Is this unethical?

[Mordraken]

I faced a tough decision, and have decided to bench all my batters in head-to-head matchups except for those with the best opportunity to get OBP and SLG.

My team averages 21 runs, 24 RBIs, 3 SB, .312 OBP, .353 SLG.
My oponents' team averages 24 runs, 39 RBIs, 7 SB, .361 OBP, .517 SLG.

Over the past 4 weeks, I have gone 4-15-1 in batting categories. If I had been head-to-head with my oponent, I would have gone 1-19.

So I have decided to start only a couple of players this week - those that have the best oportunity to get on base and hit for extra bases. Effectivley I am giving up 3 categories (R, RBI, SB) for 2 (OBP, SLG - which isn't guaranteed).

Should I be allowed to do this?

(and note - I'm the commissioner of this league... We have a minimum innings rule, but no minimum AB rule).

[acsguitar]

If you are playing within the rules then you are good to go IMO

[Fpower]

Of course you can do this. There's no rules or ethics against benching poor players.

[Deuce]

I believe it's done all the time. I generally bench players based on match-ups. The same goes for starting pitching. I don't pitch in Colorado, and I don't draft Rockie's pitcher at all.

[Mookie4ever]

But by punting 3 of 5 hitting cats what chance do you have to win?

If you don't even make an effort to win those aren't the other owners in your league going to get mad at you?

[great gretzky]

I guess it could be the inverse of the 2start phenomenon. Are his pitchers so loaded, he basically is guaranteed each pitching stat?

[Mordraken]

But by punting 3 of 5 hitting cats what chance do you have to win?

If you don't even make an effort to win those aren't the other owners in your league going to get mad at you?

That's the problem...

My pitching is pretty good, and has been carying my team.

Over the past 4 weeks my record is 15-24. My batting has been 4-16 and my pitching has been 11-9. My expected outcome for pitching would be 3-2 (I hope), so overall I could split. If I lose 5 batting categories (as I expect) then I'd be a 3-7 loser...

I guess it could be the inverse of the 2start phenomenon. Are his pitchers so loaded, he basically is guaranteed each pitching stat?

Not sure what you mean... I am talking about only starting one or two hitters per night, not pitchers.

[rotterdam_82]

Are a lot of your guys slumping?

[LetsPlay2]

Doesn't seem unethical, but it's goofy to have no minimum AB rule when 2 of the 5 hitting categories are percentage ones rather than cumulative. If you think the best you can do is win those 2 categories, then you should start the 1 guy that has the best chance for a 2/4 night with a HR. Then don't start any other hitters at all. I'm also not clear how it's possible to start just 2 hitters on a given night. That must mean you have alot of bench spots to hide them or you'd have to drop them outright. Good luck.

[Apex]

I see nothing unethical about it, but it doesn't seem like a lot of fun either. I mean, you're basically saying that if things go very well for you for the rest of the season with this strategy, you'll end up at or near .500 for the season. Doesn't sound like any fun to me. I think I'd try to fix the team I have rather than limp through the next 4-1/2 months of the season like you're suggesting.