What's Up With Eckersley?

[KingLouie]

I'm playing "small ball" this season. I'm in a pitcher's park (Oakland) with a defensive 1s up the middle and Dwight Evans in RF. My object is to make the most of my investment in pitching, and it's working ok, but I've got some weird numbers showing up for Eckersley.

I've clearly got him in his worst year (which still ain't too bad) but lefties are absolutely killing him with a batting avg. of .345 and his ERA is 4.67 (In fact I've got him on "Don't pitch to lefties"). His whip is 1.21 (the worst whip on his card is 1.00).

Despite these not so hot numbers, he's won 11, lost 4 and got 7 saves a bit more than halfway through the season. So, I guess I can't complain. But I find it all pretty baffling. :roll:

I'd be interested to hear anybody's explanation of how he can be underperforming in so many ways and still end up with so many wins on a weak hitting team. I'd also be interested in hearing anyone else's experience with Eck in general.

[cplake]

I had an absolutely horrible experience with Eckersley. He was 0-6 with 10 saves, 3 BS, 6.00+ ERA and around a 2.00 WHIP. I figured I must have had his 7R year so I set him up to avoid lefties. He got almost no work then so I figured 6 bones was WAY to much to pay for a part time closer. I dropped him half way through the season and picked up a couple of much cheaper relievers (Corbett for one) and my team rattled off a 12 game winning streak.

I don't think I'll pick him up again. In the 80s game there are plenty of cheap relievers that can close quite effectively.

[bjs73]

Though I rarely draft him outright. You're utilizing him the way I would and sounds like you've set him up for success with avoiding lefties and the such. He can still be effective for you, I think.

Do you have good quality setup guys or can your starters go longer in games because they are studs?

What I would try to do is put Eck on this type of leash:

Avoid lefties
Quick Hook
1-2 innings max
Avoid using before 9th inning.

Set global manager strategy for intentional walks to aggressive or very aggressive.

Set your lefty specialist for setup man as the closer vs. lefties also.

I've personally been doing this for intentional walks and like the strategy. I haven't been burned on it too badly. Everyone once in a while the unexpected happens but that's baseball.

Most people try to alternate their lineups with opposite hitting consecutive batters to try to foil reliever dominance. Since it appears that you're in a league with some awesome left handed bats, getting Eck into the game at the precise moments for maximum success seem the way to go.

Let me know who rounds out your bullpen for you, what kind of year they are on. (Or just post a link to your team here.)

The previous reply stated that Eck's 6 million isn't worth the trouble in his worst year. I'd say that is good advice [b:e770c3d23e]BUT[/b:e770c3d23e] dropping him for another reliever now depends on several other factors. How late in the season is it? Who's left on the waiver wire? Who can close for you team right now?

I'll tell you what I think after I get a chance to see your team's stats and record.

[DarthRuvo]

To pay that kind of money,you want him to get lots of innings. If you have to set him to Avoid lefties, Quick Hook, 1-2 innings max,
Avoid using before 9th inning he won't get lots of innings. If you have to all that just to make him playable- you know it's time to cut him.