Carrasco: The Super Starter & Reliever

It's a strategy more commonly used in ATG when fatigue levels for RP are much higher. It's not easy to pull off. I am skeptical it can work in 20XX. The FO will show up quickly and be deadly.

I agree and disagree. It's not easy to pull off, as one does have to manager their settings correctly and make sure the benefits gained in relief aren't overridden by declines in starting performance. However, I know I have seen it pulled off successfully, and believe I pulled it off once or twice myself. So it can work in 20xx, but it is still an "extra edge" because just knowing about this strategy does not guarantee a manager will use it successfully...which is where the actual edge lies.

Am I missing something? Both times he was used in relief it was in extra innings. Is Hal doing this since the bullpen was depleted and he's got an R rating? May have nothing to do with the manager at all.

Scumby already pointed that out and we're aware of that possibility (or probability). We just went on to discuss the practice itself, not just this particular possible usage.

Am I missing something? Both times he was used in relief it was in extra innings. Is Hal doing this since the bullpen was depleted and he's got an R rating? May have nothing to do with the manager at all.

Exactly.

Another consideration is that HAL will use a starter with no reliever rating when the bullpen has been depleted. Granted, I would rather have Carrasco show up for me in the 13th inning than Cobb (who lost a recent game).

I wouldn't want to have any pitcher pitching at F0. That is an extra edge I can do without.

Where exactly is the evidence in Jeep's original post that suggests this is a viable strategy in the 20xx game? Carrasco was deployed neither intentionally nor strategically in Games 40 and 43. Neither box score mentions a defined role when he entered, and in both cases he was HAL's last resort. The only curiosity is HAL's decision to bring on Carrasco at F0 in Game 43 rather than carry on with Chapman at F8. To me this says something about the manager's settings for Chapman, not Carrasco.

A separate thread about this strategy would be interesting reading though, especially if managers with experience using it were to post some examples. But my guess is that won't happen if the strategy is actually working.

Thanks Big, good comment. I was intentionally ambiguous in that initial post to get discussions going. Here is what I really think as I haven't weighed in as of yet. It's OK and definitely fair this happened. It's rare that a SP/RP will be used 3 times in a 4 game span and the extra inning games was the reason in this case. Not any Managerial strategy.

When I have rostered a guy like Carrasco I will leave him out of my default rotation. That will make him eligible to pitch in situations where he might be used in relief. I do not, however, define a role for him in Pitcher Preferences, primarily for reasons listed in this thread. But, if the situation enables HAL to use him in certain situations and his presence nabs a win or two, that could make a difference in the Final Standings. But not because of any Managerial expertise on my part. Just circumstances.

Where exactly is the evidence in Jeep's original post that suggests this is a viable strategy in the 20xx game?

Who said Jeep suggested it as a viable strategy? I don't recall anyone doing so. So, I'm not sure what you're "defending" against. Jeep did however imply it was being a workable strategy in this post, particularly after making his views on the cause ambiguous:

Of course it's worth it, even if he gets hammered every now and then. Any extra edge is huge.

Either way, it has fostered interesting discussion on the topic, and a separate thread addressing it would be interesting and valuable.

Hey Jeep, agreed. I'm not convinced it's strategically viable to use Carrasco (or similar) in both roles over the course of a full season, but letting HAL loose with the card could definitely have happy consequences from time to time.