I have a LH and RH specialist in one of my leagues, and decided I'd try to get as much use out of them as possible.  So at the beginning of the season I changed the specialist setting in "Expected Usage Patterns for Pitchers" from the default -- 50% -- to 95% (the highest number available). 

After 56 games, the 2 specialists have made 17 and 16 appearances (for a total of 5.2 and 5.1 IP).

I guess that's more appearances than a specialist usually makes, but I'd like them to make even more.  These pitchers had about 35 IP in RL each, but at their current rate they'll finish with about 15 IP for me. 

Of course I can change their roles to get them more innings, but I was hoping to get 35 IP out of each of them as specialists.  Any suggestions on how I might do that?

By the way, they've never once dropped below 100%, so appearance fatigue hasn't been an issue.

I've never had a Specialist reach their IP total in the Specialist role.  I've always had to move them into a Setup role towards the end of the season just to get them enough appearances to max their innings.

IIRC, the Expected Usage settings are just to help Recommendations give you pitch counts. It doesn't affect how often your pitchers actually pitch. Because, if it did, it would need to be team specific, and it doesn't look like it is.

I've never heard that before, uncleal.  Thanks for the info.  In any case, the recommended pitch counts are pretty useless (never take into account in-game fatigue, just total innings pitched).

I sent a ticket asking Admin how I might be able to get more appearances out of my two specialists.  I'll post whatever response I get here...
 

You actually should drop the expected usage.  That'll get those automatic pitch counts up...  If you were getting more than 1/3 of an inning per appearance they would rack up the innings much more quickly.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by "automatic pitch counts."  I set my pitch counts myself and would never rely on WIS's recommendations (if that's what you're referring to). 

These 2 specialists have pitch counts of 5/5 with a pull of 5.  I want them to face one batter per appearance and then hit the showers. 

The thing is, I want them to take the ball a helluva lot more frequently than 3 out of every 10 games; 3 out of every 5 games would get me a lot closer to using up their RL innings.   

the RH/LH specialists work great for me.  Always get the max IP out of them.  Guess I know the secret...

Thanks for sharing it, too!

I guess I could get them into a lot more games if I set every other reliever to come into the game in the 9th inning.  Would that work?  Although I wouldn't get as many lefty/lefty righty/righty matchups, which is the whole point of the specialists...

Not sure what is meant by in game fatigue, is that the percentage of fatigue before the game? Alos if a guys actual stats are 40 innings pitched and he is over that is he still worth using or will he tire too fast?

In-game fatigue refers to how tired a pitcher will get during a game.  A pitcher who averaged 1 inning an appearance in real life (like 2009 Mike Adams) will only be "fresh" for about 15 pitches in the sim.  Whereas a pitcher who averaged 8 IP/G (1912 Joe Wood or 1988 Milacki) will be good for 120 or more pitches per appearance.

In determining pitch counts for your players, multiply their RL IP/G by 15 or 16.

Of course, for a pitcher like Milacki who only had 26 IP RL, you probably don't want use up a ton of his innings in one go.  But the fact is, you could if you needed to (say in a game 7 playoff).  Whereas with 2009 Mike Adams, sending him to the mound for a spot start wouldn't be advisable, since he'd be pitching tired after just a few batters.

If you want a taste for how this works, go play a few exhibition games live.  You'll see how tired each pitcher gets after X number of pitches. 

thanks again, you are my master and I the apprentice =)

Posted by crazystengel on 6/29/2010 10:39:00 AM (view original):
Thanks for sharing it, too!

I guess I could get them into a lot more games if I set every other reliever to come into the game in the 9th inning.  Would that work?  Although I wouldn't get as many lefty/lefty righty/righty matchups, which is the whole point of the specialists...

Why go to that extreme?  Set the other relievers to 7th or 8th and put the specialists at 4th or 5th...

My concern is that I won't get the matchups I want if the specialists are the only options available.  I don't want my lefty facing righties and vice versa, since that defeats the whole purpose of specialists.  I'm not interested in getting them more appearances, just more appearances with the right matchups.

I still haven't heard back from Admin on my question, but will report back whatever I hear.  Since I posted, the specialists have seen even less action than before.

Hehe ok I'll tell you the secret.

First pick  a 25IP-30IP pitcher for your specialist.  Any more and they won't get enough innings just like the 80IP 1 inning closer.  Plus I never spend over $1M for a specialist, its overkill.  You don't need an ace to be your specialist, just someone who's ok.

Next make sure you have enough in the bullpen, in both innings and number of pitchers.  If there's noone available they put your specialist in no matter what.

Once the specialist comes in, the other ratings takes over.  I put my guy for 5-10-4, even if it means they'll keep him in for one or two more batters occasionally, righty or lefty.  This is what fills out the innings for me.

In my current league my LHS is '88 Randy Johnson ($478K, remember you don't need an ace ).  In 49 games so far, he played in 17 games, and 9.1 IP (which is right on pace).  I also have 350IP+ and 5 other pitchers in the bullpen, not including my AAA mopups, so I don't have to worry about stretching out the bullpen. In those 17 games, only one time has he come in for a righty, and a couple of times for a switch hitter.  The rest has been all lefties.  Once again they'll leave him in for the next batter many times even if its a righty, but I'm fine with that to fill in the innings.