vs. Washington

Good

- 6 HR's on the week...3 by Barnes, 2 by Park. Those two are either feast or famine. On the week they combined for 20 K's, 2 BB's, 5 HR's, and 12 RBI's. Time to consult with outside parties if they are worth it our not.
- Great pitching by Sasaki (7.3 IP, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB) and Athey (15 IP, 2 ER, 12 K, 3 BB).
- De Jesus and Ednams have both started out hot.

Bad

- SP Stephens is back to the bullpen. He's gonna bitch but .7 IP, 4 ER, 5 HA will not work. Look for SP Duncan to get back into the mix.
- SP Corondo got rocked as well (2.3 IP, 5 ER, 2 BB)
- SS Pollard is a pile of wet goo. Another stellar week of him hitting .231 has opened up the flood gates for a possible trade.
- 5 minor league players on the DL with extended injuries, including up and comer 3B Randall who will be out for at least a month now.

On Deck

- 3 vs. Cali
- 3 vs. Denver

It's nice to have 6 straight games at home, we need to build some fan support. We have a 10 game and 12 game road stretch in May so we need to attract the fans while we can. Maybe a nice bobble head night or two. Overall we are 8-5 so I can't complain, it's better than are usual 5-15 April's of past!

[Clay]

I don't even consider moving a reliever to Starter without at least a '4' Stamina.

[Pat]

I don't even consider moving a reliever to Starter without at least a '4' Stamina.

The "Eager Beaver" has only a "3" on endurance.

[Clay]

The "Eager Beaver" has only a "3" on endurance.

I didn't say there weren't exceptions. Just like there are 4's that can't work over 4.0 innings. Just a general rule for me to experiment. And my pitching staff is loaded with them. Collins and McQueen were both drafted as Closers.