Start my ace on short rest?

thklein · 09-04-2017, 08:02 PM

Looking for some advice. I'm down 2 games to 1 (7 game series) in the NLCS to a very good Dodgers team that won 116 games this season. Carlos Martinez is easily my best pitcher, but he would be on short rest. My other option is a 22 year old with good stuff who is on full rest. He has been decent all season, and pitched really well in the deciding game of the NLDS. Do I start Martinez on short rest and try to get him a game 7 start if it comes to that, or do I start him in Game 5 on full rest.

RchW · 09-04-2017, 08:26 PM

Not at 1-2 down. If he loses, your chances of a game 7 are slim. If you get to game 7 by using him on full rest, use everybody else including him.

It's your call of course.

ThePretender · 09-04-2017, 10:00 PM

I'd say the opposite. Down 2-1 is exactly the time to use him. If you win, series is tied, and he can pitch again in game 7 if need be.

vegaspomeranians · 09-04-2017, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePretender

I'd say the opposite. Down 2-1 is exactly the time to use him. If you win, series is tied, and he can pitch again in game 7 if need be.

Yeah I'd do the same thing. If you wait to use him then that's the last game he'll be able to pitch.

thklein · 09-04-2017, 11:30 PM

I went ahead and starting Martinez on short rest. Part of my thinking, which I didn't put in the original post, was that my bullpen has been really good. I felt like if he could just get me to the 6th inning, my pen could take it way.

Based on the results, you could argue I made the right call or the wrong call. I won the game, but based on the number of runs I scored it's likely I would have won either way. Plus, Martinez pitched okay but not great. On the other hand, the key hit in the ballgame was a 2 run homer that Martinez hit himself (after I thought long and hard about pinch hitting for him). Things might have played out differently if that didn't happen. In the end, I won the game so I'm not going to second guess myself.

Tomorrow I'm up against Kershaw in game five.

P.S. One thing that bugs me is that the box score says my relief pitcher played LF, P. He did not spend a second in left field. It just automatically put left field as his position because I dropped him into the lineup in the left fielders spot. Is there a way to flip flop the lineup without this happening?

Sweed · 09-05-2017, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thklein

I went ahead and starting Martinez on short rest. Part of my thinking, which I didn't put in the original post, was that my bullpen has been really good. I felt like if he could just get me to the 6th inning, my pen could take it way.

Based on the results, you could argue I made the right call or the wrong call. I won the game, but based on the number of runs I scored it's likely I would have won either way. Plus, Martinez pitched okay but not great. On the other hand, the key hit in the ballgame was a 2 run homer that Martinez hit himself (after I thought long and hard about pinch hitting for him). Things might have played out differently if that didn't happen. In the end, I won the game so I'm not going to second guess myself.

Tomorrow I'm up against Kershaw in game five.

P.S. One thing that bugs me is that the box score says my relief pitcher played LF, P. He did not spend a second in left field. It just automatically put left field as his position because I dropped him into the lineup in the left fielders spot. Is there a way to flip flop the lineup without this happening?

Before you put him in the lineup change the "LF" to "-" in the drop down box. Insert the P and change the "-" to "P".

NoOne · 09-05-2017, 10:16 AM

the other thing i consider in this situation is whether they can play the 2nd game tired or rested in the series (or 3rd time in that series)

so if it's 2 tired starts and 1 rested i typically won't do it.

if i have a weak starting rotation or top-2 heavy etc, i'd be willing to bend more.

ThePretender · 09-05-2017, 12:59 PM

Also worth considering that if you're using him on short rest, you can use a pitch count. Between the TTO penalty, your strong bullpen, and the need to have him pitch another potential game, it can make sense to put up a pitch count if you're throwing him on short rest.

If he's doing well he won't be pulled, but if he's getting hit hard that'll help him get out sooner before the damage is done.

thklein · 09-05-2017, 07:22 PM

I lost game 5 to Kershaw 1-0, but I can't complain about my pitching performance. One bad pitch to Cody Bellinger was all it took. Now it's back to LA, where I need to win 2 straight on the road.

thklein · 09-05-2017, 11:28 PM

In game 6 I was losing 3-0 until I scored 2 in the eighth and 3 in the ninth to win 5-3 to force game seven. It's been quite a series. In game 1 I scored 3 in the top of the ninth to tie it and then won it in the 10th. In game 2 I scored 2 in the top of the ninth to tie it before losing in the tenth. Now I get to come back for Carlos Martinez's third start in the series, again on short rest. They are starting a pitcher who hasn't pitched in 13 months due to a rotator cuff injury. Not even a spring training or minor league start. Just jumping right into game 7 of the NLCS. Rust has to play a factor, right?

NoOne · 09-06-2017, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePretender

Also worth considering that if you're using him on short rest, you can use a pitch count. Between the TTO penalty, your strong bullpen, and the need to have him pitch another potential game, it can make sense to put up a pitch count if you're throwing him on short rest.

If he's doing well he won't be pulled, but if he's getting hit hard that'll help him get out sooner before the damage is done.

bump x2

couldn't thank 2 times for some reason

thklein · 09-06-2017, 09:55 PM

I won game 7 in a crazy 14 inning game where I used every one of my position players, and they used 24 of the 25 players on their roster. Clayton Kershaw ended up getting the loss pitching in relief.

09-04-2017, 08:02 PM	#1
thklein Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 308	Start my ace on short rest? Looking for some advice. I'm down 2 games to 1 (7 game series) in the NLCS to a very good Dodgers team that won 116 games this season. Carlos Martinez is easily my best pitcher, but he would be on short rest. My other option is a 22 year old with good stuff who is on full rest. He has been decent all season, and pitched really well in the deciding game of the NLDS. Do I start Martinez on short rest and try to get him a game 7 start if it comes to that, or do I start him in Game 5 on full rest. Attached Images

09-04-2017, 08:26 PM	#2
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Not at 1-2 down. If he loses, your chances of a game 7 are slim. If you get to game 7 by using him on full rest, use everybody else including him. It's your call of course. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

09-04-2017, 11:30 PM	#5
thklein Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 308	I went ahead and starting Martinez on short rest. Part of my thinking, which I didn't put in the original post, was that my bullpen has been really good. I felt like if he could just get me to the 6th inning, my pen could take it way. Based on the results, you could argue I made the right call or the wrong call. I won the game, but based on the number of runs I scored it's likely I would have won either way. Plus, Martinez pitched okay but not great. On the other hand, the key hit in the ballgame was a 2 run homer that Martinez hit himself (after I thought long and hard about pinch hitting for him). Things might have played out differently if that didn't happen. In the end, I won the game so I'm not going to second guess myself. Tomorrow I'm up against Kershaw in game five. P.S. One thing that bugs me is that the box score says my relief pitcher played LF, P. He did not spend a second in left field. It just automatically put left field as his position because I dropped him into the lineup in the left fielders spot. Is there a way to flip flop the lineup without this happening? Attached Images Last edited by thklein; 09-04-2017 at 11:33 PM.

09-05-2017, 11:28 PM	#10
thklein Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 308	In game 6 I was losing 3-0 until I scored 2 in the eighth and 3 in the ninth to win 5-3 to force game seven. It's been quite a series. In game 1 I scored 3 in the top of the ninth to tie it and then won it in the 10th. In game 2 I scored 2 in the top of the ninth to tie it before losing in the tenth. Now I get to come back for Carlos Martinez's third start in the series, again on short rest. They are starting a pitcher who hasn't pitched in 13 months due to a rotator cuff injury. Not even a spring training or minor league start. Just jumping right into game 7 of the NLCS. Rust has to play a factor, right? Attached Images

09-06-2017, 09:55 PM	#12
thklein Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 308	I won game 7 in a crazy 14 inning game where I used every one of my position players, and they used 24 of the 25 players on their roster. Clayton Kershaw ended up getting the loss pitching in relief. Attached Images

09-04-2017, 10:00 PM	#3
ThePretender All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,331	I'd say the opposite. Down 2-1 is exactly the time to use him. If you win, series is tied, and he can pitch again in game 7 if need be.

09-05-2017, 10:16 AM	#7
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	the other thing i consider in this situation is whether they can play the 2nd game tired or rested in the series (or 3rd time in that series) so if it's 2 tired starts and 1 rested i typically won't do it. if i have a weak starting rotation or top-2 heavy etc, i'd be willing to bend more.

09-05-2017, 12:59 PM	#8
ThePretender All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,331	Also worth considering that if you're using him on short rest, you can use a pitch count. Between the TTO penalty, your strong bullpen, and the need to have him pitch another potential game, it can make sense to put up a pitch count if you're throwing him on short rest. If he's doing well he won't be pulled, but if he's getting hit hard that'll help him get out sooner before the damage is done.

09-05-2017, 07:22 PM	#9
thklein Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 308	I lost game 5 to Kershaw 1-0, but I can't complain about my pitching performance. One bad pitch to Cody Bellinger was all it took. Now it's back to LA, where I need to win 2 straight on the road.