I'm in my first playoffs on the ML level since 1836 , and I just wanted to get some advice from some owners who actually make the playoffs on a regular basis.

How do you all approach your pitching rotations for a 5 and 7 game series? Three man rotation all the way?

Thanks...

I go 3 man rotation all the way in playoffs, drop my other starters into long relief or setup, and usually drop the last guy in my bullpen from the roster, adding an extra bat.

Just keep an eye on fatigue - on occassion I have had to use a 4th starter, but given all the extra days off in the playoffs, thats pretty rare.

I'm not sure I actively choose how many SPs I'm going to use... but I try to start the best arm(s) I have as often as possible.

csherwood....good point about dropping the last 'pen guy.

in the minors i do use iain's approach. will probably try to do so here. should be interesting.

Quote: Originally posted by iain on 2/01/2010I'm not sure I actively choose how many SPs I'm going to use... but I try to start the best arm(s) I have as often as possible.

i do the same exact thing...

Quote: Originally Posted By csherwood on 2/01/2010
I go 3 man rotation all the way in playoffs, drop my other starters into long relief or setup, and usually drop the last guy in my bullpen from the roster, adding an extra bat.

Just keep an eye on fatigue - on occassion I have had to use a 4th starter, but given all the extra days off in the playoffs, thats pretty rare.

Depends on the makeup of your rotation. If you've got a strong #1 and #2, go with a three man. If you don't feel that comfortable with a 1 and 2 who might start up 70%-75% of your games, then go with a four man. Maybe tandem them with quicker pull ratings. Rotate them based on performance.

You want your best going as often as possible. I sometimes tandem my 3 if I don't have a 3rd pitcher who is head and shoulders above my other options.

I generally drop a couple of pitchers, you probably won't need more than 8-9, and add a couple of specialty players. Or maybe a LHS/RHS, one of those 35/14 Dur/Stm-types that's hard to carry in the regular season.

In short, a 3-man rotation will probably get you thru if you don't "overpitch" them with their pitch counts.

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I go with a 3 man rotation all the way through.

I just experimented lowering everyone's pull rating down one. Too small of a sample size to see if the pull rating helped or not, I know it didn't hurt.

I always go with a 3-man rotation in the playoffs and occasionally use a 4th starter in the 7-game series.

And while I typically carry a 12-man pitching staff in the regular season, I drop to a 9 or 10-man staff in the playoffs.

thanks everyone for the good feedback

Quote: Originally Posted By yoker70 on 2/01/2010
I go with a 3 man rotation all the way through.

I just experimented lowering everyone's pull rating down one. Too small of a sample size to see if the pull rating helped or not, I know it didn't hurt.

I actually make pull ratings higher -- I am less willing to leave a struggling pitcher out there in the playoffs then I am during the regular season.