Who's your favorite cheap starter for open-style leagues?

I am in an open league, 24 games in with a 15-9 record, playing at Petco. I only spent 23.5mil on my entire pitching staff. I have a 5-man rotation. Some of the rotation is about as bad as I figured, a few are doing better, but there is one standout above the rest: 1905 Buster Brown - 188ip for 3.44mil. In 5 starts, he is 5-0, 35ip, 0.77 ERA, .194OAV, 0.97 WHIP. I know it won't last, but it's too good of a start not to mention!

Buster Brown '05 (R)

95 (100)

5

5-0

0

35.0

0.77

.194

0.97

2.06

2.57

3.44M

2021 actually has a few standouts for me.

I'm 96 games in, currently in first place at 55-41. Decent sample size so far playing in Shibe Park (+2 1B).

Sean Meanea - $3.9m:

Split Type	G	GS	W	L	SV	SVO	IP	BFP	NP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	OAV	OBP	SLG	WHIP	ERA
Totals	19	19	9	4	0	0	129.0	537	1798	128	45	8	26	92	.257	.299	.355	1.19	3.14

Marcus Stroman -$4.6m:

Split Type	G	GS	W	L	SV	SVO	IP	BFP	NP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	OAV	OBP	SLG	WHIP	ERA
Totals	19	19	10	5	0	0	130.7	539	1792	110	36	6	37	77	.224	.282	.294	1.13	2.48

1994 Steve Ontiveros is my favorite cheap starter.

I define "cheap" by $/IP when gauging value in the SIM. Using that as my criteria, I've had good luck with the 1919 Lefty Williams & the '76 Fidrych at an $80M cap. Other guys are the '02 McGinnity (no secret as to his value with SIM players; see him a lot) & the 311 IP Yankee version of 1919 Carl Mays. This is off the top of my head.

Posted by Got_Worms on 11/18/2021 1:51:00 AM (view original):
1994 Steve Ontiveros is my favorite cheap starter.

Ontiveros is great, but at an $80M cap, his $34,327 $/IP is only quasi-cheap by my definition. Now the '05 Buster Brown is real cheap at only $18,300 (+/-). I'm real surprised by AW's success with the man they named the kid's shoes after (probably not, but maybe?). He doesn't even normalize well in his year pitched.

Posted by redwingscup on 11/18/2021 4:51:00 PM (view original):
I define "cheap" by $/IP when gauging value in the SIM. Using that as my criteria, I've had good luck with the 1919 Lefty Williams & the '76 Fidrych at an $80M cap. Other guys are the '02 McGinnity (no secret as to his value with SIM players; see him a lot) & the 311 IP Yankee version of 1919 Carl Mays. This is off the top of my head.

Agree with your definition. Maenea and Stroman are $22k/IP and $26k/IP respectively.

Another personal favorite is 2020 Marco Gonzalez and 1992 Tewkesbury - though idk if I'd call them "cheap" - just low cost

AW has '17 Joe Oeschger 18-2 through 29 starts. Good production for $5.99M...

Sometime in the recent past '45 Hi Bithorn went 34-4...

Posted by DoctorKz on 11/19/2021 7:55:00 AM (view original):
Sometime in the recent past '45 Hi Bithorn went 34-4...

That's pretty amazing. I see those records and wonder what the level of competition was in that league

Posted by DoctorKz on 11/19/2021 7:55:00 AM (view original):
Sometime in the recent past '45 Hi Bithorn went 34-4...

He's just over $26k/IP...

Oeschger is $21.4k/IP

Sam Leever `07
228 IP
$6.08M

Cy Young `06
303 IP
$7.17M

Barney Pelty '09
216 IP
$5.77M

Walter Johnson `07
119 IP
$2.87M

All good. Doc doesn't like Cy Young but he's one of my go-to's @ $80M.

There's a few of Cy's seasons that I like, but many are in need of a dynamic pricing adjustment. He's not a great value at most caps.

Posted by Area51man on 11/17/2021 9:58:00 PM (view original):
Who's your favorite cheap starter for open-style leagues?

I am in an open league, 24 games in with a 15-9 record, playing at Petco. I only spent 23.5mil on my entire pitching staff. I have a 5-man rotation. Some of the rotation is about as bad as I figured, a few are doing better, but there is one standout above the rest: 1905 Buster Brown - 188ip for 3.44mil. In 5 starts, he is 5-0, 35ip, 0.77 ERA, .194OAV, 0.97 WHIP. I know it won't last, but it's too good of a start not to mention!

Buster Brown '05 (R)

95 (100)

5

5-0

0

35.0

0.77

.194

0.97

2.06

2.57

3.44M

After reading this, I decided "what the hell" and put Brown on my most recent OL Petco team...here's a good reminder about why (a) sample size is important (b) HUGE variations in performance are not only possible, but should be expected.

After 5 starts (same as above), Buster has a 7.67 ERA and 2.05 WHIP.

Starters
Pitcher	Role	%	G	W-L	SV	IP	ERA	OAV	WHIP	K/9	BB/9	Salary
Buster Brown '05 (R)		100	7	0-5	0	33.0	5.18	.284	1.73	1.36	5.18	3.44M

What Contrarian said

Posted by redwingscup on 11/18/2021 4:51:00 PM (view original):
I define "cheap" by $/IP when gauging value in the SIM. Using that as my criteria, I've had good luck with the 1919 Lefty Williams & the '76 Fidrych at an $80M cap. Other guys are the '02 McGinnity (no secret as to his value with SIM players; see him a lot) & the 311 IP Yankee version of 1919 Carl Mays. This is off the top of my head.

1976 Fidrych is a great SP. Another staple on most of my SIM teams!