Rotation/Bullpen setup?

[TwentySeven]

I was wondering how you guys usually set up your bullpen and rotation.

I get seven starters and five relievers, usually one or two ace-level pitchers like Santana and Zito, and then a few mid level pitchers like Contreras and Chien Ming Wang, and then three fifth-level starters like Jaret Wright. The two extra starters go as my long relievers or if I need an extra pitcher for one swing through the rotation.

I will also take a couple of effective middle relievers (a couple is two), and then three more pitchers. Usually, a 'top' closer, a 'average' closer, and a set-up man. Here is how it might be on a sample team:

Closer: B. J. Ryan

Set-Up: Huston Street

Set-Up: Ron Villone

Now, I would use Ron Villone as my actual set-up. I would use Ryan as my regular closer and Street as a backup closer, but in addition, this setup allows for different locations on the opponents lineup. Say I am facing a tough set of batters in the eighth inning and weaker batters in the ninth, I will send out B. J. Ryan in the eighth to take out the tougher batters and then Street in the ninth. Sure, Ryan won't pick up the save, but I find this system to be more effective to help stop the other team from scoring.

[shugknight]

you have a pretty stacked rotation and bullpen there. Whats your team era?

[jhath]

and who hits? lol

[Myztery]

^he never said he won a lot.

[Ghostrider]

Keep 6 of your absolute best starters and if the others are too good to be used as long relievers, trade them for some major-league ready talent or some minor-league prospects. Search the trading block to see who's out there. It's great to have an excess of pitching, but you might be hurting your offense by holding on to too much pitching. List out your full roster, including all your pitchers, I'd like to take a look at what you've got.

[UncleMo]

I used to stack my pen up as well. Not anymore. Have a strong bullpen, but less players there is where I'm headed so that I can build a strong bench. I also traded all of my hot vet players away for 4 star and 5 star rookies that were drafted by other teams, and made sure my 3 star players have high plate discipline. Now my team is stacked and my team is ranked no. 2. So, have those star quality pitchers, but don't have so many that they all don't get used and you wish you had a better bench and lineup.

[TwentySeven]

Well thats not my actual bullpen, I'm just saying the sort of level those pitchers are on.

So, how do other people set it up?

[cybernetic]

5 starters (2-3 aces usually), 1 long man (usually a starter but he'll rarely start if ever), about 3 middle relievers, 2 setup and a closer

[jhath]

i usually only use a 4 man rotation... i think i could get by with a two man rotation due to ea's stamina glitch, but thats cheesing too much :)

[Ghostrider]

Here's what I usually do. I have my pitchers who could be spot-starters as my long-relief pitchers. If my starter leaves the game early, those are the guys I use for 2+ innings in relief. Depending on how good that pitcher is, I may reward him with a start every now and then, but I don't put him in the rotation. My middle relievers are guys with lower stamina than the long relievers, meaning that they usually throw 2 innings at most. I like to have at least 1 lefty and 1 righty in middle relief, usually it is 1 lefty and 2 righties. For my setup man I go with a guy I could rely on to close out the game if need be. Consider your setup guy to be your backup closer. So basically...

Ideally you want this breakdown:

Starters = Stamina from 99 to high 70's

Long relief = Stamina from 70's - 50's (maybe even high 40's)

Middle relief, Setup, Closer = Stamina from 40's on down

I try to stay away from having multiple closer-type pitchers in my bullpen. Although it is great to have two pitchers who could be considered closers, when it comes time to renew contracts, you're going to have 2 pitchers who both want the closer role and both want the playing time that goes with it. I stick to guys who are typical set-up pitchers like Ron Villone, Francisco Rodney, Scott Linebrink, Braden Looper, etc.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need some more info.

[Rags]

simply put my closer is my best reliever, my su guy is my 2nd best

huston street is my closer, kirk saarloos is my setup guy....those are the two guys i pitch best with

i try to keep to lefties in the pen and two righties....with one lefty and one righty a good bit of stamina in case i need a long outing from them

so just 6 relievers and 5 starters on an AL team, occasionally i'll call up more....I kinda platoon my minor league players to the big league level to see what they can do