On average how often does a bench player get used?

[AdamPhoenix]

And if it is minimally, is it worth having more than 13 hitters on a team?

[LMBombers]

injury to starter, PH, PR

I agree that 13-14 hitters are all you need depending if you are in a DH league or not. Also depends on how many platoons you are playing with, if any.

[Ducky]

I think platooning and the susceptibility to injury of your starting 9 really come into play with how many players to carry. On some of my teams, 13 was enough. On others, 15 was barely enough due to multiple injuries and a heavy dose of lefty/righty platooning.

Mike

[KingLouie]

I try to stay at 13--but use them ALL in some form of platooning strategy. It doesn't always work out that way. :roll:

[honestiago1]

I have a team 108 games into the season.

Rudy Law is my designated pinch runner (on a somewhat swift team). He has appeared in 32 games, batted 75 times (and he's NOT stealing any damned bases!)

Dick Schofield has been on my time virtually all season. He's appeared ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY in games where the starting SS has been injured (8). He has 19 AB's.

The rest of my benchers are recent acquitions or platoon'ers.

In a DH league, it is not worth having more than 13 hitters. The exceptions:

-you have poor defense and need multiple DEF subs (I currently sub at 2 positions with my 13 man crew)
-You want additional pinch runners
-You're playing several inexpensive players and/or light hitters (in particular, weak hitting C's, 2B or SS)
-You're keeping an underpriced player away from another team in order to deny them cap room (or for other nefarious reasons)

[Outta Leftfield]

[quote:b2e288dcc2="KingLouie"]I try to stay at 13--but use them ALL in some form of platooning strategy. It doesn't always work out that way. :roll:[/quote:b2e288dcc2]

I agree on this point. I want all of my bench guys to play regularly, most likely in a platoon role. C and DH are natural places to platoon, as are 1B and corner OF, because of the reduced defensive requirements, but with the right players you can platoon at any position. Usually I try to use one-sided 1M or less players for one side of the platoon, though occasionally I've splurged a bit.

This was the Earl Weaver strategy--get your best fielders playing every day and use your bench to help your offense. With 13 players you can platoon at 4 positions, with 14 at 5. Sometimes you have to adjust based on players and their years--and sometimes a starter you expected to platoon for is in a year when he hits everything, but I generally pick my subs with an eye toward their platoon potential.

I think YF said the same thing, recently. :wink:

[Sykes25]

I always start with 15 and will sometimes work down to 14 or 13 as the year goes on.

I want to know that I can go to my bench FIRST before hitting the FA wire. In addition, I can take high risk/reward guys and sub from my own team if needed. Lastly, I can then use my 1-2 extra players as fillers for players which have been dropped by other owners after year's have been identified and I find a use for them in a platoon situation.

I'm more of a abseball tradtionalist and like to have 2 guys eligible at every position that I coudl live with playing everyday. I only go down to 14 or 13 if salary becomes mandatory to get a guy I want from waivers.

[BRIANCHIVIS]

I used to just get four .75 guys and play them very little. Then I noticed the wonders of platooning. I am experimenting with maybe keeping 15 players on the roster to see how things work out. I would think you would want your top defensive guys in there though. I like to have a good catcher. The outfield is easy to platoon in. I also like to platoon at first and third base.

[bjs73]

[quote:b4ed75b4dc]I always start with 15 and will sometimes work down to 14 or 13 as the year goes on.

I want to know that I can go to my bench FIRST before hitting the FA wire. In addition, I can take high risk/reward guys and sub from my own team if needed. Lastly, I can then use my 1-2 extra players as fillers for players which have been dropped by other owners after year's have been identified and I find a use for them in a platoon situation.

I'm more of a abseball tradtionalist and like to have 2 guys eligible at every position that I coudl live with playing everyday. I only go down to 14 or 13 if salary becomes mandatory to get a guy I want from waivers.[/quote:b4ed75b4dc]

That's me exactly also.

[YountFan]

[quote:a6a2c728ce]I always start with 15 and will sometimes work down to 14 or 13 as the year goes on. [/quote:a6a2c728ce]

I use 13 and am not a big platooner, but will platoon one or two positions (although I have platooned more). There is value in platoons but if you have too many one sided guys you may have trouble when the bullpen comes in.

As with all things balance is best and your results well vary (and never be as good as sykes')

I start the season with 6 or 7 relief pitchers for the same reason sykes carriers extra hitters. It is cheaper to go to your own well vs the FA pool.