Will teams bench their Allstars this week?

[Rook Takes Pennant]

I am relatively new to baseball, and unfamiliar with protocol at this point in a season.

Will a team like the Dodgers, who have already secured their playoff spot, bench Manny Ramirez this week to rest him for the playoffs? What about an older player who struggles sometimes like Raul Ibanez - is he likely to be on the bench for the Phillies this week?

If so, I might play Martin Prado, who is hitting well for the Braves trying to clinch; or Ben Zobrist, who is closing out a stellar season with a week of 7 favorable match-ups.

Like I said, I'm new to baseball this year, and have managed to struggle my way into the championship match.

Please discuss. Thanks

[neoforce]

If you have a specific question about starting/benching players on your roster, I suggest you take it to the Draft, Trade, Keeper and Waivers Questions forum.

As for your generic question about how baseball works, it isn't like football where stars get totally rested. Since there is so much timing involved, resting players for the entire week before the playoffs is a bad idea.

But players will get a game off here and there, or taken out of the 6th inning of games. And those with injuries that normally would be played through will get even more time off. But most of the stars will play much more than they will rest.

It can be pretty hard to predict, and sometimes effects players whose teams that are not in the playoffs. For example a rookie pitcher might be shut down due to innings limits.

[Rook Takes Pennant]

Thanks for the advice. Moved to the appropriate forum in regards to which players to sit.

Would like to hear more on the subject in general though.

So nobody will sit for the week, but some players might sit an extra game, or leave earlier than usual?

[Neato Torpedo]

Thanks for the advice. Moved to the appropriate forum in regards to which players to sit.

Would like to hear more on the subject in general though.

So nobody will sit for the week, but some players might sit an extra game, or leave earlier than usual?

Most definitely not a week for anyone not injured. One day for most of the All-Stars, 1-2 for most catchers, 2 for All-Stars with possibly lingering injuries (such as Ibanez and his trouble hammy). Expect them to be taken out after 3 AB at least one start and up to 3 starts.

The point is to be fresh for the eve of the playoffs, but not resting them too much so that they lose their groove. For baseball players, you don't want to sit them while they're healthy because they'll be thrown off their usual routine of playing 5-7 times a week. Football players have a much longer rest time between games, so they're used to having a lot of time to come off one game and prepare for the next, so they're less affected by an extra week off.