Looking for opinions on how to set my bullpen.

I've got what I consider to be the best reliever in my world sitting in my bullpen.  Last year I used him as a setup A, and was able to pull about 150 innings out of him, as well as a Cy Young nomination.  This offseason I traded my closer of the last 2 seasons to help secure a future star CF, so I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on how to setup the back of my bullpen.

First, here's the reliever mentioned above:
Pablo_Bonilla

I'm thinking a similar role, and getting another 150ish innings out of him will get the most leverage out of his skills.  I think he pitched in about half of our games last year, but I could also put him in as a 2 inning closer, w/ the option to come in during non-save situations and perhaps get a similar amount of innings from him.

Here are my other options:

Lonnie_Sullivan

Great stuff, short on innings.  I used him b/w the setup A & B role depending on the availability of other relievers.  Could he make a decent 1 inning closer, only to be used in save situations?  There would obviously be several situations where he wouldn't be available, but I could probably get about 45 innings out of him

Danny_McCracken

He's made 2 all star games, and won the reliever of the year award his rookie season, but that seems more of a direct result of the picking up a bunch of easy saves rather than stuff.   Probably best suited for a setup B role

Sammy_Mendoza

Recently acquired 38 year old FA vet.  Former starter, that has transitioned to the reliever roll in his twilight years.  Stamina is great for a reliever, durability is low.  Stuff is pretty good, splits are less than ideal.  This is where I'm leaning towards at the moment, as a 1 inning closer, thinking I could get him 50+ save opportunities, but the mid 60s splits kind of scare me.

Any thoughts?

without looking at these pitchers, i'll tell you that i almost never use a closer.  when i'm reading the play-by-play and my best setup A guy comes in in the 6th, i feel relieved (no pun intended), and i'm rarely disappointed in the outcome, even if though he almost always hands the ball over with 5-7 outs to go.

ok, now looking at your guy, i'd shoot for about 225 innings.  have him available in the 6th, with a low pull rating and a 30-40 PC, and end games early.  he's great.  take a look at stu conway in LEG... i used him like this (often resting him as the year wound down), and he was dominant.

Bernie Lee is set as a Setup A with 25/35 as his pitch count. I could push him for more but I have another very good pitcher Floyd Westbrook who gives me similar results. Lee often goes 2-3 innings in a ball game. He has 59 IP through 65 games.

Not sure why those are not linking.

Lee http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3441445

Westbrook http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3441198

Posted by schedule1 on 7/21/2010 9:59:00 AM (view original):
ok, now looking at your guy, i'd shoot for about 225 innings.  have him available in the 6th, with a low pull rating and a 30-40 PC, and end games early.  he's great.  take a look at stu conway in LEG... i used him like this (often resting him as the year wound down), and he was dominant.

Schedule is right. 150 IP is far too low for someone of that caliber. You could get 200+ out of him without pushing him hard at all.

thanks for the input.  I like the Stu Conway comp.  I'll set him to come in during the 6th this season. I think I had him setup to come in the 7th last year.

what about the rest?  I like schedule1's idea of no closer, just set them all up to SetupA and let the computer decide?

You can put them as setup A and then tinker with their inning setting. That way you can get who you want in when. I tend to have 3 guys set as setup A. Lee, Westbrook and a guy who I consider a LOOGY. But with the way LH Specialist is set up it doesnt work how I like it so he is set at 5/10 and rarely faces more than 1 batter.

Bonilla is a hell of a pitcher.  I think I would use him like you are.  Sullivan is next to worthless except as a one out loogy type guy.  He gets about 10 pitches and he's done.  I'ld close with Mendoza......he'll be passable.

But mostly I want to know who traded you a future star CF for a closer?  does he have another future star CF he wants to get rid of?

Posted by moethedog on 7/23/2010 1:33:00 AM (view original):
Bonilla is a hell of a pitcher.  I think I would use him like you are.  Sullivan is next to worthless except as a one out loogy type guy.  He gets about 10 pitches and he's done.  I'ld close with Mendoza......he'll be passable.

But mostly I want to know who traded you a future star CF for a closer?  does he have another future star CF he wants to get rid of?

Well it was more than just a closer.  Here's the deal.

I got Julio_Manazanillo who w/ that 92 patience rating, should hold down CF and the leadoff spot for 2 LTCs beyond his arbitration years.

I gave up  Banana_Foulke who is 'ok' but nothing special either.  Kind of a dime a dozen setup/B type.  He won't kill ya, but he won't be a star either.
Fritz_Brocail who should be a very solid power hitter, but is tied down to 1st more or less, and I've got a lefty 1b in AAA that I like a little better overall, plus a slugging switch hitter w/ near identical ratings that will be manning 1st for the next 2 seasons, so he was expendable, or at least a nice trading chip.
Nefi_Ortiz who was my former closer, and despite terrible starts to each of the last 2 seasons, has been pretty solid as a 1 inning closer.