Since skunk mentioned we don't have enough of these sorts of threads anymore...

I just lost a game that I was winning 11-0, and I lost it because I messed up my pitcher settings.

I had a Tandem A/B pair of pitchers ready to go, with A set for 20 pitches, and B for 100. Unfortunately B didn't get into the game because I forgot to change his availability from 9 and I had a reliever whose availability was 8.

So after the Tandem A guy left, the reliever came in. After the reliever pitched, I had a few other relievers available for the 9th, just like my Tandem B pitcher. Sparky went through them, and THEN there was no one else available except my 7% Mopup and my Tandem B pitcher. Again, both with INN AVAIL set at 9. Sparky went with the mop, even though I have Use Mopup Only When Losing checked off. You can guess the rest.

So yeah, it's my fault for screwing up the settings. But why, when the Tandem B was available in the 9th, just like the Mopup, would Sparky opt for the Mopup?

Interesting one. Did Tandem B have the Relief box checked?

We know all pitcher decisions are logic/settings-based, so something prevented Tandem B from being used in that scenario. I'd guess one of two things. First, there is no logic for Tandem B (a starter role) to appear in relief if he doesn't immediately follow Tandem A and the relief pitcher hierarchies take effect. Or, there is logic for it, but Tandem B's Relief box wasn't checked, which removed him from the hierarchy or lowered him below any other pitcher with the relief box checked.

Definitely interested to see a definitive answer for this, if you ever get one.

No, the Tandem B's relief box wasn't checked. Sort of assumed I didn't need to do that for the pitcher who by definition is supposed to follow Tandem A. But I can see where I gummed up the works by having the relief pitcher available to pitch earlier than the Tandem B.

I've made this mistake before, by the way, so I accept full blame for it. It's just never before cost me a game I was winning by 11 runs, ha ha. Maybe this time I'll learn.

if a starting pitcher doesnt have the use in relief box checked, they're always last in the hierarchy, the sim will go through every fatigued reliever before it starts using starting pitchers not set for relief work.

this very often gets newer users in fatigue jail, as they have too many innings in their rotation, not enough in the bullpen, and then don't check the use in relief box for the starters. then their relievers get run into the ground while their starters are under-used

Yeah, as I said, I accept blame here, especially as it's not my first time messing this up.

I guess what I'd like to see is the Tandem B follow the Tandem A regardless of his inning availability. If you've got Tandem A/B pitchers, it should be understood these are the first two pitchers you want to see in the game.

Posted by crazystengel on 9/6/2026 12:18:00 PM (view original):
Yeah, as I said, I accept blame here, especially as it's not my first time messing this up.

I guess what I'd like to see is the Tandem B follow the Tandem A regardless of his inning availability. If you've got Tandem A/B pitchers, it should be understood these are the first two pitchers you want to see in the game.

That's the functionality I'd like to see as well. I use a Tandem 3A/B in most leagues.

Posted by 06gsp on 9/6/2026 9:21:00 AM (view original):
if a starting pitcher doesnt have the use in relief box checked, they're always last in the hierarchy, the sim will go through every fatigued reliever before it starts using starting pitchers not set for relief work.

this very often gets newer users in fatigue jail, as they have too many innings in their rotation, not enough in the bullpen, and then don't check the use in relief box for the starters. then their relievers get run into the ground while their starters are under-used

This is good info and I didnt realize it. I appreciate sharing.

along the lines of pitcher settings - i am pretty basiic when it comes to reliever settings. I will pretty much run Setup A/Setup B or LHS/RHS wiithout any Long or closer designations. I know sparky looks at OAV as determining factor for who to briing in -but does anyone else run different bullpen settings? What would be reason to put someone as long A vs setup? Curious on other owners thought processes

For many years now I have run exclusively LHS/RHS bullpens. My relievers tend to be close together in talent, so I care more about handedness than exactly who pitches in specific situations. If a guy isn't getting enough innings, it's easy to set him to Setup A for a few games, guaranteeing he's the first reliever into the game. Doing it this way gives me the most predictability game-to-game, which is what I want rather than trying to micromanage situations.

Posted by skunk206 on 9/19/2026 8:45:00 PM (view original):
For many years now I have run exclusively LHS/RHS bullpens. My relievers tend to be close together in talent, so I care more about handedness than exactly who pitches in specific situations. If a guy isn't getting enough innings, it's easy to set him to Setup A for a few games, guaranteeing he's the first reliever into the game. Doing it this way gives me the most predictability game-to-game, which is what I want rather than trying to micromanage situations.

The only issue I ran into with that - and this may be due to not playing a lot of theme leagues, but if my SP gets knocked out early, specialists woudln't be brought in until the 6/7 regardless of inning availability (cant remember which it was). Any issues on that for you?

Interested in hearing from progressive owners as well, as the talent level between pitchers can vary a lot more

No issues with that at all, since ALL of my relievers are either LHS or RHS, and they're all set to 9th inning for availability. There are no other types above them in the hierarchy, so once my starter leaves the game, my lowest OAV lefty will face the next batter if he's an LHB, or a righty will come in to face an RHB.

Yes, in my experience the LHS/RHS setting work best if ALL relievers are set to one or the other. Setting some to Long A/B, SetUp A/B, etc, will result in LHS/RHS being underused.

I often use the same bullpen setup as skunk described, except my relievers are set to "any" for inning available, and I often do designate 1 (lousy) pitcher as a mopup. It works well...