Posted by soxdoc on 3/6/2012 3:23:00 PM (view original):
With regard to Setup A vs B ...
I typically set all of my relievers to Setup A, forgoing a closer and LH/RH specialists. I also use a mop-up. I chart every game and keep track of how many pitches are thrown by every pitcher so I don't go over the allotted maximum until near the very end of the season, if at all. So even if one of the pitchers is still at 100% rest, I try not to throw them more than 2 games in a row, especially if they can be used as a spot starter at the end of the season/playoffs.
So occasionally, I have games where I may only actually have 2 or 3 available relievers. In that situation, I will sometimes set one of the guys I would prefer to not pitch as Setup B, in the hopes that the game will be over before I use the starter and 3 relievers. Most of the time, this works like a charm, and my guy gets a second straight day off. But I have seen on some occasions that the Setup B comes in before the Setup A.
This usually occurs when my team is losing, or in the 8th or 9th inning when my starter has reached his MPC and I am winning by greater than 5 runs. I wish I had boxscores to confirm this, but I don't.
So for the most part, Setup A will come in before Setup B, but I think that Sparky looks at Setup A as a more elite pitcher, and chooses Setup B when the game is not as close and an easier victory is at hand.
I tended to agree with the above quoted post until after one of my AM games this morning. It was a 1-1 tie in the 9th inning with 2 outs when Sparky lifted 88 Elton Chamberlain after he gave up a 2 out single. While I would've obviously preferred that Elton stayed in for the final out, I was ok with him being lifted after giving up that hit because for one, he had reached his pc and two, I had several good relievers ready to go who were all available pursuant to their "inning available" settings and were at 100%. This included 1919 Ray Caldwell, 1904 Chick Robitaille, 1915 Chet Hoff, 2006 Brandon League, and 2005 Kyle Farnsworth. But instead of bringing in one of them, what does Sparky do? And for the life of me, I can't fathom a reason why. He brings in my 85% mopup AAA pitcher who promptly threw 95 pitches and gave up 11 runs in two innings, and of course, cost me the game. Any explanations????????