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Exploiting the Opener for fantasy purposes (1 Viewer)

S

Smack Tripper

Footballguy
So I hate the opener in principle and practice.  But it occurs to me,  particular if you’re in points leagues, there might be quite an opportunity to jump that much closer to some cheap W’s in your reliever slot and out point your traditional mid line reliever.

This springs to mind to me today because the Yankees are using an opener in spring for the first time.  On the same day they signed Gio González to a minor league deal where he gets the incentive of 300k per start.  If they were real ballbreakers, they could opener him while in essence making him a reliever and getting your 5-6 innings.

So are there any opener targets you can think of as starters being pushed off in this role?

 
Capella said:
Didn’t Ryan Yarbrough win like 16 games last year in this role? 
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Yarbrough started six games last year averaging 4 2/3 IP in that role.  He went 2-2 as a starter.  Fourteen wins in relief doesn't seem repeatable.  His WHIP and SOs are OK but not stellar.

I don't see a market inefficiency for openers in typical fantasy leagues.  If anything, increased use of openers will drive up the price for frontline SPs.  I found it harder to find good SP streamer options last September because multiple big league clubs were toying with openers.  Because of that, I'm not going to be as concerned about trending over on IP (within reason) during the second half of the season.

 
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My head to head points league only awards points for relievers for saves, blown saves, relief wins, relief losses, holds and games finished now. I don't like it but it's effective in not letting people manipulate starters designated as RPs and guys who follow openers.

 
Eephus said:
Yarbrough started six games last year averaging 4 2/3 IP in that role.  He went 2-2 as a starter.  Fourteen wins in relief doesn't seem repeatable.  His WHIP and SOs are OK but not stellar.

I don't see a market inefficiency for openers in typical fantasy leagues.  If anything, increased use of openers will drive up the price for frontline SPs.  I found it harder to find good SP streamer options last September because multiple big league clubs were toying with openers.  Because of that, I'm not going to be as concerned about trending over on IP (within reason) during the second half of the season.
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I’m sure 16 wins is not repeatable but he’s in line to be behind the opener every 5th game (along without Chirinos) on a good team where he doesn’t have to clear 5 innings to get a win. It’s something to at least think about. Not like it cost ya much. 

 
Northern Voice said:
My head to head points league only awards points for relievers for saves, blown saves, relief wins, relief losses, holds and games finished now. I don't like it but it's effective in not letting people manipulate starters designated as RPs and guys who follow openers.
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Did you do this specifically with the opener trend in mind? I like it for next season in our league 

 
Yarbrough may be mediocre, but the value of his role is clear. He only went 5+ IP in 5 of those 14 relief wins. He's like a starter who can ignore the 5-inning rule.

Eventually someone better than Yarbrough is going to land in a "follower" role, and you're going to want that guy in most fantasy formats.

 
Spartans Rule said:
Yarbrough may be mediocre, but the value of his role is clear. He only went 5+ IP in 5 of those 14 relief wins. He's like a starter who can ignore the 5-inning rule.

Eventually someone better than Yarbrough is going to land in a "follower" role, and you're going to want that guy in most fantasy formats.
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If teams start using predictable tandem combos, maybe that'll lead to something.  But a short opener pitcher like Ryne Stanek would have greater fantasy value pitching the 7th and 8th innings than he does opening in the 1st and 2nd.  The WHIP and SOs are a push but late inning relievers have a better chance of stumbling upon a W or SV than an opener.  The only value I see in a guy like Stanek is the certainty that he appear on a given day.

 
Eephus said:
If teams start using predictable tandem combos, maybe that'll lead to something.  But a short opener pitcher like Ryne Stanek would have greater fantasy value pitching the 7th and 8th innings than he does opening in the 1st and 2nd.  The WHIP and SOs are a push but late inning relievers have a better chance of stumbling upon a W or SV than an opener.  The only value I see in a guy like Stanek is the certainty that he appear on a given day.
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Yeah the openers themselves aren't good. They have no chance at a win or save (or hold in leagues that count them) and are guaranteed to face the top of the opposing lineup. There might be an exploit for a guy who opens 5 times to get SP eligibility and then becomes a closer, but that's why I prefer leagues that just use P slots.

I do think some sort of tandem starting situation is going to be the wave of the future but we're not there yet.

 
Spartans Rule said:
Yarbrough may be mediocre, but the value of his role is clear. He only went 5+ IP in 5 of those 14 relief wins. He's like a starter who can ignore the 5-inning rule.

Eventually someone better than Yarbrough is going to land in a "follower" role, and you're going to want that guy in most fantasy formats.
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The follower is a great term and exactly what I should have titled it, that’s who we should be targeting

 
Spartans Rule said:
Yeah the openers themselves aren't good. They have no chance at a win or save (or hold in leagues that count them) and are guaranteed to face the top of the opposing lineup. There might be an exploit for a guy who opens 5 times to get SP eligibility and then becomes a closer, but that's why I prefer leagues that just use P slots.

I do think some sort of tandem starting situation is going to be the wave of the future but we're not there yet.
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The upcoming rules changes will encourage changes in pitching staff usage.  The three-batter minimum will reduce the opportunities for LOOGY pitchers and by extension, pinch hitting specialists.  Teams will likely use the 26th roster slot for another pitcher, especially when the DH becomes universal.  The extra arm coupled with less need for short bullpen stints makes 3/3/pen games more viable use of a staff.  If a club has 4-5 guys stretched out to throw 60 pitches, it gives them a lot of flexibility to mix and match roles.

 
Eephus said:
The upcoming rules changes will encourage changes in pitching staff usage.  The three-batter minimum will reduce the opportunities for LOOGY pitchers and by extension, pinch hitting specialists.  Teams will likely use the 26th roster slot for another pitcher, especially when the DH becomes universal.  The extra arm coupled with less need for short bullpen stints makes 3/3/pen games more viable use of a staff.  If a club has 4-5 guys stretched out to throw 60 pitches, it gives them a lot of flexibility to mix and match roles.
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Wow great point... do you wonder if that’s by design.  Relievers get paid less

tony Clark is really out his depth agreeing to this stuff

 
Smack Tripper said:
Wow great point... do you wonder if that’s by design.  Relievers get paid less

tony Clark is really out his depth agreeing to this stuff
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Just like things have evolved over time they will eventually add stats that can be tracked and used for contract negotiations for these RP's.  The opener and follower will earn certain stats and it will be rolled into how they get evaluated for contracts.  Eventually there will be a moneyball equivalent that gets them paid.

I still wonder about having a staff of closers and a high inning knuckleball type guy.  Have each guy pitch one inning a game.  It would be hell for batters because they never see a guy twice in a game.  Then you have the Wakefield type that can eat innings in the occasional blow out to keep everyone fresh. 

 
I probably should have prioritized him to streaming Tyler Anderson in Miami in Pie.  Gonna enjoy this ride in 2 other leegs though.  The follower is going to be dripping in wins if he keeps this role all season again.

 
Obviously Stanek is the main man here.  Anyone else have more than a couple opener appearances this year besides C. Green?

 
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