Yahoo pitching strategy (1 Viewer)

[Paranoia]

I'm in a free yahoo baseball league that allows a maximum of 1200 innings pitched. At this point in the season I am 53.2 innings over the projected maximum but am leading in k's, ERA, WHIP, am second in saves and close to the top in wins. My strategy so far has been to pitch as much as possible when I have favorable matchups, disregarding the "projected" innings log.

But lately, many of the other owners have started to criticize my squad saying that I will slip in pitching categories as I run out of innings. I don't disagree with them because I feel I have a competitive edge by ensuring that all the innings I'm alloted will be used. My theory is that as long as I have favorable matchups then I should pitch without regard. I plan to be a little more cautious later in the year, ensure that my best pitchers will have enough innings to perform and that my relievers will have enough innings to record saves.

How do you manage "max innings" in your leagues? Am I running a risk here that I'm not aware of? My philosophy is to use every inning by the end of the year and hope to accumulate as much stats as possible.

 

[posty]

Another way is to keep using this method and then when you get very close to finishing up your innings, try to trade your top pitchers for some top bats...

 

[BoomBoom]

I guess it partly depends on your league trade deadline. Ours is August 12th, so that leaves about 6 weeks of time to make up or shave innings off your total.

One trick in Yahoo is to get as close to the limit as possible, and then load up on starters the day you will exceed the limit. Since Yahoo can't determine which innings put you to 1200, you get credit for all innings pitched on that day. Last year it worked out well and I ended up starting 5 guys and eclipsed the IP limit by 25 innings or so. Of course, you will most likely be starting mainly WW guys, so if you can use the W's and K's, do it. If you are close in ERA and WHIP, you probably want to avoid it.

 

[Paranoia]

Thats a clever way to trick the program but these fools would raise cain about #### like that. Would be fun to piss them off though.

Our trade deadline is July 29th but I think I'm going to keep all my arms and just pick and choose when to start them. That way I will cut down on innings but should see a favorable return on wins, strike outs will fall as they may and as the season goes on ERA and WHIP arent going to move much in either direction.

But I guess the thing that I dont understand is that innings are innings, regardless of when you use them. As long as I use 1200 innings I can't lose out on anything with regards to pitching, given a balance between starter/RP production.

 

[Please See Mine]

I guess it partly depends on your league trade deadline. Ours is August 12th, so that leaves about 6 weeks of time to make up or shave innings off your total. One trick in Yahoo is to get as close to the limit as possible, and then load up on starters the day you will exceed the limit. Since Yahoo can't determine which innings put you to 1200, you get credit for all innings pitched on that day. Last year it worked out well and I ended up starting 5 guys and eclipsed the IP limit by 25 innings or so. Of course, you will most likely be starting mainly WW guys, so if you can use the W's and K's, do it. If you are close in ERA and WHIP, you probably want to avoid it.

This was always common practice in my roto leagues.I did have this debate with someone in the league a couple years ago. For the most part I think OP is correct. The only thing that it can do is minimize your ability to strategize later in the year. Once you are fixed at a stat, others can then maneuver their teams to beat you. So if I know I'm kind of close to you in saves but I'm too far behind elsewhere, I know that I can at least get past you in that category for sure. I don't think it is a huge issue, but it is something to think about.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

I don't think you are missing anything, but is true that your rank for wins and k's could slip if you max out early. just something to keep in mind when you look at the standings. i played on yahoo last year and. as already siad, some bulked up on pitchers on the day they were going to max out to get a few more innings. this year we're back on espn,whose limits are for games started,so you can play as many relievers as you want.

 

[s_ezy]

Thats a clever way to trick the program but these fools would raise cain about #### like that. Would be fun to piss them off though. Our trade deadline is July 29th but I think I'm going to keep all my arms and just pick and choose when to start them. That way I will cut down on innings but should see a favorable return on wins, strike outs will fall as they may and as the season goes on ERA and WHIP arent going to move much in either direction. But I guess the thing that I dont understand is that innings are innings, regardless of when you use them. As long as I use 1200 innings I can't lose out on anything with regards to pitching, given a balance between starter/RP production.

i would at least get rid of one arm to improve hitting cats, why not slow down a little by having one less man in your rotation whilst boosting your hitting

 

[eoMMan]

I'm in a similar situation and I'm trying to unload some SP's now for bats. Also, once I get closer to the max, I'm going to load up my line-up with top closers and middle relievers who won't log a ton of innings, but still keep my pitching #'s in good shape.