Hughie Collins - Deadball Era Manager

Hughie Collins is an AIM, replay- or -season-oriented micromanager best suited for deadball era teams (roughly the years 1910-1919 +/- 5 years). Replayers should select early-twentieth century "Pitcher Durability and Recovery" rates in League Manager. Collins, however, will often leave starting pitchers (and sometimes relievers) in games despite their having surpassed their maximum readiness ratings (or RR). This will be especially noticeable with topflight starters (QS or zero or one) who pitched for teams with few total relief appearances during the season. This is mostly limited to the early part of the decade for which Collins is designed to manage (e.g., 1910-12) or for the very high inning starting pitchers. Collins may also be used for the earlier part of the deadball era - roughly 1905 onward - but should be assigned to those clubs that tended to have higher player usage in terms of relief appearances and/or bench utilitization.

Because many statistics for the period were incomplete (missing CS or batter SOs) or "inflated" (sacrifice flys were included in a player's SH totals), Collins will calculate or adjust some numbers. For example, roughly 75% of the SH totals are considered "actual" sacrifices for many players (pitchers and weak power hitters excepted). Additionally, since caught steal numbers are lacking for many seasons, total stolen base attempts numbers are determined based on a player's steal success number (stolen bases/(StealRating-2)/.02778). This formulation was designed by Bill Staffa and is one that is quite accurate. 

Note: It's not necessary, or advisable, to bench starting pitchers. Because many quality starters were used in relief, especially in critical situations late, Collins will use starting pitchers out of the bullpen (but, only if they actually were used in relief). However,Collins will try to "save" at least one potential starting pitcher (e.g., at least one game started during the season) for the next game. Tip: When using Ned, don't bench your starters.

A snapshot of Collins shows that he:

(1) Has heavy emphasis during the early part of the decade (and to a little lesser extent the latter) on the small ball tactics so important during Deadball era play. This means a strong focus on one run innings with the, heavy use of bunting, base stealing and hit and run plays to advance runners in scoring position.

(2) Slow hook with most teams but a willingness to pull a starter late in a critical situation. This varies from team to team with critical factors such as total relief appearances, starting or relieving durability, total team saves, grade, score et cetera affecting the speed of the hook. Collins, then, doesn't have one managerial style; his strategies are strongly influenced by the quality and type of roster he's managing.

It's safe to say, however, that Collins is more aggressive pulling pitcher than the other deadball era managers available (e.g., Jennings, O'Brien, Clarke).

(3) Collins does not have a blowout/rout sub strategy that pulls players in lopsided contests. He will use better defensive players late when ahead.

(4) Pinchhitting and pinchrunning is quite conservative as was the custom during the period. Most PHing  is done for pitchers but Collins will occasionally PH for a regular late when behind or tied with runners on. However, for the most part Collins stays with the starting eight.