TPC - This value refers to a player's target pitch count per appearance as a pitcher. The player will try to reach this pitch count in an outing. This is crucial to achieving maximum value (his best performance for the most amount of games over the season) out of a pitcher. Generally, a pitcher will be pulled after the plate appearance in which he exceeds his target pitch count. If he is still pitching exceptionally well, the AI will leave the pitcher in until a relief pitcher is necessary.

Can anyone make a guess as to what "exceptionally well" means in this context? I generally run with a shorter rotation, so don't have this come up often. In an important division game, I upped the TPC (and MPC) of my good SP.

He started the game fully rested, with a TPC of 90 and a MPC of 120 (Call bullpen = 2).

Through 7 innings, he had allowed 3 hits, 3 walks, and 0 runs. He'd also picked up 6 Ks. This does not seem to be, however, good enough work to be pitching "exceptionally well" and be allowed to reach the MPC. For those of you who may look more closely at TPC/MPC on a regular basis, does that seem to make sense?

Minnesota @ Chicago.

Just a guess, but I would assume it means no-hitter or perfect game. Those are situations in MLB where a guy will almost always have a long rope. Managers generally won't leave a guy whose gassed in just to go for the shutout.

I have never paid much attention to TPC/MPC unless I need to either ride a guy for a game or else ensure a short outing. That said, you might also want to consider when a relief pitcher might be considered "necessary". Your guy was 9 pitches over his TPC, had just finished an inning (and so was sitting in the dugout when the decision was made) and the game was close with two innings left. If TPC in HBD can be seen as establishing a pitcher's endurance, then entering a high leverage situation late in the game a manager might want to use a fresh arm out of the pen instead of testing the supposedly tired arm of his starter. This would be a common move n MLB.