I'm still new to the game and have been trying to figure out what combination of attributes in a pitcher make him good. I play in a -VERY- hitter-friendly park, and I have 2 pitchers that are marginal, but have been horrible so far this year (20 games). On a whim, I picked up a not-too-expensive FA, and I'd like to know which one of the three you veterans think will do best in the ML. All have low Control ratings (mid-50s), but the FA has 4 pitches 60+. Also, I will probably demote/waive one.

Gerald Medina

Turner Stockton

Cyrus Walbeck

.......4-man rotation?

Stockton. Per inning, he and Medina are close, but the 13 DUR will leave Medina either pitching fewer innings or pitching fatigued. They're both noticeably but not overwhelmingly better than Walbeck.

EDIT-- and don't expect miracles; I'd be thinking 5 ERA in a neutral park, mid-5s might happen in your park.

I'd go with Medina, but his durability means you'll have to skip him often (actually a positive).

So you all think Walbeck is the weakest? His 93 velocity and 4 pitches (vs Stockton's 3) aside? I think I am learning to value splits almost more than anything else, and dedelman, I assume that's why you would prefer Stockton over Walbeck or Medina.

With Medina, I get the feeling that being able to throw 4 pitches for strikes is a significant plus, but I noticed the potential problem in the 13 DUR, too. I thought I could mitigate that by putting him on a short pitch count...which couldn't hurt because I think my bullpen is better than my starting rotation (which is more an insult for my SPs than it is praise for my RP.) Would the low pitch count help with the DUR issue?

Oh...and I'm actually keeping <gasp> two of these guys on my starting rotation. I know. I know.

You might try a tandem, maybe between Medina and Walbeck. Give each a max of 50 pitches, so that Medina can pitch every fifth day.

Stockton is the clear choice for me, it's your 5th starter so try to skip him as much as possible in the rotation...

Don't pay much attention to velocity, I gauge it to be the least important pitching rating...

In a hitters park the ball is lively but walks are independent of park effects and thus easiest to control. In the future look for good control in your stadium...

Well, I just traded away my former no. 2 starter, who I acquired as an FA last year. That guy had good control (mid 80s) and 4 good pitches, but only 55/55 splits...and did terrible, racking up a 6.08 ERA.

I don't really have any good minor league pitching prospects. Perhaps the answer is that I need to spend $7mil in FA to pick up a solid SP.

Sanderbear, it seems like I tried to set up a similar arrangement once...but ran into the problem that one can only set up a tandem through SP4 and not for SP5. Do I remember this correctly?

You cannot have a regular started behind tandem starters. Eg. you could have S1, S2, S3, S4A+S4B but not S1,S2, S3A+S3B, S4. You could have S1, S2, S3, S4, S5A+S5B but not S1, S2, S3, S4A+S4B, S5. You could have S1, S2, S3, S4A+S4B, S5A+S5B.

Umm...hey snake man, ahhh...yeah...ummm, no. You cannot have S1, S2, S3, S4, S5A+S5B or S4A+S4B, S5A+S5B, unless they just changed things in the last two minutes since I checked my teams. I'll go have a look.

Max, didn't you used to produce musicals in Berlin?

Nope same as always, no tandems beyond SP4.

Quote: Originally Posted By maxdeardorff on 1/15/2010Sanderbear, it seems like I tried to set up a similar arrangement once...but ran into the problem that one can only set up a tandem through SP4 and not for SP5. Do I remember this correctly

True, but it doesn't matter what order the SPs go in. Your 5th best SP could be in the #1 slot. You can tandem for that start, and then untandem on their off days.

Quote: Originally Posted By camden68 on 1/15/2010
Umm...hey snake man, ahhh...yeah...ummm, no. You cannot have S1, S2, S3, S4, S5A+S5B or S4A+S4B, S5A+S5B, unless they just changed things in the last two minutes since I checked my teams. I'll go have a look.

Having an active team might help one to notice these things. See the problem? ;-)