What is the reason, if any, to set a rotation up with tandem pitchers. Other than pairing two low-IP pitchers, does it help improve performance in any meaningful way? Thanks for your thoughts.

All it does, as far as I've seen, is enable you to pair two SPs with low IP totals. The only real effect is to saddle the starter with most of the losses and credit the second, or B, guy with most of the wins.

Depending on pitch counts it can help you get your bullpen a break every X games as well.

If you use a L/R combo, the guy on the backend may slightly overperform due to your opponent manipulating their lineup. It also creates an extra PH opportunity. That PH costs money of course, but it may be more efficient...An additional bonus that doesn't involve performance is that it makes managing fatigue a lot easier when guys pitch every other day rather than every fourth. If I have four 250IP guys, I'm definitly using tandems.
There's certainly no disadvantage to using them that I'm aware of.

Here are stats from a league at game 154:

Randy O'Neal '86 (R)  Tandem #4A 100 49 0-12 0 124.1 4.71 .252 1.34 5.28 3.26 2.52M
Rick Aguilera '86 (R) Tandem #4b 100 50 21-4 0 154.2 3.20 .226 1.13 6.81 2.33 2.98M

Randy O'Neal '86 (R)  Tandem #4A 100 37 3-7 2 123.0 4.33 .260 1.35 5.00 3.24 2.52M
Rick Aguilera '86 (R) Tandem #4b 100 28 10-7 0 142.0 3.88 .263 1.28 6.62 2.29 2.98M
BULLPEN

Whenever I've tried to set up a tandem, Sparky has ended up pulling the B part of the tandem really early - way before his target pitch count. Do you need to have the pull setting really low (i.e. 1) for the B pitcher to even get his innings in?

Aguielera has a pull of 3 in my above example. The above league has a DH, however. I would suspect you're b guy is getting pulled early for a pinch hitter.

one less pitcher change for sparky is always a good thing.
B's do often get pulled early but i thought it was because I keep em @ 5

I play mostly progressives, so often I am working w/ limited innings.
boogerlips hit on an important point. If I have pitchers w/ limited innings (imho under 170) I use the tandem settings....usually in a L/R setting to upset the opposing lineup (as stated earlier).
Again I agree, Sparky does tend to pull the B pitcher early, unless I set him at 2.

Quote: Originally Posted By boogerlips on 3/25/2010If you use a L/R combo, the guy on the backend may slightly overperform due to your opponent manipulating their lineup. It also creates an extra PH opportunity. That PH costs money of course, but it may be more efficient...An additional bonus that doesn't involve performance is that it makes managing fatigue a lot easier when guys pitch every other day rather than every fourth. If I have four 250IP guys, I'm definitly using tandems.
There's certainly no disadvantage to using them that I'm aware of.

Agreed, except that SP when used in relief seem to be slightly less effective. However I am not sure if using a SP in tandem counts the same as other relief uses.

I have always wanted to try a tandom. What IP settings do you set for the Tandom A pitcher.

good rule of thumb, IP/10 = pitches per game. for example a pitcher with 140IP can throw about 14 pitches a game. if he pitches every 4th game I'd set him at 4x14 = 55 pitches target, 60 max. If your pitchcount isnt working out, no problem just adjust it.

Quote: Originally Posted By rbow923 on 3/26/2010good rule of thumb, IP/10 = pitches per game. for example a pitcher with 140IP can throw about 14 pitches a game. if he pitches every 4th game I'd set him at 4x14 = 55 pitches target, 60 max. If your pitchcount isnt working out, no problem just adjust it.

What works for me is this formula:

15.5*(# of IP)/desired starts="Your" pitch count!