Interesting OOTP dilemma...

[uabfan]

I'm in an online league that just finished the Spring Training Sim #2 for the 2008 season (we do 2 15-day ST Sims to allow GMs to change lineups midway through...regular season Sims are 10 days). I have a SP, Craig, who is a young ace in the making (26-years-old) but blew his elbow out in the 2007 season. He was out for 9 months and was eligible to return 5 days into that last ST Sim (which, if I had instructed the Commish to activate him, would have given him only 10 days of ST and taken away the Rehab Assignment option).

If I understand correctly, Craig has not only accumulated rust but he also has quite a bit of higher injury risk and poor performance to work off from being on the shelf for 9 months. Now Opening Day looms and I face a decision:

a) I can give him a Rehab Assignment to AAA, but AAA teams don't open their season until 11 days after the Majors (to allow players being optioned down from Spring Training to clear waivers). With Rehab having a max of 20 days, that means Craig would sit idle for 10 days and then get maybe 2 starts before he has to be activated.

b) So I can go ahead an activate him now, but I further understand that rust and after effects from long injuries only go away for pitchers when they actually pitch. That means I can either put him in the bullpen (which would push back the date that he'll return to 100% because of the lower # of innings pitched) or put him in the rotation with a pitch count, say, half of normal and just realize he's gonna get clobbered for 2 to 4 starts (guessing) and I'll likely lose those games unless my offense goes bananas.

First, are my assumptions about effects from long stints on the DL correct? Second, which would you choose between (a) and (b)?

Thanks!

[RchW]

You may be overestimating the effect of rust/inactivity. Pick B and give him a 80-100 pitch limit. If he gets bombed he wont last until the pitch limit.

Another possibility is to use him as a spot starter at 100% so he may get a start every second rotation.

Two starts should do it. Three if he gets pulled early.

[uabfan]

Originally Posted by RchW

You may be overestimating the effect of rust/inactivity. Pick B and give him a 80-100 pitch limit. If he gets bombed he wont last until the pitch limit.

Another possibility is to use him as a spot starter at 100% so he may get a start every second rotation.

Two starts should do it. Three if he gets pulled early.

Excellent!! I was hoping for a response like that as you addressed the rust/inactivity factor a bit. I didn't want to make that the focus of my question, however, as I know that's an entirely different rabbit hole.