Are Relief Pitching Specialists Necessary?

[Jimbo123]

Generally, I carry one LH relief pitcher that is overpowering against LH batters. Sometimes I carry a RH specialist too. But I'm beginning to question their worth. Although there are times when they come in and defuse a rally, it seems to me that often they stay in the game longer than they should and end up getting hit by opposite handed batters, even when the quick hook and don't face LH or RH batters boxes are checked.

I am curious if this occurs because I am usually carrying 10 or 11 pitchers. I wonder if HAL would be less inclined to use these specialsts in anything but a true "specialist situation" if they are part of a 12 man pitching staff. It seems to me that with a 12 man staff they might not be utilized vert much but at least they'd be utilized correctly. I'm not sure whether this is true, however.

I've just finished finalizing a team in a $100m league. I'm carrying RH specialist Kyle Farnsworth and LH specialist Zach Braddock. The combined cost of these two pitchers is 2.14m, not a lot in a $100m league, but it may be enough to upgrade at some position on the roster. All the rest of my relievers are solid (Soria, Venters, Axford, Downs and Bell.)

So . . . should I keep them or is it a waste of money that could be spent elsewhere?

In addiiton, do you think they're more likely to be used in their designated roles in a 12 man pitching staff, as opposed to a 10 or 11 man staff?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Mean Dean]

[quote:8fe5dd91c8]do you think they're more likely to be used in their designated roles in a 12 man pitching staff, as opposed to a 10 or 11 man staff? [/quote:8fe5dd91c8]Yeah, they would be.

[quote:8fe5dd91c8]All the rest of my relievers are solid (Soria, Venters, Axford, Downs and Bell.) [/quote:8fe5dd91c8]Strikes me that a very effective way to avoid having the computer bring in bad relievers, is to not have any on your team ;)