General Description - From this page, you may set your pitching roles for any level that you have previously not given to the game's AI in the management console. Before the regular season starts, users will only be able to set their pitching staffs for Spring Training ML rosters.

Level - Users may select the level at which to set a staff. Levels from the dropdown menu include Majors, Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Low-A and rookie ball teams.

View - Users may select the type of individual statistics or ratings to view. Types in the dropdown menu include regular season, playoff, spring training and last season's statistics. Regular, playoff and spring training refer just to the current Hardball Dynasty season, so only completed games from this season will be included in these statistics. Last season refers to the previous Hardball Dynasty regular season. The statistics listed are just for these players at the level selected and for the active franchise only. A statistics key is listed below. Current and projected ratings refer to the 13 player ratings applicable to pitching. Current ratings are the values from 0-100 that represent a player's ability for the category at this time. This is what is input into the simulation engine. Projected ratings are an approximation of a player's highest possible achievable rating in the category. The accuracy of these ratings is directly linked to the franchise's advance scouting budget. Scrolling over each ratings icon will indicate the rating category. A player's throwing type (left - L or right - R), current fatigue (%) based on recent usage and this season's salary ($) will always be available in the view. After selecting Level and View, please click 'Go' to begin setting pitcher's roles.

Name - # indicates the player is not on the active roster, but is part of the spring training squad. The Fatigue value in parenthesis indicates the player's fatigue if he were to not appear in the next game.

Role - Role refers to all of the pitching positions (a list and explanation of roles is below) that are listed next to all of the active pitchers on the team's roster. Roles default to the player's primary position. If you would like a player to pitch in a different role, please click on the dropdown arrow next to the player's name and select the role. If you would not like a player to pitch at all, please select Rest. A player set to rest will not enter the game under any circumstances unless in-game injuries limit the active roster and a replacement must be made. We do not recommend resting more than three pitchers for any game. You may change the roles of as many pitchers as you would like before saving your staff. However, your staff will not be valid if you have more than one pitcher listed for the same starting pitcher (#1-#6) or tandem (#1A-#4B) role. You may have multiple pitchers listed for any of the other/relief pitching roles. Once you have finalized your staff roles, please click on 'Save roles' to save this staff for this level.

Show Recs - Clicking 'Show Recs' will force the game's AI will assess the pitchers most likely to start (tandem or not) and relieve (with priority given to more valuable relief positions) based on overall rating for the type of pitching situation and primary positions set in the GM's Office. It will then utilize an algorithm based on ratings to recommend the optimal rotation and relief roles for winning. For example, your team's best starting pitcher will be set to Starter #1. Your team's best relief pitcher will generally become its closer. This will not necessarily optimize your team for player development as the same logic is used for lineup optimization at each level. Upon a world's creation, all staffs are automatically set to recommendations. So this is not necessary to do if you have not made any changes.

Starters (#1-#6) - This refers to the pitcher who begins the game for this team. Starters pitch in chronological order, beginning each season with #1 and proceeding through as many starters as are indicated. Users may decide not to utilize all six potential starting positions, but due to the nature of pitching fatigue, we highly recommend using at least four starters at each level. Users can also utilize starters in the same rotation as a starting tandem. In this case, the same starting number cannot be used by both Starters and Tandem Starters as the rotation proceeds chronologically from the lowest number to the highest. Individual pitcher settings, such as pitch counts and call bullpen settings will be set on the Edit Player Settings Page.

Tandem Starters (#1A-#4B) - Tandem starters are relatively common in lower minor leagues. This refers to the practice of always pairing two starting pitchers (generally inexperienced as starters or with low fatigue but starter potential) in the same game. The 'A' starter will pitch until he reaches his pull threshold based on the Edit Player Settings. He is then always relieved by the 'B' starter. If you would like to use Tandem starters, you must always select an 'A' and a 'B' for each starting pair. You must also choose a number in the rotation unique from your starters.

Long Relief A/B - Long relief pitchers are the first to come in when the starting pitcher is removed early (generally before the 7th) in a game that is still in doubt. These are usually relief pitchers who are capable of pitching multiple innings of relief at maximum effectiveness. Unless settings in the Edit Players Settings page dictate otherwise, the long relief A pitcher will be given first priority to enter a game when this situation arises and the score is still close. If there is a wide margin in the score your long relief B pitcher will have a better chance of appearing in the game. If a long relief pitcher must leave the game during what is still a long relief situation, first replacement priority will be given to another long relief pitcher. For reference, these are also often times spot starters for teams in case of injury.

Setup A/B - Setup relief pitchers are the first to come in when a pitcher is removed late (generally during the 7th or later) in a game that is still in doubt. These are usually relief pitchers who are only capable of pitching an inning of relief at maximum effectiveness. Their appearances are usually higher than any other pitching role, while they may not pitch as many total innings as starters or long relief pitchers. Unless settings in the Edit Players Settings page dictate otherwise, the setup A pitcher will be given first priority to enter a game when this situation arises and the score is still close. If there is a wide margin in the score your setup B pitcher will have a better chance of appearing in the game. If a setup pitcher must leave the game during what is still a setup relief situation, first replacement priority will be given to another setup relief pitcher. Setup pitchers are intended to bridge the gap from starters to closers.

LH/RH Specialist - Specialists have become quite common in baseball. These are pitchers who are almost solely used just to get the opposing team's most feared hitter out late in a close game. For example, a left-handed specialist will enter the game to face the opponent's best left-handed hitter (and vice versa).

Mopup - The mop up setting is used to designate a pitcher to be used in blowouts (either winning or losing). Blowout is determined by the deficit (or lead) and the inning, e.g. an 8 run deficit in the 2nd inning would not be considered a blowout, but the same deficit in the 8th inning would be. Mop up designated pitchers could possibly be used in non-mop up situations. They will always be used before pitchers marked as 'rest'. For example, if you have 5 relievers and 1 is marked as rest, 1 is marked as mop up, 1 is marked as long relief, 1 is marked as setup and the last as your closer, and your game went to extra innings, if your closer, setup, and long relief had already been used, then your mop up pitcher would see action.

Closer A/B - Closers come in when a pitcher is removed late (generally during the 8th or later) in a game that is still very much in doubt. These are usually relief pitchers who are only capable of pitching an inning of relief at maximum effectiveness. They are also usually the best relief pitchers on a staff. Unless settings in the Edit Players Settings page dictate otherwise, the closer A pitcher will be given first priority to enter a game when this situation arises. If a closer must leave the game during what is still a save situation, first replacement priority will be given to another closer relief pitcher. Closers are supposed to seal victory for teams in close games.

Role Management - During all managerial relief decisions, the manager looks to find a pitcher in the most appropriate role. If a player isn't available due to fatigue, the Minimum Inning Available setting or simply because there aren't any pitchers assigned the specific role, he'll go to plan B. For instance, if it's the 5th inning and he needs a Long Reliever but there aren't any available, he'll then look for a Setup B pitcher. If there aren't any Setup B pitchers available, he'll then look for Setup A pitchers. This type of chaining is used in all circumstances.

- This indicates the next game's starting pitcher. Once locked in, this starter can't be removed from his next start unless removed from the team. This is done so that the opponent can prepare for the game (i.e. lineup adjustments). If the player is removed from the team, the first starter will be used.

Spring Training - During Spring Training, only the big league spring training squad is available. Once spring training concludes, you can view all levels within the Manager's Office.

Playoffs - For each round of the playoffs, the first listed starting pitcher will be used to start game 1. This is done to allow for rotation flexibility. The first non-injured listed starting pitcher will be selected to make the start, regardless of fatigue/autorest setting. Please keep this in mind come playoff time!

Mgmt Console - Don't forget that if you have the AI set to manage your pitching staff, then any moves you make will be overridden following the next game played.

Additional information :Player Ratings | Player Statistics | GM Basics | Guide | Manual