Um, okay, so no one seems to know; and, as it turns out, it really doesn't matter. This was all set up by me thinking (in August) What's going to happen when my #5 guy retires as announced at the end of the season? (Wants to spend more time with family.)
<p>Anyhow, on August 31, I have pulled within a game of the lead. My pitcher--my number 2 guy, Steffen Grinder--is shooting for Pitcher of the Month. He is 3-1 in August with a low ERA, having pitched a shutout in his previous start. He's got another one going, in the seventh inning, <i>when he tears his rotator cuff and his career is over!</i> Only 27 years-old, in his fourth season, with better and better ERAs each year. The News in my league announces, all on the same screen, "Steffen Grinder pitches 2 hit shut-out!" "Steffen Grinder is Eastern League Pitcher of the Month" and "Career ending injury for Steffen Grinder."
<p>This is the first time, in eleven years of my fictional league, that I have lost a pitcher for his career. Or maybe I should say <i>had</i> lost, since two days later, my #4 guy went out for his career! Unbelievable. I'm tied for first place with 24 games to go and have just lost two of my five pitchers.
<p>And with the other guy slated to retire, I no longer need to worry about auditioning two or three guys for next year--they are <i>all</i> going to have to pitch, whether they are ready or not.
<p>This game is keeping me humble.