Pitcher Stamina Question

[Doug87]

In my career semi-fictional career league (starting in 1941), my starting pitcher in a game was injured in the first inning. For relief, I brought in a fully-rested starter that was scheduled to start the next day, but I had to use him because of a depleted bullpen. This starter had a stamina rating of 80 and can normally go nine innings with no problem. In this instance, however, he was gassed by the end of the fifth inning. Why? Are there different (hidden) stamina settings since I used this starter in emergency relief? In my league set-up, starters are allowed to be used in relief, and my "use of openers" is set to "never." Anyone? Bueller?

[Bluenoser]

How many pitches did he throw?

Did he have a couple of long innings where he threw a lot of pitches?

Could be why he tired so quickly.

[Doug87]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

How many pitches did he throw?

Did he have a couple of long innings where he threw a lot of pitches?

Could be why he tired so quickly.

He threw 82 pitches over five innings. Faced 22 batters. According to the game log he threw 21 pitches in the first inning and the same number in the third. He went into the game cold; could that be it?

[Syd Thrift]

In real life pitchers work out differently and do different things on start day compared to their off days and so aren’t necessarily going to give you all the innings they’d normally give if you have to rush them into relief. Also, relievers tend to rely on a couple of pitches and throw harder for a single inning whereas starters even in the modern day are expected to have at least three distinct pitches and pace themselves to go 5-6. You’ll notice, perhaps, that your starter might have a different Stuff rating when being used in relief. Usually it’s higher.

Separating starting fatigue from relief fatigue is one of the ways OOTP handles this. Unfortunately that does mean you can’t really expect a SP, even a well rested one, to go 6 innings in relief for you.