I drafted an OL team with the idea of reclaiming the record for most pitcher wins (which is 77) that I used to own with Silver King. This time I chose as my stud starter 1885 Ed Morris (848 RL innings, $29.8M) to go with 8 mostly 480-ish PA batters who would start in Morris's games only.  I figured we wouldn't make the playoffs, but that possibly I could get Morris 78 wins.

As it transpires, with a couple games left in the season Morris is "only" 61-16, but we're headed to the playoffs anyway.

The pitching is essentially a one-man staff.  Besides Morris, I have 1888 Frank Gilmore (116 mop-type innings), two very tired 200K scrubs, two not-terrible rookies (ERA's under 5),  and three relievers with 26-37 RL innings and ERC#'s in the 3's.

Morris is underused (will finish with under 800 innings) but I've noticed that in back-to-back starts his fatigue level always dropped to the mid-80's for the second game.  In fact, in back-to-back-to-back starts, it went 100-85-84.  There was no apparent fall-off in performance when Morris pitched tired (his fatigue never dropped below 84, though).

My thoughts: Start Morris in game 1 of every series, start one of the relievers (they all have decent IP/G stamina) in game 2, then Morris for the duration of the series.  That way Morris is at 100% for at least 2 games, and I have a decent pitcher going in game 2 at 100%.  The downside is that the reliever who starts game 2 will probably be done for the rest of the playoffs.

Anyone want to argue another strategy?  I could start Morris every game, but I never started him 4 or 5 straight in the regular season, and I'm worried he might drop below 80% in a must-win game.  Which I don't want to see.

From your description of the alternatives, and the fact that you've already exceeded expectations, depending on the pitching matchups and park, I'd try to start one of those high stamina 3.00 ERC# relievers as the "A" part of a tandem in a couple of playoff games, with Morris as the "B" tandem in case the "A" starts getting wiped in the game.  This should conserve Morris' playoff pitches and give him more rest if a game 7 is necessary. 

Playoff fatigue is calculated wacky....I won't be surprised if you can start him back to back games at 100.   I would go with the Morris.....AAA starter.....Morris, Morris, Morris.

You don't want to burn out your good relievers, who you might need  later, in the 1st round.

Thanks for the responses.

If I knew for sure that I was winning game 1, I'd start the AAA SP in game 2.  But my opponent is the DOMINCAN BOGGS guy (AKA "KING OF OPEN LEAGUES") so I'd rather not play it cute with him in a short series.  I'll burn out those relievers if I have to.  What's more, Morris has an IP/G of 9.22, so maybe he won't need much help in his starts anyway...

Crazy, i find it hard to believe I could say anything that would not have already occured to you, but I would try Morris in games 1,3 and 5, with your special lineup. If you steal another game, all the better, but you only have to win 3 in round one.

My "A-team" batters are actually well-rested (we clinched the WC pretty early) so there's no need to bench them.  And as I said, I'm playing Mr. Open League in round 1, so I figure I'd better throw my best pitcher out there as much as possible.  It certainly wouldn't be a shock if Morris lost a game or two even with my best hitters behind him...

oh! Ye of little Faith!!!

What was that teams fielding percentage? Yikes!

League fielding (real life fielding)

C 1895 Jack Clements .983 (.969)
1B 1931 Jim Bottomley .997 (.987)
2B 1926 Eddie Collins .975 (.973)
3B 1899 John McGraw .964 (.945)
SS 1941 Arky Vaughn .958 (.958)
CF 1914 Ty Cobb .947 (.949)
LF 1955 Ted Williams .983 (.989)
RF 1940 Deb Garms .957 (.993)

I think maybe the effects of deadball pitching on fielding are exaggerated somewhat.

Hey, I just noticed after looking at Morris' performance history that I had the best ever season of him!  

Well, better than the only other owner who ever drafted him...

Yeah, some love for ol' Sunny Jim!

I'd go Morris, one of your RPs, Morris Morris Morris. Hopefully you won't need all 5 games but I'd hate to blow game 2 with an AAA guy.

In the first series I'd go Morris, Morris, RP, Morris, Morris. Then for the other two series, Morris, Morris, RP, Morris, Morris, Morris, Morris...  moving the RP back to game four if you've won both of the first two games...

Fatigue kills no matter the anecdotal evidence otherwise.  I'd go:

Morris
Gilmore
Morris
AAA or Scrub
Morris

Yes, but Morris at 80-85% is still going to be better than Gilmore and the scrubs, and possibly better than the RPs, as well. I'd try to pitch Morris as much as possible while also maximizing his 100% starts and eliminating Gilmore and the scrubs from startiNg altogether.