I've been playing around with tandem starters the last few weeks, and I've had something I don't understand happen a couple of times. I'm hoping someone with tandem experience can explain.

My tandem A is set for ~100 pitches; tandem B is set for ~25-30 (inning available:8, although I'm not sure this really matter unless he's also set to relieve, and that box is NOT checked).

I also have a couple of RPs sitting in the pen (designated as LHS/RHS, inning available:9 (low pitch count settings).

What has happened a couple of time is my Tandem A pitches 8 innings, then in the 9th, instead of bringing in tandem B, Sparky goes to the pen and brings in a LHS or RHS. In the recent game, we went into extra innings, and since those two LHS/RHS guys have low pitch counts, they were used and replaced with resting 200k scrubs who promptly shat the bed.

My very good tandem B (and his ~25-30 pitches) never came into the game. I'm sure there's a reason that I'm overlooking. Again, I appreciate any help in understanding why this happened.

Box score for reference

assuming the tandem B wasn't fatigued at the time (obviously uncheckable now), the code might be written such that in the ninth inning or later, Sparky will go to the bullpen rather than tandem B if the tandem A makes it 8+ innings. i've never had this happen but I have observed that Sparky is much quicker to give the hook to the tandem B late in the game.

i would also recommend checking the use in relief box for your starting pitchers, especially the tandem B since the B doesn't lock in for the next game and you can swap in a rested player if the normal B is tired from coming on in relief the prior game

Is there a reason you have your Tandem B set to come in only in the 8th inning or later? I've always had Tandem B's available at any inning in case Tandem A has to have an early hook. I'm curious as to what happens if Tandem A doesn't make it through 7. Does another reliever come in, and then, does Tandem B ever pitch?

Posted by 06gsp on 9/8/2022 2:27:00 PM (view original):
assuming the tandem B wasn't fatigued at the time (obviously uncheckable now), the code might be written such that in the ninth inning or later, Sparky will go to the bullpen rather than tandem B if the tandem A makes it 8+ innings. i've never had this happen but I have observed that Sparky is much quicker to give the hook to the tandem B late in the game.

i would also recommend checking the use in relief box for your starting pitchers, especially the tandem B since the B doesn't lock in for the next game and you can swap in a rested player if the normal B is tired from coming on in relief the prior game

Thank you.

Tandems A & B were both 100%.

I have drafted such that in >95% of games tandem A & B cover the full game. In the other handful of instances, the two LHS/RHS usually close it out. In the event all those pitchers are used, I'm fine with the scrubs coming to do their worst.

Since I have drafted for this setup, I am pretty selective when I check any of my starters for use in relief, because I'd rather roll the dice with a scrub rather than thorw off the planned usage/stamina of my tandem rotation. I have had to do this somewhat more frequetly in the playoffs. If ever I end up with fatigue as an issue among my tandem Bs in the regular season (has happened a few times), I manually move them around.

With multiple relievers ready and available, Sparky goes to the lowest OAV?

LHS and RHS usually don't see much action unless ALL available are designated Specialists. Stinky (skunk206) is the one to ask...

If you're gonna always ask 7 innings from your starter, you aren't using the second tandem guy as intended. It probably won't go as planned very much...

Perhaps try the low inning guy as the "A", and you can set him to as low as 20 pitches per start. It'll be a more efficient use of the tandem.

Posted by mattedesa on 9/8/2022 2:58:00 PM (view original):
Is there a reason you have your Tandem B set to come in only in the 8th inning or later? I've always had Tandem B's available at any inning in case Tandem A has to have an early hook. I'm curious as to what happens if Tandem A doesn't make it through 7. Does another reliever come in, and then, does Tandem B ever pitch?

Yes, because I want my tandem A to throw all/most of his carefully budgeted pitches.

Posted by DoctorKz on 9/8/2022 3:19:00 PM (view original):
Perhaps try the low inning guy as the "A", and you can set him to as low as 20 pitches per start. It'll be a more efficient use of the tandem.

Thanks. That is something I've done on occasion and considered doing more frequently. Perhaps that is the best way to proceed in the absence of a complete knowledge of what Sparky is doing in these situations I've described.

Thanks again

Posted by DoctorKz on 9/8/2022 3:18:00 PM (view original):
With multiple relievers ready and available, Sparky goes to the lowest OAV?

LHS and RHS usually don't see much action unless ALL available are designated Specialists. Stinky (skunk206) is the one to ask...

If you're gonna always ask 7 innings from your starter, you aren't using the second tandem guy as intended. It probably won't go as planned very much...

I'm not sure what you mean by not using them as intended. My understanding is tandem Bs are SPs used to relieve a tandem A SP who can only go so many innings, whether that be 2 or 7. And as noted in my OP, it has only NOT gone as planned a couple of times, and I'm trying to figure why those couple of instances happened with the other roughly 1000 times it has gone as planned.

BTW- I did work up to this method. I didn't just plug and play.

As mentioned, I only have two RPs, both set as specialists. I always set all of my RPs as specialists. Mixing and matching RP designations was a headache I learned to work around early on.

Thanks again. I appreciate your insight.

The plot thickens... on closer review of that box score, I just realized Sparky brought in my tandem B (Ricky Horton) as a pinch runner in the 9th inning. How bizarre. Then subbed him out when my guys took the field.

Posted by jmcraven74 on 9/8/2022 4:12:00 PM (view original):
The plot thickens... on closer review of that box score, I just realized Sparky brought in my tandem B (Ricky Horton) as a pinch runner in the 9th inning. How bizarre. Then subbed him out when my guys took the field.

I guess that explains it. Just one of those random "Sparky Specials" it pulls out its hat on occasion.