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Can you overwork your closer?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 12:22 am
by tmatthews
I just had Dan Quisenbury (1983, R3) give up allow 7 runs in a 9th inning to lose the game 13-7. I have Quiz set at both set-up and closer. So I took a look at how he entered the game. He came in as my 6th pitcher of the game with a fatigue rating of F0. And got rocked. The link is http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/game/346267/606

So I did a bit more looking. This was Quiz's 5th game in a row of being used. And second in a row of coming in as F0. He was also used in the game immediately after this one, also entering as F0.

He has now pitched in 6 games in a row. The inning total is 9 innings over the 6 games. The last 3 games he has entered at F0. Do I need to bench him for a series so that he gets out of the F0 funk? Does using a pitcher too many games in a row fatigue a pitcher?

Any advice and knowledge is most appreciated.

Re: Can you overwork your closer?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 12:37 am
by mighty moose
My experience has been that if you set any such settings as Don't Relieve B4 - and you go any lower than F7, he always gets rocked, I don't care if it's Eck or Sutter - or if you set starters such as Maddux or Pete in the same way, they always get BOMBED. So for ANY pitcher, I never set anybody lower than F7.

Overuse ? Sounds like it. I don't think I would set anybody as both set-up and closer.

Re: Can you overwork your closer?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:29 pm
by bontomn
Agree with Moose on both counts: Unless you've got a super reliever (Adams, Murray, Wilhelm, etc.), it doesn't pay to have your closer also listed as set-up. Only exception is if you have two closers (list one as first closer, the other as first set-up and then reverse that order). It's also dangerous to list any pitcher at less than F8.

Re: Can you overwork your closer?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:01 pm
by Valen
Seems to me if he is set to setup and close you want him pitching every day. Mission accomplished. Time for a new mission. :D Get a legitimate setup and list Quiz as closer only.

If you are going to use the super reliever strategy, have a super reliever. Quiz is not such a card.

Re: Can you overwork your closer?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:49 pm
by tmatthews
Thanks for the advice.

I have used Quiz as the poor man's super reliever with success. The difference is that normally he is backing up starters you can knock down 8 - 9 innings without breaking a sweat. This team has starters who struggle to go 6. Which seems to be putting a bigger stress on Quiz.