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Computer Manager Setup

By Jeff Spencer - Guest Author
02/15/2010

In a CM-only league, the computer manager dictates how HAL operates your team. CMs take on an extra level of importance in leagues like ours because you never get to manage your team until the playoffs. You must trust HAL to interpret your intentions and carefully carry them out. As we know, HAL isn’t a human and makes mistakes. A well-designed CM can minimize those and give you a leg-up on the competition.

I reached out to several sources to answer some basic questions and try to find areas where improvements were possible. I’ve copied all of the responses below but here is a bullet point summary of what I learned. One note, I didn’t properly explain that we were a CM league and I think that was a major point.

Things I learned:

1. What is the most important piece of the computer manager in regards to winning games?

Response #1-How one sets up their relief pitching to optimize best match-ups and when to remove a SP. I have a NL & and AL league I make my CM differently for each.

My AL league is based on 105% IP for my starters, so knowing when to remove them and the RP that needs to follow is most important. Taking out a SP can cost you the game, especially if you have to somehow bridge to a reliable closer.

My NL team is based on 105% GS. So, the pressure to only pitch your guy 6 innings isn't there and you can ride a good start out further.
But, since the pitcher hits, they are usually taken out in the 5-7th innings to hit in any type of a close game. So, your RP needs to be able to breach the gap to your closer.

Finding a CM that gets you through the tough 7-8 innings is key

Response #2->>>I agree with response #2: it's all about the pitching. Starting pitchers are the single strongest determinant of Vegas odds for any game, and Strat is no different. Knock out Pedro early, you're feeling good: but if you can't get to an ace starter (7) in the 7th or earlier, then you're facing him again into the 8th alongside a flurry of relievers and you're dead.

Response #3-I really don't understand the/these question. The computer manager is a robot that follows your instructions. If you don't give it instructions, it will do its own thing based on how it was programmed.
Winning games is dependent on how good your players are and how lucky you get at key moments of a game with die rolls, neither of which have much to with how the robot goes about making decisions with or without your programming. Obviously, we have all experienced that Hal the computer manager is terrible when up against a human manager, or a good cm, so all aspects of programming the computer manager are important as opposed to leaving an area blank.

I guess you are asking if both managers have only one thing to fill out and leaving the rest up to Hal I would say it is all 4 line-ups vs. lefties, righties and reverse lefties and reverse righties. I have noticed that teams that only fill out one lineup vs. lefties and righties get killed, and filling the extra two line-ups, even if they are identical, is really important.

Of course, the game will not play at all if you have not at least filled out a rotation in the first section (and sometimes even if you do), so that is just a requirement, but the order in which your starters pitch is not as important, since all will have to pitch sometime.

Response #4-Setting a good lineup, but that’s more baseball related than strat related
Response #5- Obviously something I haven't figured out yet. But if I had to say one thing that was relatively "easy"" to do, I'd say it is the generic pitcher logic - who to give the quick hook to, slow hook, bring in for mop-up, don't face lefties/righties, etc. I've seen more then once where this has made a positive difference.

Response #6-Bullpen logic

Response #7-Super Hal. Setting up your relievers and your reliever logic is key. The rotations and starter side is easy but the Super Hal relievers logic brings in the right guys at the right times.

Response #8- Lineup

2. What is the most underrated part of the computer manager?

Response #1-I am a man that believes in the power is stealing and sac bunts as I have yet to have a Ryan Howard like player on my team. Getting leads, giving the green light to steal and to play small ball can be a part of a CM. I think a lot of managers down play this aspect of the game.

Response #2>>> base running.

Response #3-See above. Novices to the game don't even realize there are options for reverse lefty and righty line-ups. If you use "generate computer manager" Hal will only create two line-ups, and I think that is a mistake. Hal should create all four and then the human manager is aware that the other two are out there and need attention.

Response #4-Setting a Super HAL - I copy the logic from year to year, and adjust as needed

Response #5- Probably the bullpen logic since I've never used it but knw others that have to great success.

Response #6-Super Hal Base running

Response #7-Running numbers. I have done these in the past but find the logic and thinking of it to be more work than what I perceive it is worth.

Response #8- Hal Bullpen mgr

3. What is the most overrated part of the CM?

Response #1-Sadly, this is an aspect that I think strat does not do well and does not give the options needed (and rarely follows as well). Most teams get set up off of a base 8-9 hitters. So benches are usually very thin and used incorrectly. A CM does not do well with picjking the right situations to place a pitch runner or bringing in a contact hitter over a guy with any type of pop. The situational play of the CM for players off the bench as just not controllable and I think this is a reason why it is so much easier to win at home...

Response #2>>> Lineups.

Response #3 Pinch hitters, pinch runners, and Hal's advanced base running. Hal usually does an OK job of choosing logical pinch hitters and pinch runners even if you don't tell it who to use. I still fill them out, but I have not noticed a big difference in choices when those areas are not filled out. I have never bothered with the advanced base running chart at the end of the cm.

Response #4-Reverse lineups - I rarely if ever use them. Not until playoffs

Response #5-Defensive substitutes. I find that HAL almost never uses them when I set-them.

Response #6-Batters section

Response #7-I don't have an answer to this one.

Response #8- SP matchups

4. What are the little details in a CM that most overlook?

Response #1-How many situations there can be? The CM does not account for this but where it does account, most players just don't go far enough.

Response #2->>>>getting too eager with a Larussa-type relief corps that has 4 different relievers pitching to 1 batter each. by game 3, half your pen can't be used b/c it's tired.

Response #3-The base-running chart and fill out each individual player's boxes.

Response #4-Dont know, I make sure I set a starter schedule, a super HAL pen, make a good lineup, set a pinch hitter or 2, maximize my closer.

Response #5- Probably the base-running logic and the bullpen logic. When used properly I think it probably gives a team a slight advantage over those that don't use it.

Response #6-Super Hal Lineup Depth Chart

Response #7-I suspect that individual batters and pitcher choices are not examined in detail by managers in detail. I do this at a high level for each batter and pitcher. It is easy to do, and you only have to do it once.

Response #8- Ballpark for hitters/pitchers

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