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What is the best way to maximize Villanueva's innings on his card this year? I have him on a team right now and I just picked up a 6th starter, so I was hoping that I could start him once in a while and then use him in relief as well. Am I going to be able to do this? If so, if someone could please tell me how, that would be fantastic.

Thanks,
Taters

"Once in a while," yes. But every time he starts, he is going to be unavailable to relieve for four days afterwards. So you can't really have it both ways.

So then would you say that he is more valuable as a Relief Pitcher than as a starter? I could still spot start him because my bullpen would be able to handle it with him being out for 4 days, but as an R4, he would most likely throw 10+ innings in relief every 5 games versus about 6 innings in a start. I figure I'll use him in the bullpen to start and then maybe spot start him in Petco and other major pitchers parks where his BPHR's will make him more effective. If anyone else has any ideas I'd love to hear them.

That sounds very logical to me.

More valuable as a SP.

Why is that Play by the Rules?

Play by the Rules can answer for himself, but here is one answer. You can get a reliever for 2.5-3 mil less with similar stats. You are paying for him to start- unless you are in a 200 mil league where salary is irrelevant.

I got stuck w/him in my draft and didn't want him, he turned out to be the best picher in my rotation so far, he is 4W 2L and led the league in era up to his last gm he piched which is the only gm he stunck it up in and lost. He is still in the top 10 in era. I agree and would make him a starter, he is for long relief so if he came in a gm you prob would be down because your starter got bombed, so he would stop the bleeding and you might scrap back some runs to win but he is to good for that, put him in the rotation or trade him for something your team needs.

As a starter you can get 200 or more innings out of him...as a reliever you can maybe get 150 depending on how many other arms you have.

I also ended up with Villanueva and could not decide whether to start or relieve. Finally, I dumped Jon Garland and went with Villanueva as my fourth starter. He's only pitched one game so far but it was a complete game 2 hit shutout. We'll see how he does tonight...