I have sometimes set a lefty as an LH Specialist. I've noticed that Sparky sometimes calls them in against righties, effectively making them setup men. I assume this happens only when pitcher availabilities make the LHSp the best choice, but I've never tracked this.

Can anyone offer advice here?

Is the LHSp an effective setting at all? Or does it work well only at higher caps when you have extra innings available in your pitching staff?

i got Jim Poole set as LHS and comes in whenever he wants it appears lol

I've only played a few seasons, but seems to me that that bullpen setting just isn't worth it. Often the "LH Specialist" stays in to face a righty even after a lefty batter. I used to make 6-7 man bullpens. Seems just as easy to go with 3-4 guys and not worry about roles too much.

You HoFers probably know this, but I just recently figured out the pen's setting of only appear in the Xth inning or later. Maybe that is why your LHS is coming in to face righties?

Using a guy as LH Specialist is a waste of innings.  Unless you can afford it, don't bother.  A LHS will never come close to using his IP. 

Posted by Bilfert on 5/23/2012 3:18:00 PM (view original):
Using a guy as LH Specialist is a waste of innings.  Unless you can afford it, don't bother.  A LHS will never come close to using his IP. 

Exactly. I've never used the role in a capped league. The only time I use the role in an uncapped league is if there's plenty of innings to go around and I have a pitcher with under 40 IP that isn't bad, but doesn't seem to be useful in any other context. (This applies to both the LHS and RHS roles)

I ONLY USE IT WHEN A GOOD RELIEVER KEEPS GETTING SHELLED IN SETUP A OR SETUP B

I only use the L/RH Specialist setting with RPs under 30 IP/162; it's just a way of stretching their innings.  If they're underutilized about 2/3 of the way through the season I move then to regular relief.

I agree it is best used for low-IP pitchers - I would add, to the uses people have already mentioned, that if you have a mediocre pitcher you got just to fill in a blank on the roster, cover the minimum IP or because you didn't have enough cash left to get anyone good after drafting your more important players, sometimes you can convert him into a half-way decent one by having him only face L/RH batters. 

But everyone here is right - it is a pretty limited option, to be used only when it can serve. Drafting someone especially to be an LH/RH specialist is pointless, especially because the players are not rated v. LH/RH opponents, and the SIM gives a modest boost to batters facing opposite hand pitchers at most. 

Posted by uncleal on 5/23/2012 6:44:00 PM (view original):

Posted by Bilfert on 5/23/2012 3:18:00 PM (view original):
Using a guy as LH Specialist is a waste of innings.  Unless you can afford it, don't bother.  A LHS will never come close to using his IP. 

Exactly. I've never used the role in a capped league. The only time I use the role in an uncapped league is if there's plenty of innings to go around and I have a pitcher with under 40 IP that isn't bad, but doesn't seem to be useful in any other context. (This applies to both the LHS and RHS roles)

It also "works well"* for pitchers with ip/g under 1.   You can set them to 5/10 for PC.


*By works well, I mean it's less awful.   Even doing this I have had guys face more than 50% of batters from the wrong side.  Generally, I think it is a bad idea,

VS LHB

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Old Jimmy doing pretty well this time

I use 2010 HC Kuo as LHSp.  Usually high salary cap leagues ( $180 mill to $255 mill ).  He does pretty well.

If you set pull to 5 and max pitch count to 5, LHS and RHS can work.  Howver it is generally not economical to use pitchers with more than 35 ip in such a manner.

FWIW I usually overuse the "specialists"... I set those 25-30IP guys on any inning, 10 pc max, and set their fatigue above 90...they get plenty of appearances...I've never had a problem getting max use out of them. they can also spell the closer in a pinch.

With all the switch hitters used the only time it works is if you u have a very deep bullpen and set every single RP to either RHS or LHS.  Over the course of a season some are close to what you'd expect, while others are the opposite of what you intended.