Have You Ever Been Bamboozled On an SP Switcheroo?

[bleacher_creature]

I'm in a tight pennant race. As of now, a 2 game wild card lead with six to play, against teams I have much difficulty in beating...because they are damned good.

Last night, I think I was openly a victim of some serious "gamesmanship". It's a technique that is "ungentlemanly" IMO.

I set my lefty lineup against Hampton, a 4L. My opponent did a switcheroo, and brought in friggin' Zito, a 5R reverse lefty.

Sure it's part of the game, but I'd like to know if I check SPs right before 10pm eastern, will the new pitcher show in real time?

[the splinter]

This is a good question...on a couple levels.

I'm not certain of the real time posting gap. I know that if you switch in the early afternoon it shows up after 6. I don't think it shows up if you change btwn 6-10. I would love for somebody with the facts let us know.

Secondly, I don't think it is "ungentlemanly" to make an unannounced change. I think it is the benefit of having a diverse staff. Good managers create mismatches.

[bleacher_creature]

[quote:aaeb0b4ebf]Secondly, I don't think it is "ungentlemanly" to make an unannounced change. I think it is the benefit of having a diverse staff. Good managers create mismatches. [/quote:aaeb0b4ebf]

That's a fair point. This guy is obviously a vet with a well put together team.

The only defense is to watch for other available pitchers your opponent may have, have a lineup that can handle hard or reverse, and to do a final check on SPs late in the day.

[uncle ny]

I played a series last night against a manager who likes such loopholes. I fully expected him to make the switcharoo and set my lineup somewhere in the middle of both extremes. I was surprised to find this am that he didn't switch any and pleased to see i had swept the series.

This kind of pitching flexibility is very popular among some of the elite players around here.

[Rigged Splits]

I change pitchers a lot when I have large staffs and usually after I get home from work (5:00 pm central). I don't think they ever show up.

Late in the season or in the playoffs you can check to see what pitchers the opposing manager has used against you before.

[Play By The Rules]

A good manager can gain a significant advantage especially in a playoff situation using the old switcheroo.

Of course, as splinter said, the wise opponent will smell something fishy and not "overcommit" to that 9L. Go through his rotation and figure out what the possibilites are. Usually he only has a couple choices and you can figure out what might happen using your intuition.

Sometime your changes will show up but of course the best way to make sure they don't is to wait until 9:59PM to change.

[goredsox33]

ill make changes sometimes also....i like to keep a lhsp...such as cliff lee or dubose for games at shea......or against teams who cant hit lhp...
and ill wait til the last minute sometimes............

i also do the samething with my lineup...sometimes ill leave cetrtain lefties in against lefties...if im at shea or if i like the matchups...
i dont think its unfair ...i call it managing...

[worrierking]

Wow, that's the first time I've seen Cliff Lee and Dubose mentioned together in the same sentence since the '03 season when they were inextricably linked like siamese twins. :lol:

[bleacher_creature]

[quote:abcd0a52ea="uncle ny"]I played a series last night against a manager who likes such loopholes. I fully expected him to make the switcharoo and set my lineup somewhere in the middle of both extremes. I was surprised to find this am that he didn't switch any and pleased to see i had swept the series.

This kind of pitching flexibility is very popular among some of the elite players around here.[/quote:abcd0a52ea]

So it seems this is an accepted practice among vets. That's cool. Now I know to keep my eye out for it, and to use it myself.

[goredsox33]

i will say though , i dont do it to be sneaky...i just do it to give myself an advantage...