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Chappy Ross 4

CHAPPY ROSS IV: OVERVIEW

Chappy Ross IV is an AIM, draft league manager designed to handle pre-war (circa 1945) season contests. The Ross programs (Ross I,II,III and IV) follow up on the Buck Miller draft managers which are designed to handle modern or (roughly) post-war draft replays. So, generally speaking, if your draft league is playing seasons 1900 to ~1945, use one of the Ross programs. For seasons ~1946 to current, use one of the Miller managers.

Ross IV is programmed with a view that the team being managed is “complete” or nearly complete. That is, the 25/26 man roster includes all of the key available players for the season. The farm club/roster (if there is one) is assumed to include very marginal players with low PR/RUse or MBFs. Because of this, Ross I-IV will manager more conservatively to prevent player overuse and AIM exhaustion.

Suggested use: To get a sense of how Ross I-IV manages your team, it’s a good idea to run a quick test or “spring training” set of games through League Manager. Try about 40-50 games with your regular season roster (of 25-26) as a run.

PITCHER USAGE

Ross IV is programmed to use any non-benched pitcher or pitchers in relief. If you wish to set aside your starting pitchers you must bench them with your franchise files. Otherwise, these pitchers will be used in relief (fatigue status permitted).

Relief/Bullpen:

Ross IV will adjust his hook based on the type of bullpen he is given. Broadly speaking, he defines bullpens as “strong”, “average” and “weak”. These categories are determined by the grades and innings of the top relievers (as well as game availability). Teams with “weak pens” will, as should be obvious, see Ross I staying with starting pitchers longer and a more conservative use of relievers. Similarly, teams with “strong” pens will see a quicker hook and more aggressive bullpen usage.

Note: These categories of “weak” or “strong” pens are AIM dependent. That is, the relievers must be rested and available for usage for a pen to be considered “strong”, et cetera.

Ross IV selects closers by adjusted saves. Adjusted saves are saves plus a bonus for control ratings plus bonuses for innings, readiness rating number and platoon advantages (if any). Actual save numbers are given heavier consideration.

Ross IV will use multiple inning closers (i.e., he isn’t locked into the LaRussa one inning closer approach). Starting pitchers, as noted above, will be used late in save (and/or close) situations but full-time relievers or non-rotation pitchers will be favored.

While he considers left/right matchups, Ross IV is more conservative using this approach and generally will only bring in a one-batter (or few batters) relievers for high platoon rated and top offensive batters late in close games (this contrasts greatly with the Miller managers). The concern here is with blowing out a bullpen (note: again “strong” or deep bullpen will be slightly more aggressive playing platoon matchups than “weak” or “average” pens).

OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES

Because of the wide disparities in offenses over the pre-war period (think of any Deadball season versus the 1930 season for example), the Ross managers are programmed to use both small ball when needed as well as playing for big, multiple run innings when that is a wiser approach.   

Generally, this is dependent on opposing pitcher grade (Ross assumes a WAG of 9) and “strength” of the heart of a team’s order (that is the effective PROs (obp+slugging) for the team’s top four hitters in a lineup). Other factors such as batter SH totals, steal rating/attempts for a runner, score, inning et cetera will influence things.

This means that teams with better lineups against below/average/slightly above average pitchers will generally employ a big inning approach while teams with poorer lineups facing average to better pitchers will play more smal ball.

SMALL BALL

Base stealing is based on 100% steals (because many CS numbers are missing for a number of deadball era players, total steal attempts are calculated internally if they’re not available) with steal ratings being heavily important (low steal sucess rated players will not reach historic numbers). Similarly, hit and run plays are influenced by steal rating, hit and run rating and hit and run average (defined as: Effective.BA+HitRunAbility*0.015-0.2*(SO.perAB-0.05+WalkAverage). Other factors such as score, inning, outs, opponent pitcher grade, et cetera are also considered. Bunting is affected greatly by actual SH totals for a batter (effective BA and effective slugging are also critical).

Again, as noted above strong offenses will see less small ball, including stealing, while weaker offenses will (likely) see more. Note: Players with poor steal success ratings will seldom steal; so historic totals will not be matched.

Ross IV is similar in aggressiveness to the Duke Robinson managers with PHing. He’ll be more aggressive, however, with runners on base, especially late when down or even ahead. The Ross programs will PR late to steal a base to pad leads.

OTHER APPROACHES/NOTES

Ross IV will PH, PR and sub defensively for star players in blowouts. He’ll also PR with better/faster defensive players. Pitchers will be removed early in safe games but “weak” pens will usually see a starter go nine innings. Itchy players, including pitchers, are favored in lopsided games. Ross will aggressively (but “responsibly) use pitchers as both pinch hitters and pinch runners.