Kent Williams II - Modern "All-Star" Manager

Is a Non-AIM modern-style micromanager designed to handle Original Franchise All-Star (OFAS) or all-star type teams. The manager, Kent Williams II, is nearly identical to Williams I with the notable exception of not being an AIM manager. He does, however, calculate "internally" readiness ratings for pitchers and uses those ratings to determine when or whether to pull pitchers due to "fatigue".

Like his counterpart, Williams II style emulates Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. To wit, he tends to play for multiple run innings, eschews the bunt, takes advantage - both defensively and offensively - of high platoon advantages, and usually tries to stay with starting pitchers, at least the quality ones, quite long. However, many of these strategies "adjust" based on the specific ratings and statistics for the team being managing.

There are several problems in managing all-star-type rosters that Williams II tries to address. The first is deciding when to sub - especially offensively - for players. Do you pinchit for a player with a .280 batting average with a bench player with a .325 one? Comparing numbers alone, the answer would be "Yes"; however one can imagine a number of scenarios - many of which cannot be programmed - when you would not hit for, say, a Yogi Berra even though a much better hitter (statistically) may be available. Generally, Williams II WILL - depending on the circumstances - pinchhit for a Berra in the situation if the team is losing late. This is almost exclusively done, however, for the ninth inning or later and will usually occur only if a heavy platoon advantage is in effect. However, the strategies will adjust based on the team he is managing and the only way to "figure" out his thinking is to run Williams II through a series of games.

The second critical problem concerns bullpen use - especially the use of starting pitchers in relief. Since most OFAS teams tend to be "closer heavy" - i.e., bullpens consisting of three or four closer-types relievers (30+ saves), Williams will have to occasionally use a star closer in early relief especially when no long or middle reliever is available. For best, and more realistic results, it's wise to carry a "balanced" pitching staff, e.g., four or five starters, one or two spot starter/long relievers, and three or four late inning relievers. Otherwise, you might see Williams II using a star closer in a mop up role or being used to pitch 5+ innings. You can carry multiple closers on a team (saves of 20 or more). Other strategies to note:

1) Williams II does have a blowout sub strategy. It's somewhat limited, however, and usually tends to involve the use of "itchy" players as subs. He will, though, sub for the "superstar" type player in lopsided games. He will PH, PR and/or sub defensively for this category of player.
2) For teams that are "closer heavy" (see above paragraph), Williams II will spot use one of the closers (usually the one with the most relief appearances MINUS saves) as a middle reliever. Usually this occurs only if the team has no other middle reliever currently available (Defined as: QR of one or two, saves less than 6 and a RR of 6 or more).
3) As noted above, Williams II is generally conservative with his use of players and doesn't PR or PH unless down late. Again he tries - both offensively and with pitching changes - to take advantage of high platoon ratings/numbers (+3 or more).