Do You Bench Your "Starters" Vs. Stud Pitchers?

[Diggs]

I'm come from a fantasy football background and this is only my 2nd year playing fantasy baseball (huge fan though and will play for years to come). Anyway, back to the subject.

If LaDanian Tomlinson is playing vs. the Ravens, no, I do not bench him. He trancends normal strategy. However, if a normal RB #2 is playing vs. the Ravens (a guy like Thomas Jones, Willie Parker, Ronnie Brown, etc), I would consider benching him if I had a suitable back up with a not so daunting matchup.

Do you use this theory in fantasy baseball also? Guys like Pujols, Soriano, ARod, Beltran, etc should start against anyone, anytime. What about a guy who is universally considered a starter on virutally any team he is on, but is not a "superstar," and he is facing Johan Santana, or Roy Oswalt, or Chris Carpenter, etc. Would you "bench" this unnamed starter vs. a stud pitcher like this for an "almost as good" back up who is not going against such a dominant pitcher?

Please weigh in .....

[j_d_mcnugent]

Would you "bench" this unnamed starter vs. a stud pitcher like this for an "almost as good" back up who is not going against such a dominant pitcher?

Please weigh in .....

sometimes. it depends more on the stats that i need.

[sportsaddict]

Let's take for an example a player like Scott Rolen (just a random guy off the top of my head). He's a mid-round selection, and he's a starter basically on every team. If you've got Hank Blalock on the bench, and he's facing Carl Pavano, while Scott Rolen is facing Roy Oswalt, then there would be nothing wrong with starting Blalock instead of Rolen for that day. That's just me though. However, if your backup 3b is Rich Aurillia and he's batting .200 in his last 20 games, then no, you do not bench Rolen. Only if you have a solid, capable backup.

[BitterDodgerFan]

i might but only if i have a very favorable matchup on my bench and the starter is somewhat struggling. you never know the stud pitcher could be out of the game late and your guy hits bombs off relievers.

[RJ24VC15]

Well im benching Johnny Damon in the 1st game because he is facing kazmir.

[Dark Knight]

Well im benching Johnny Damon in the 1st game because he is facing kazmir.

[sportsguy138]

I don't. I'll stick with my big guys and let them produce. You're analyzing it too much, let the better players play and most of the time it'll be better for you.

Don't bench Damon. He's too good of a player to be benched.

[MaudDib]

I usually find it better never to bench your starting hitters. Most starters are going to get their numbers one way or another and playing the match up game usually doesn't do you any good. I have heard people try it with Colorado hitters but I just think it is more work for little gain.

Pitchers on the other hand I will spot start a lot. If I have a #4 or #5 guy pitching against the Yankees or Boston than I will probably let him ride the pine. Where as if I have a guy on my bench who is facing a SP who has a 5+ ERA in his past 10 starts then guess who I will probably be starting.

[Diggs]

I don't. I'll stick with my big guys and let them produce. You're analyzing it too much, let the better players play and most of the time it'll be better for you.

Don't bench Damon. He's too good of a player to be benched.

The Orioles play vs. Johan tomorrow night. If you had Brian Roberts, or Nick Markakis, but on the bench, you had J.Barfield and E.Byrnes facing non-Johan's; are you telling me you wouldn't at least consider benching your Orioles?

[Sid Bream's Slide]

I don't. I'll stick with my big guys and let them produce. You're analyzing it too much, let the better players play and most of the time it'll be better for you.

Don't bench Damon. He's too good of a player to be benched.

The Orioles play vs. Johan tomorrow night. If you had Brian Roberts, or Nick Markakis, but on the bench, you had J.Barfield and E.Byrnes facing non-Johan's; are you telling me you wouldn't at least consider benching your Orioles?

But Markakis is no Johnny Damon...