The Boys of Summer Online APBA League is on the cusp of beginning its 3rd year based on the 2014 season. The BoS managers, which uses the current version of APBA Baseball for Windows, have drafted and now are getting their rosters, lineups and rotations assembled.
Part of this process includes choosing a MicroManager (or two) for the away games. That’s where this website comes in pretty handy. For one, you can download MicroManagers in addition to the ones that come with APBA Baseball.
Just as important, this site does an incredible job of describing how exactly each MicroManager makes its decisions. Each MM has rules that it follows during the process of the baseball game. It’s important to know what they are so you’re not surprised when he pinch hits for your slugger who has two homers in the game. Or if he gives the hook to your starting pitcher who’s pitching a gem in the seventh inning.
Admittedly, some MMs are programmed for Advanced Injury Management (AIM) and others are not. They are categorized as such. For those who want a full, in-depth look in how each MicroManager behaves, click on the “Info” link. For most MMs, there is a full description including what type of APBA game they are best suited for (replay, draft).
As for me, I’m stubbornly sticking with Duke Robinson IV. After reading his description, perhaps I should reconsider…
The most significant change is that this manager does not consider a rotation or starting pitchers. All unbenched and available pitchers may be used in relief. If you wish to bench a pitcher or keep him from relieving, you must bench him with your franchise files or lineups.
and
If used for draft rosters, Robinson IV will not always make the wisest move vis-a-vis "APBA ball". He will, for example, use a closer with a lower grade over another closer because of a higher save total and will bring in a lower graded reliever over a higher grade starter or reliever. Grade, in other words, is not always considered. It is this "looseness" for either replay usage or draft competition that one must think about when deciding to use the program for either type of those games.
Duke IV brought me to the postseason one year and to the cellar the next. Looks like he has a quick hook for now.
Generally there are two types of MM’s:
Those that are designed for realistic use for a given season so the players will be used realistically during a season and produce the types of stats that one would associate with that season. There are several MM’s for different seasons and eras.
Then there are those that are designed to utilize the roster to give that team the best opportunity to win and these are generally the “draft” type micro-managers and it is this type of manager I would recommend for our Boys of Summer league.
Steven Galbraith is, in my opinion, the foremost expert in the programing of Micromanagers and most of those out there, including the one I use in our league, are from his tremendous work.
My micromanager “Charles Evans” is his version of “Billy Martin” that I renamed.
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The issue of using starters in relief is a concern but can be circumvented by benching those starters in your lineups. I use Robinson IV because he doesn’t blow out his starters and is generally about the talent on the roster.