Punting Wins and K's in a 5x5

[willoconley]

What about a league with screwy rules like this:

5x5 roto, standard lineups 1 of everything + 1 util + 3 of's, 5 p's, 2 sp's. Rosters are settable daily, 1000 ip maximum, unlimited transactions.

I am in a league with those rules and tried quasi-punting like diggs and r&c did.

[rookies and cream]

Not off to a good start here. Had Ian Kennedy and Jeff Francis already in my weekly line-up before I decided to use this strategy.

Now, I have Neshek and Brian Wilson in my line-up.

So far my ERA/WHIP is 7.54/1.82

[Leena]

I always use this strategy in H2H with low IP requirements. Yeah, it's cheesy, but we play to win.

In roto, I've tried this. But, I think it's better to wait until the 2nd or 3rd level of closers. Even with average closers, you should be in the upper half of ERA and WHIP. If you don't completely dominate the offensive categories, you have no chance.

[TomG]

If your league doesn't have an IP requirement I have found this strategy works well. Last year I tried to do this in a H2H league. I basically went with 1 starter (CC Sabathia) and then traded any other solid starting pitchers I had for offense or closers. With just relievers your ERA, SVs, WHIP, BB, and Hits are all going to win most weeks.

Last year I wound up running away with that league for the rest of the year. Unfortunetly, due to injuries, I wound up losing in the second round of the playoffs, but I did stay in first for most of the year. About 3/4 of the way through the season someone else in the league caught on and started complaining. They agreed to have an IP limit this year.

I am able to use it from the start this year in another league (last year I didn't notice it until after the draft). Being able to concentrate on offense while others are mixing in starting pitchers helps as well.

[paul bearer]

Anyone think this could work in a 5x5 15 team league.There is no min. innings pitched. Seems like it could work

[Grounded Polo]

Not off to a good start here. Had Ian Kennedy and Jeff Francis already in my weekly line-up before I decided to use this strategy.

Now, I have Neshek and Brian Wilson in my line-up.

So far my ERA/WHIP is 7.54/1.82

On one of my Cafe teams, my top 3 starters are Beckett, Billingsley, and Pedro. Needless to say, my era and whip ratios are 6.89/1.58.

[rookies and cream]

Not off to a good start here. Had Ian Kennedy and Jeff Francis already in my weekly line-up before I decided to use this strategy.

Now, I have Neshek and Brian Wilson in my line-up.

So far my ERA/WHIP is 7.54/1.82

On one of my Cafe teams, my top 3 starters are Beckett, Billingsley, and Pedro. Needless to say, my era and whip ratios are 6.89/1.58.

lol. I still have Brian Wilson in my line-up and decided to put in Heilman to buffer ERA/WHIP.

Needless to say, my ERA/WHIP took a further hit, now 6.98/1.94.

Didn't these guys get the memo that I'm supposed to win these categories?

[Subes is at the bar]

OK so I tried this in my 6x6 roto 11 teamer (K/9 and OBP) as I mentioned in the original post.
800 Min IP for 8 P spots. I'm in 1st now.

Here was my draft, pick 3, (in Round order) Drafted March 17
Matt Holliday Traded since
Albert Pujols
Mark Teixeira
Adam Dunn Traded since
Eric Byrnes
Chipper Jones
Ian Kinsler
Jason Bay Traded since
Bobby Jenks (Round 10 1st P taken)
Jorge Posada
Chad Billingsley
Brad Lidge
Joba Chamberlain
Carlos Marmol (before Wood was being hyped for closer)
Edgar Renteria
Rick Ankiel
BJ Ryan
Jeremy Accardo Free Agent now
JJ Hardy Free Agent Now
Gil Meche On someone else's team after I dropped
Zach Greinke
Jack Cust Free Agent now

Several trades made and a few pickups later...

Roster now as I started it this week
Paul Bako
Pujols
Kinsler
Chipper
Hanley Ramirez (Holliday and Dunn for Hanley and King Felix week 2 )
Josh Hamilton (Felix and Bay for Hamilton and Morneau week 2 )
Eric Byrnes
Rick Ankiel
DH Teixeira and Morneau
BN Renteria, and Posada for now

Pitchers are Manny Acosta, Joba, Greinke, Jenks, Cliff Lee, Lidge, Marmol, BJ Ryan with Scherzer and Billingsley on BN.
Renteria hasn't sniffed my lineup b/c it's weekly moves (CBS).

Standings...
59 out of 66 in hitting and 40 out of 66 in pitching for 99 total. 2nd place is 87.
I'm tops in AVG by 21pts (.303) and OBP by 11pts (.383) and RBI by 12 (155-143)
2nd in Runs, HRs and 6th in SB.

Pitching...
Tops in ERA (2.59 to .280 then all the way to 3.18 and 3.41 in 4th)
Last in K and W (As planned)
4th in K/9
4th in SV
2nd in WHIP (1.14 with 1st at 1.08)

In Summary...
Really good draft with some scorching hot players and the 2 heists to get Hanley and Hamilton and obviously I have Cliff Lee but I'm last in Ws and Ks already, at the top with my ratios in pitching and my hitting is killing people who wasted high picks on pitching.

Overall Strategy grade so far

[rookies and cream]

Well, it looks like I'm going to come in 2nd place using this strategy. On the pitching end, the strategy worked perfectly. I am going to win ERA, WHIP, saves, and losses while coming in last in wins, K's, and quality starts.

Unfortunately my hitting didn't hold up their end of the deal. VMart, D Lee, Weeks/B. Roberts, M. Young/Tejada, Atkins, Holliday, Granderson/M. Ordonez, Rios, and Sizemore all underachieved (except for Sizemore perhaps), and I'll likely finish a few points out of first. I really got killed in the power categories, hitting about 70 HR's less than projected.

Oh well. I still believe in this strategy though and will probably try it again.