Starter/Relief Pitchers for Middle Man Assignment?

[timklucinec]

I've always tried to have a starter/relief pitcher for middle man work versus a regular relief pitcher (R2 or R3). I have had some success and not so successes. What do the experts out there suggest? Thoughts?

Klu

[apolivka]

In general I would say "no". A starter/relief pitcher is almost always going to be overpriced for such a role. You can get a middle/setup R2 guy to go 150+ innings under ideal circumstances. An R2/C0 or R2/C1 type guy is often better too since they can close in a pinch as well.

The only time I would even consider it was if there was a starter/reliever who fit my park perfectly and no straight reliever did.

[timklucinec]

Apolivka,
You've confirmed my suspicions. I've had better success with the R2s & R3s.
Thanks for the advice.
Tim K

[Valen]

One item you might factor in to the equation if you are going with a strict 4 man rotation. You have to carry 5 starters. So that 5th starter is either going to be a nickel starter only who just takes up space or a S/R guy who can be used in relief. So when you compare that possible S/R guy with the available R only guy remember you can spend an extra half a mil on the S/R guy because he makes that useless 5th starter unnecessary.

And even better if he can also server role of spot starter against certain type teams. For example if he is a lefty and a team in your division is mostly LH bats and has a lefty leaning park.

The decision on which route is better though really depends on makeup of player pool and salary cap. For example a 200x pool is not as deep as ATG. And one year may have an abundance of good S/R pitchers and shortage of decent pure middle relievers. While the next year it might be reversed.

[timklucinec]

Valen,
Good advice. Thanks
Tim K.

[maligned]

[quote:158de1ed00="apolivka"]In general I would say "no". A starter/relief pitcher is almost always going to be overpriced for such a role. [/quote:158de1ed00]

I know this is traditional wisdom. Still, with a few top-line S5/R3's in the 2009 set, you could use them as S3 setup guys and expect easily over 200 innings. If you use them every 5th day as an S5, they only project to throw 160-170 innings. They are therefore not overpriced for S3 duty.
With this said, if you can get an S2 to throw over 200 innings, this will be a bigger bargain than the S3 throwing the same number of innings.

[timklucinec]

Maligned,
You and Valen make a lot of sense. Thanks for the advice.
Tim K.

[SteadyEddie33]

...and thus the 'reliever abuse' train keeps on a-chugging... :cry:

[artie4121]

I had been using this tactic for a while as well: Keeping an S/R guy as a middleman, mopup guy and spot starter.

My concern was those 4 or 5 inning assignments where my regular starter gets blown out in the first or second inning and I want a guy who can keep me in the game.

The good point was made that we pay a premium on the S/R versatility.

I've also found that R2 guys can often go four innings and R3 guys can go up to five. They are often of better value.

Just my experience.

[maligned]

[quote:69c28de285="SteadyEddie33"]...and thus the 'reliever abuse' train keeps on a-chugging... :cry:[/quote:69c28de285]

Yeah, I'm not saying I love it. Just stating the facts.