Buck Miller V '24 - 2024 Edition.  AIM, Draft, Modern (generally), DH/non-DH capable, best with MBFs on but not required. Closer aggressive usage.

Note: Please include this text file with distribution of the zipped file.

Buck Miller V '24 is an AIM draft manager designed generally to handle modern games. He can, however, be used for other pre-modern games but his player usage, especially with pitching, may be too aggressive for such competition. Best with MBFs/BFs for pitchers on but this isn't mandatory. Cannot be used with AIM off.

				INSTALLATION

Miller V '24 consists of the following 4 files:

   MgrBM524.dct, MgrBM524.msy, MgrBM524.mob, MgrBM524.lib


If you are using BBW 5.5 or earlier versions each of the above files must be located your BBW directory or folder. The files may be placed in a BBW season sub-directory but Miller III will only show up if that season is loaded in League Manager.

If you are using APBA 5.75 then the files must be placed in the folder named "MicroManagers." This is located separately from the location of the game files. Generall speaking the folder is located here: 

         C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\APBAGames\Baseball\MicroManagers

If you can't find that do a search for "MicroManagers". This small text file does not need to be included with the files.

NOTE: Miller V, like Miller III and IV, DOES NOT set aside/bench starting pitchers or a team's rotation. You MUST bench your starters with your franchise files. Otherwise ALL PITCHERS will be used in relief.

	                                       BUCK MILLER V OVERVIEW

Buck Miller V is nearly an identical version of Buck Miller IV with the critical exception of using closers late when a team's bullpen is depleted (note: there are a few other slight changes affecting this). Like his companion manager Buck Miller IV, version V does not set aside starting pitchers. Any pitcher will be used in relief. 

For the closer usage changes, Miller I-IV were programmed not to use a team's closer (or top reliever) unless the team had at least one other available reliever to use. This was to prevent those rare but problematic situations where a closer blows a save, the game is tied, and then that stud reliever has to finish the game out. That would lead sometimes to 3-4-5 or more innings in relief, exhausing the pitcher's RR and forcing him to rest an additional 2-4+ days.

Miller V will, however, use a closer - even if no other reliever is available - late (8th or 9th) in a save situation IF the starter's RR is 0 or lower or if there's a very heavy grade advantage (5 or more).

Miller V, like the other Miller programs, uses a quick modern hook with his starters especially in either save situations or with safe leads late. He selects closers late by adjusted grades (grade plus or minus control ratings)).

Normal closers will be those with adjusted grades of between 13 and 16. Super type closers (e.g., a Rivera) will have 17 plus grades. For the most part, he will use closers for one inning; however in critical situations (2 runners on, one or more outs, in the eighth) he will spot the closer for a inning+ of work. Additionally, if the closers have low QRs (2/1) they will also be used for multiple innings (usually a maximum of 2). Remember, RRs are important as well. Setup relievers are heavily employed, especially with platoon advantages. One batter relief specialist (e.g, average less than one inning per outing) are also used.

Low inning starters will be pulled quickly to save their innings. Also, with safe leads, starters will be yanked especially if the bullpen is strong and/or itchy relievers need outings.

Note: a tough area to program is middle or long relief. If your team doesn't have a long reliever type (e.g, QR of 2/1), Miller I-V will try and rotate several short relief types (low grades/saves) for early-to-mid inning outings.

			OTHER STRATEGIES - NO CHANGES FROM MILLER IV
Offensively:
Both steal and H&R and steal chance driven. Stealing is limited to 100% or historic totals. Bunting is quite limited to low power/average hitters early; little more aggressive late in critical situations. SO per AB and SH per AB are critical factors in bunting (other factors are also considered). Aggressive PHing with platoon disadvantages. Will PH to pad lead late (but not for best defensive players); for DH with platoon disadvantage; for a better H&R; to bunt late; for an announced PHer against a new pitcher with a platoon advantage.

Aggressive subbing in blowouts; DS, PH for star players, PR for stars and subbing defensively will be seen. Base advancement based on advance chances (internal number provided by game plus OF/Inf arm plus speed). 

"Opener" and "Bulk Reliever" Strategies: With the 2019+ versions of the Miller managers a "opener" strategy has been addded. Briefly these are pitchers who were used for approximately one inning to face the opposing team's top 3-4 hitters. Afterwards "bulk" relievers - those who could pitch 3-5 innings would replace them. Miller defines these "openers" as those pitchers who averaged less than three innings per start. This is defined as innings pitched minus relief appearances divided by games started. After pitching an inning (on some occasions they may pitch an inning and a third) they will be pulled.

Note: If your league is using "two" Ohtanis - a pitcher card and a hitter card - it's suggested that you zero out the offensive numbers on the pitcher's card. Otherwise Miller I may use the "card" offensively as a pinch hitter. You might then see Ohtani pitching and then being used as pinch hitter. So just leave his pitcher's stats and remove the offensive numbers. 


For additional info, visit: TheDigitalSkybox.website. Questions may be posted at the forum linked at the site.