its not about strikeouts - just getting lefties out in any way/shape/form. As soon as you get X lefties out, you get Vs Lefty 4. 10? 15? 20? I forget.
If you are making a righty that shouldn't have vs Lefty 4, then from the FIRST game you pitch, you have to go easier on lefties. Throw them breaking stuff that is easier to hit on a lob into OF for a hit. Walk a few if they are hitting into outs. Keep your count down. That way, you can afford to get out a few lefty MonMons or Galaxy Sharks later - both are heavily lefty.
If you are getting Vs Lefty 4 after a game, you might be almost to that level - so you have to either walk or bean EVERY lefty you face. A righty with a big curve or slider is good - aim at their feet and it'll break into them. That way they are on base, but you don't get WALK, and it takes less pitches than a full IBB. You can bean 16 players and not get pulled!
Even better, when throwing all these breaking pitches towards the feet of a lefty batter, a lot of them go by the catcher. Ive had many bases loaded situations against the MonMons where I throw one in the dirt, its a wild pitch, and then we catch the 3rd base runner out at home. I've gotten out of whole innings just by getting base runners out - not getting anyone out via at-bats.
MLBPP08 makes it hard, but not impossible!
