General pitching strategy

[Berge20]

My league is a 14 Team

[The Jury]

I've never done nor have I seen the math associated with using Middle Relievers. I usually keep one on the bench (Gordon) as a safety valve when I want to avoid a bad match-up but need to fill the roster.

Sure MRs may produce low WHIP but based on a rather limited # of innings, so the aggregate impact on the category is pretty low versus what you may lose in other departments.

Someday I'll sit down with a spread sheet on this one ... but intuitively I've never been sold on using MRs as a "winning" strategy. I use them to "avoid losing" in some cases. There's a differnce.

In a 10-team, I'd never use MRs. There are usually too many good spot starts available on the wire. In 12-teams, I'd use them as safety valves.

http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/foru ... hp?t=39496

Yep, checkt he second post of that thread - relievers can have significant impact on your pitching stats.

[AKhomebrewer]

If you're in a 14-team league, middle relievers can definitely help you out (particularly with no innings max).
Guys like Lidge and K-Rod, before their promotions to closer, were far superior to a lame fifth stater that blows up your ERA and WHIP and probably doesn't even get as many K's as those guys.
MR's that I'd be looking at now include Flash Gordon and, if he hasn't been grabbed for a potential return to closing, Riske. High K/inn rates, low ERA/WHIP (at least for the last month in Riske's case), and fairly regular work as primary setup guys. Good luck.

[slomo007]

If you're in a 14-team league, middle relievers can definitely help you out (particularly with no innings max).
Guys like Lidge and K-Rod, before their promotions to closer, were far superior to a lame fifth stater that blows up your ERA and WHIP and probably doesn't even get as many K's as those guys.
MR's that I'd be looking at now include Flash Gordon and, if he hasn't been grabbed for a potential return to closing, Riske. High K/inn rates, low ERA/WHIP (at least for the last month in Riske's case), and fairly regular work as primary setup guys. Good luck.

Agreed, I have Gordon and Riske and my ERA has fallen .1 point in about 2 weeks. Gordon even got a vulture save during Sunday's doubleheader. I had never had a solid setup man before in my roto league, but I am sold on them now.

[John Bonzo]

MR's that I'd be looking at now include Flash Gordon and, if he hasn't been grabbed for a potential return to closing, Riske. High K/inn rates, low ERA/WHIP (at least for the last month in Riske's case), and fairly regular work as primary setup guys. Good luck.

BJ Ryan of Baltimore is another high K rate, low ERA WHIP guy who could possibly close if Julio continues to pitch terribly.