KING LYONS

King Lyons – Modern/Cross Era, Draft, AIM, DH/non-DH

Lyons is designed to handle a Cross-Era or All-Star type roster or league. These are very high quality leagues with lots of power hitters and high grade pitching, so it’s probably wise to limit Lyons’ usage for those leagues and not for a season or “normal” draft roster. Possibly, if you’re in a high offensive league, Lyons might be a good choice.

PITCHING

Starters – Not saved or set aside. You must bench them with f-file or with lineups or LM bench pitching rotation option.

Relief – Closer/Superclosers by Grade w/ normal closers having adjusted grades of 13-18. Super closer types will have adjusted grades of 19 and higher. Adjusted grades here are grades plus control adjustment (Z, W, and home run ratings). Multiple inning super closer usage; multiple inning (two) closer usage. Will pull struggling closer in save situations. For super closers, relieving durability has to be 1 or 2 to be used before the 9th; one inning (9th) will be occasionally used for 1+ innings.

– Relief strategies are quite similar to those of the Buck Miller managers with the exception of having a much slower hook for high inning starters (e.g, those with 250 or more, especially the 300+ inning pitchers). Problem with cross era managers is whether to permit the high inning starters to go quite long or to use a top closer for a save situation. E.g, do you pull Walter Johnson at the start of the ninth with a 3-2 lead for Dennis Eckersley? With Lyons, the answer is non. Johnson and other high inning starters have to get in trouble (or get hit hard) before being pulled in save situations.

OFFENSE

– Steals are based on success/chance ratings. So, steal rating is greatly considered but actual steals also taken into account (steals are based on 100% limits).

– Will aggressively H&R with 3 HRA rated players. Usually H&R against Z pitchers or with double play prone batters or those batters with low walk averages (BB/ABs under/equal to .100). Steal chance affects H&R (with runner on 3rd, higher chance needed than just with runner on first)

– Bunting is limited but might be more prevalent if assigned to a less power laden team. Remember, a “weak” hitter in a cross era league might be a solid hitter in a normal draft league. Actual SHs are considered when bunting along with BA, slugging and, of course, quality of the opposing pitcher.

– Will aggressively PH late when behind with runners on; will also PH to setup a H&R situation with a better hitter; good hitting pitchers (e.g., a Ruth et cetera) may be allowed to hit late if no other better hitter is available. Also, those good hitting pitchers will PH occasionally, but conservatively.

Bells and whistles:

– Blowout subbing 7th on; lots of DS in lopsided games; better defensive players late when ahead; itchy relief strategies used. Lyons is a nice solid if unspectacular cross era manager. Nothing fancy, but he shouldn’t lose you too many games either.