A word of explanation may be in order for the newbies. Even you veterans might want to read this to refresh your fading recollections. After all, you're getting old.

HAL the computer isn't completely stupid. For example, with two outs the infield is always back at normal depth and when there's a super-slow pig at first base, he's never held. But HAL too frequently makes decisions on a manager's behalf that the manager doesn't agree with. This turn template controls HAL (at least to a certain extent), so that you won't get completely f**ked over by the computer. 

We strongly encourage managers to turn in at least two batting lineups (#1 vs. Lefties, #2 vs. Righties). Without that, HAL the Computer will be creating all of your lineups and you probably won't like the result. The #3 and #4 lineups do not have to be designed against mutant lefties and mutant righties, but we encourage it. They can be for special purposes like the #5. Special purposes can include, for example: (A) a weak lineup that conserves at-bats for important players, and is only used against the least formidable right-handers; (B) a super-deadly lineup that includes a couple of cheat cards, and is only used against the most formidable right-handers; or (C) a super-mutant lineup consisting entirely of right-handed batters, to be used against extremely mutated right-handed pitchers.

In the past, many managers have simply turned in #1, #2 and #4 lineups since mutant lefties are rare. I've done it myself and ended up in the World Series.

You can turn in a maximum of four defensive replacements. You can assign specific relief pitchers that you prefer to be brought into the game in four specific situations. Any relief setting more complicated than that requires the SuperHAL settings, which will be explained later.

Manager settings should be used to reflect your strategy and the capabilities of your team. If you have a team full of jackrabbits, then "Very Aggressive" should be your baserunning strategy. If you have a team full of slow pigs, then "Very Conservative" should be your baserunning strategy. Hit & Run and Bunting settings can be more aggressive if you have a lot of jackrabbits with "A" and "B" ratings in those areas, producing a "Billy Ball" strategy that can be very effective. The Bunting setting governs both ordinary sacrifice bunts and the "squeeze play."

A Using Relief setting of "Extremely Aggressive" produces modern bullpen usage. "Very Aggressive" produces 1980s-style bullpen usage. It is conceivable that you might use "Aggressive" (1970s-style bullpen usage) if you have four or five truly great starters, or if you're running out of relief innings. You should always use one of these three settings, or you're going to get steamrollered. The "Dead Ball" setting is for purely historic 19th Century leagues where the starting pitcher stayed in the game until it was over (or until he was injured). 

The first three Hold Runners ratings are for defensive purposes against your opponents' base runners. "Hold All *" should always be used, unless your catcher is Ivan Rodriguez and your entire pitching staff doesn't have any hold ratings higher than zero. The other two settings define your strategy against base runners who do not have the "*" (or all base runners, if you choose to not hold runners with the "*" because your catcher is Ivan Rodriguez).

The "Minimum % to Steal" defines your own base stealing strategy, and should never be below 45%. Most of us keep it at around 60%, and 70% would be extremely conservative.  

Individual player settings provide variations from your manager settings. They take advantage of individual player strengths and mitigate individual player weaknesses. Notice that the "Mop Up" rating can specify a mediocre relief pitcher to be used when your opponent is ahead by 11 runs, and you just want to conserve your better relievers and get the game over with.

Inidividual player settings can also be used to control usage. For example, a combination of "Max 6 IP per start" and "Quick Hook" can be used to get the maximum number of starts possible out of a starter, if you have plenty of relief innings available. "Slow Hook" can be used to get as many innings per start as you possibly can from your starter, if you're running out of relief innings, and can be combined with an "Aggressive" manager setting for Using Relief (rather than "Very Aggressive" or "Extremely Aggressive").

The "X" player setting is an invention of our league. It should be used during Turn 8 when you have a player who's about to burn out, but you want him to be eligible for the post-season. Technically he'll be on your Major League roster, so he'll be eligible for the post-season; but Leitner will use the game software to stick him in the minor leagues, so that HAL can't put him into the game. If Dave Meyer had used this setting for Chris Iannetta, he would have been available for the post-season; and Meyer might have gone to the World Series, instead of me.

From Scott:  A quick note on submitting this template….the best thing you can do is actually save the page to your computer directly from the website.  That way, you have it right there any time you need it & all you have to do is send it to me as a webpage through my email address.  Some of you won’t be able to do this (Jeff comes to mind), so see about printing out the template & just send me an email with your stuff listed.