What are your thoughts on "Spot Starting" Pitchers?

[PlayingWithFire]

My ratios were shot early on anyway, so I spot started in one of my leagues. Spot starts I've had this year:

Jarrod Washburn 1 GS 6.1 IP 8 H 1 ER 1 BB 2 K 1 W 1.42 ERA 1.42 WHIP
Shawn Hill 1 GS 6 IP 6 H 2 ER 3 BB 3 K 0 W 3.00 ERA 1.50 WHIP
Paul Byrd 1 GS 6.2 IP 6 H 1 ER 0 BB 3 K 0 W 1.35 ERA 0.90 WHIP
Matt Belisle 1 GS 7 IP 6 H 0 ER 1 BB 7 K 0 W 0.00 ERA 1.00 WHIP

Plus I've had multiple starts from Jon Garland, Kyle Lohse, and Sergio Mitre off the waiver wire. Every one but Lohse has been beneficial. I've been lucky.

The only research I do is to go to the
team offense stats to make sure their opponent is near the bottom third.[/url]

Paul Byrd is good PERIOD this year

[5]

are we talking about spot starting? or are we talking about churning?

Say you have a bunch of pitchers on your team and choose not to start some of them against the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. That's a spot starting strategy that requires some skill (and luck of course, as with anything fantasy related)

Now if we're talking about playing H2H or some crazy no limit IP roto and you pick up a whole bunch of pitchers each day/week so you can take the W and K category, I'm with the guys that believe that churning is pretty weak and requires very minimal skill. That's why I don't bother with Yahoo H2H leagues anymore. The last time I played, I was forced to outchurn some 300 transaction guy once we met in the playoffs. Lame.

[djack909]

Two years ago I had 5 SPs DLd in 5x5 roto. And was left with Pedro in May. I picked up Contreas as a FA and spot started off the FA til Oct. and won the league. I think in 5x5 roto spot starting should only used in an emergency. I quess it can be a before hand tactic in other formats.

[Dice]

are we talking about spot starting? or are we talking about churning?

Say you have a bunch of pitchers on your team and choose not to start some of them against the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. That's a spot starting strategy that requires some skill (and luck of course, as with anything fantasy related)

Now if we're talking about playing H2H or some crazy no limit IP roto and you pick up a whole bunch of pitchers each day/week so you can take the W and K category, I'm with the guys that believe that churning is pretty weak and requires very minimal skill. That's why I don't bother with Yahoo H2H leagues anymore. The last time I played, I was forced to outchurn some 300 transaction guy once we met in the playoffs. Lame.

I understand the term "churning" to be picking up and waiving players to keep other players from using them.

I understand the term "spot starting" to be picking up pitchers from the FA pool and giving them one start against a weak team and then waiving them.

I think that's how most people in this thread have used those terms.

[abrage22]

That poll doesn't make ANY sense, but I answered anyways , and what is spot starting anyways?

[5]

are we talking about spot starting? or are we talking about churning?

Say you have a bunch of pitchers on your team and choose not to start some of them against the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. That's a spot starting strategy that requires some skill (and luck of course, as with anything fantasy related)

Now if we're talking about playing H2H or some crazy no limit IP roto and you pick up a whole bunch of pitchers each day/week so you can take the W and K category, I'm with the guys that believe that churning is pretty weak and requires very minimal skill. That's why I don't bother with Yahoo H2H leagues anymore. The last time I played, I was forced to outchurn some 300 transaction guy once we met in the playoffs. Lame.

I understand the term "churning" to be picking up and waiving players to keep other players from using them.

I understand the term "spot starting" to be picking up pitchers from the FA pool and giving them one start against a weak team and then waiving them.

I think that's how most people in this thread have used those terms.

Ohhhh, thanks Dice. So churning is preventing other teams from picking up players? Yeah, that's weak too.

And what I was talking about...picking up a boatload of pitchers for H2H each day/week...is that referred to as streaming?

[M_Y_T_H]

My most important league is H2H and I do pick up the occasional spot starter. It's usually when I am going to drop a player and I notice there is a good spot starting opportunity coming up. My ratios are consistently good, so I attempt not to ruin them.