Geez, lots of interesting stuff in this thread.
I have a different philosophy than a lot of the posters on this thread-- I try to reduce in-game fatigue more than most owners. Because of this, I tend to value high-stamina relievers (eg, ST/DUR = 15/55) more than other owners. The implications of this for this thread:
1) mezirah-- I have no use for a pitcher with ST=4. By his second batter he's lost some effectiveness, and by his 3rd batter odds are I have a better option. So if the guy is a true beast, maybe I can see going 5/5 PC, but even then, can your staff support a guy who's going to throw 35 innings?
2) mlhutch-- if Calderon is clearly the 3rd best pitcher on your team, then I'd run him as a reliever, PC 25/30 or so. He'll be less effective as an SP, throwing 40 pitches every 3rd day (which will end up being about 170-190 IP)... and in any case, the SuA and/or the closer will have higher leverage innings than an SP. I think you do better than break even if he pitches 120 IP as an SuA, and I've had guys like this throw 140-160 IP in high-leverage relief (
Joshua Truman).
3) Mike-- I trust the sim more than you do-- I think it uses the key relievers predictably and well enough that I can get the leverage I want from at least my 2 best relievers. I would use Calderon as a reliever because I'm confident I can get that 1.5 leverage in the role, and you don't think simmy does that very well. We've disagreed about this before.
4) silentpadna-- agree, but I do often slot an outstanding reliever as the closer if his ST/DUR lead me to want a PC of about 15, and if I have other excellent relievers in the SuA role. This doesn't happen too often, but check out
Pete Martin's 3 seasons in OAK.