F3, F4, etc.

I have to admit, I've never bothered with the "F" pitcher settings. My understanding is that if I set my starters to F0 or F1, I'm asking for trouble, because once they start to get pounded they'll **really** get pounded. But what about F3 or F4? Is that a good way to maximize a starter's innings, without getting them into complete massacres?

If you have a really lousy pen, and good starters, low F settings are fine. However if you just want to maximxe starter innings, with 2 or more guys in the pen (who in short innings are better than your starters) set the starters you want to work alot @ F5 or higher. If they are good starters they won't get totally rocked. Same holds if you are using someone as a super reliever. I even will set him as low as F0.

Mike

You were right to not bother with them. I like to use stronger starting staffs than most on my teams at the sacrifice of some hitting and I've led the league many times in pitching, especially complete games and shutouts. Not once have I used any F settings.

I only use slow hook for all my SP's and conservative for relief usage. 80% of the other innings are usually eaten up by my best reliever who I slot in every role except specialist.

Beware that this is a bit tougher to navigate in non DH leagues with all the pinch hitting that goes on.

I find setting starters that I want to keep in to F8 works best, they get taken out when they are fatigued but not before usually. Seems to work better than slow hook.

I've had good success at setting ACE (over 9 mil) pitchers at F8 and F7. Charlie was right on point with that. But set ANYBODY lower than that, you are looking to get SHELLED.