Vets Help Needed With Bullpen Settings

[LongIsland4Ever]

I know there have been other threads on this topic, but I am trying a new strategy for me and I want to give it the best opportunity to work.

Basically, I'm going with 6 non-* SPs - all under $1.5mm. I will use them based on who my opponent is. I have 4 very strong relievers. My top reliever is SP/RP Babe Adams and I want to get him as many innings as possible in relief. I will be setting all of my starters as quick hook at max 6 innings per start. I'm not sure how to set Babe Adams and how to set my manager strategy to maximize Babe's innings. Any help is appreciated.

[Free Radicals]

If you want Babe to gobble up innings then in the managerial settings put him in as setup and closer both sides . Then set his settings on slow hook , no blowout, and he should be the man !

[PJ Axelsson]

I have had good luck recently in similar situations setting to close regularly and normal relief, with my main reliever set to close and set up both ways.

There are a lot of factors that influence how it all works, though. I don't think there is any one recipe to make Babe pitch all the innings.

[sschu]

One way to use Babe in this scenario would be to have an RP for SU and an RP for CL, no other RP only guys. Babe will then be the middle RP guy and he will pitch all those innings if your SPs get bombed or removed for a pinch hitter.

These 2 decent RPs will be pitching only in SU/CL situations, so they should be fresh when needed. Use per game starters and hide the rest in the rotation. Use 1 or 2 of the S/R guys as moppers, not B4 9th and 8th and mopup. It is likely not necessary, but you could have the RP only guys as not B4 7th. Babe is not in the rotation or a per game starter (which seems like a waste to me).

I would not put my SPs on quick hook, if they are pitching well or your have a big lead you want them to get the innings. If the Babe is cruising, he should finish the game, or your good closer will finish.

I have tried various approaches with the Babe like this, have yet to find anything that provides a distinct advantage, although others might have. The standard approach using 2 good RPs as SU and CL, a long RP guy (like Hall in a pitchers park) and a cheap mopper like Wade with a $10M SP, two $5-6M SPs and a $1.5M guy in a pitchers park with good hitting, some speed and fielding is an approach that can yield consistent decent results IMHO.

Best of luck, sschu

[sschu]

Opps, forgot to mention one of the potential pitfalls of this approach. When Babe comes in it is likely that your cheap SP has been knocked around and you are probably losing. You now are "playing from behind", which means you need good hitting to come back and makeup the run differential. So if you are in an extreme pitchers park or have just average hitting, this will be harder to do.

FWIIW, sschu

[GREGKOESTER]

Leave setup and close empty. Put everybody that isn't pitching, but Babe, on mopup. You can even put them on do not pitch l and r, just watch and see if it confuses HAL too much. Put Babe on slow hook. I wouldn't quick hook the starters.