Pitching Staff Dilemma...My Experiment

[Outta Leftfield]

As a draft strategy, I decided this time to go with a five man rotation. Since *SPs are more in demand than SPs, I figured I could put all my key hitters at the top of the draft list, and go for a five man rotation later in the draft--and it worked! I got pretty much all the hitters and a pretty good pitching staff to boot.

But now here's the dilemma. This team is in Royals Stadium and while my post-waivers 5 man rotation (El Sid, Perez, K Forsch, Swan and Rozema) seems like it a pretty good bunch for Royals, I find some awfully tempting *SP's sitting on the FA table--Valenzuela, Hoyt and Sanderson seem like the best options (this is a league with some rookie owners, which is why Fernando and Lamar are still there.) T. John, Langford, Alexander, and Browning are also still available.

Anyway, the question is, should I cash in my five man rotation to make up a four man--at roughly the same cost? Or should I stick with my five man rotation--who I also seem to me a good group? To start with the top guys: in direct comparison with Fernandez, Valenzuela's best years seem better, but his worst years are worse. On the other hand, V. will pitch a lot more innings.

What do you all think?

Here's the team, in case you want an overview:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=59279

[YountFan]

Lucky,

I am a believer in the 4 man rotation for the following reasons:

1. Normally saves you money
2. If it is a good pitcher they will pitch more innings meaning you get more from your money. Ferando will give you 300 IP. El Sid 200 IP. That's a lot more high quality innings.
3. With 5 pitchers you have FIVE guys to worry about. FIVE guys to watch and the potential for FIVE average or below cards. With FOUR you are removing 20% of the mystery card variable.

A staff of Valenzula, Browning, Hoyt and Alexander or Forch is a great bunch to start with. Swan and Rozema have less of a chance for success.

If you want to go 5 man try it. [b:b2b1f5408e]The game is for experimentation. [/b:b2b1f5408e] Ferandez, Perez are a great start. Toss in Candy/Blue vs Forsch and roll with it.

[Paul5757]

Personally, I'd work on your bp. Fernandez is overpriced, so I might be inclined to drop him.

If it were me, I'd drop him, and pick up two or three more RP/SP. I've had success with Schatzeder, Horton, Bankhead, Schmidt, Terry (in that price range). I'd put one in the rotation, one or two in the bullpen, and see how HAL uses them and how they perform to determine if any are keepers. The good guys start, the others remain in the bp.

[Paul5757]

I also the think the key to 5-man rotations to avoid the high-priced pitchers. When I use a 5-man, I try to use Perez/Blue/Schatz and then a couple of $.75-$2.5 starters discussed above.

Good $.75 are Thurmond, Kison, Pastore in my opinion.

[Outta Leftfield]

As Toi San was typing his note, I was responding to YF's by taking the plunge. I like at least starting the season with a 4-man rotation for all the reasons he gave (though I've sometimes retreated to a five man when expediency seemed to dictate).

Anyway, I now have Valenzuela / K. Forsch / Sanderson / Hoyt with some cash to spare that might go into the BP. Guess I'll take her for a spin and see how she runs.... :wink:

BTW, I understand the principle of the cheap SPs. In a just finished season, I just couldn't find replacements for two *SP starters who were getting hammered and finally ended up with Proly, Hass, and Oil Can supporting my two viable *SPs. The team made the playoffs, but, unfortunately for me, got knocked of in the semis. This time I wasn't quite so lucky.... :cry:

[YountFan]

[quote:695438a52e]I also the think the key to 5-man rotations to avoid the high-priced pitchers. When I use a 5-man, I try to use Perez/Blue/Schatz and then a couple of $.75-$2.5 starters discussed above.[/quote:695438a52e]

That's what I was thinking. Lollar can be prety good also

[Paul5757]

YountFan,

You subscribe to the view that HAL will generally sort out your bp after a while, right?

Basically, if you pick up 6-7 S/R, you can figure out if you have keeper cards by how HAL uses them. The bp is used to audition possible starters.

[Outta Leftfield]

[quote:c9ce7d1944="Toi_San"]YountFan,

The bp is used to audition possible starters.[/quote:c9ce7d1944]

Hmmm....that does seem like a pretty good strategy.

[KingLouie]

Whatever you do, you'll end up scrambling for some good pitching within a few weeks. At least that's what has happened to me. :roll:

My two cents: I say go for the cheap five-man rotation. It's always fun to try to do something a little different. And you know me well enough to know I'm a little bit different. 8) :shock: :shock: :D

[honestiago1]

I'd rather have 4 reliable pitchers than five iffy ones. Problem is, even the top pitchers have poor years. But a poor year from Valenzuela is going to be better, in the long run, than a decent year from many other pitchers. I don't gamble with pitching or up the middle defense (I tired to in this league we're both in, but I just couldn't reconcile Johnny Ray's 3 for his bat, but I just couldn't).

ON THE OTHER HAND: if I ever get any credits to spend, I might experiment with a 5-man rotation that features the top tier non-*'s (Ryan, Sid, Candy among them).